The planned withdrawal of French forces from Afghanistan has intensified talk of defeat, which casts the shadow of undeserved disgrace on our soldiers, their families and ultimately the nation. Rediscovering national solidarity will enable us to concentrate on our collective willpower. Only a realistic perception of the complexity of the State’s decisions will allow us to free ourselves from incessant utopian public criticism.

The planned withdrawal of French forces from Afghanistan has intensified talk of defeat, which casts the shadow of undeserved disgrace on our soldiers, their families and ultimately the nation. Rediscovering national solidarity will enable us to concentrate on our collective willpower. Only a realistic perception of the complexity of the State’s decisions will allow us to free ourselves from incessant utopian public criticism.

The notion of a ‘war’ against terrorism is now devoid of meaning. Realising this, General David Petraeus, now at the head of US Central Command, faced with the realities on the ground in Iraq, rediscovered the lessons drawn by David Galula in his ‘Counter-Insurgency Warfare’ published in the 1960s. This meeting across time of two likeminded men of operational experience and impressive intellect reminds us that, beyond superficial change, there are enduring lessons from the past that it would be irresponsible to neglect.