Be 'Prepared to Accept Losing Children' to War Says French General

To present a credible deterrence against Russian aggression in Europe, France’s civilians must stand behind the military, be “prepared to accept losing its children” and “prepared to suffer economically”, the Chief of the Defence Staff has said.

Hard-edged remarks about developing a sense of French solidarity and resolution in the face of threats have triggered a lively debate in France, with condemnation coming particularly from the hard left after Emmanuel Macron’s Chief of the Defence Staff General Fabien Mandon told the nation that France’s large military and advanced weapons technology won’t deter future wars if there’s no will to persevere on the home front.

Addressing a congress of mayors from across France, General Mandon told the gathered local politicians that he was working