 The plan was initially opposed by War Minister Adolphe Le Flô, D'Aurelle de Paladines, and Vinoy, who argued that the move was premature, because the army had too few soldiers, was undisciplined and demoralized, and that many units had become politicized and were unreliable.Vinoy urged that they wait until Germany had released the French prisoners of war, and the army returned to full strength.Thiers insisted that the planned operation must go ahead as quickly as possible, to have the element of surprise.