Nato Afghan mission 'achievable'
 A number of countries refuse to fight in southern Afghanistan |
Afghanistan is "mission possible", the head of Nato has said in an effort to encourage hesitant members of the pact to boost their commitment to the area. Despite a strengthening Taleban, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer insisted the alliance could succeed in its Afghan mission and even start pulling out by 2008.
"Member nations must accept difficult assignments," Mr Bush said on a stopover in Estonia. They must "provide the forces NATO military commanders require." Mr de Hoop Scheffer has repeatedly warned that unless nations such as France, Germany, Italy and Spain drop the caveats that keep their troops out of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan, the country would again become "a black hole for terrorism''.
Two thoughts:
I am very skeptical of the idea that the alliance will declare "mission accomplished" and start withdrawing year after next. Although, that might well be the very scenario we will see in Afghanistan. Afterall, for quite some time now, Democrats have been calling for us to "Declare Victory" and leave Iraq.
Demanding that some of the Nato members such as Germany and the other alliance members put troops in combat roles will accomplish nothing so much as advancing the withdrawal of those countries troops from theater. In the recalcitrant countries, it will not take much of a mounting death toll to cause public clamor for the withdrawal of all their troops. So, although, pressing Germany and others to assume a more robust role might be good for morale in the short term, (six months) it could be counter productive in the long term (12 months.)
Two thoughts:
what is so frustrating about this reluctance is not these countries won't send fighters, it's that they criticize us because we will.
ReplyDeleteThe Euros have sunk so low that they absolutely cannot imagine a world other than their own. Their denial so all pervasive that they cannot see the threat that we here believe is not only real but growing.
I could live with a Europe in denial if they would just shut the fuck up about those of us who aren't in denial. They are saying "We don't see a threat and if you are fighting it's because you're wrong."
I encounter this frequently on various comment threads. It truly is 1939 all over again.
Whit, I came up right behind you slammed on the brakes, burned the tires and you must have seen my grill in your rear view. I pulled over at a rest stop to catch some zzzz's. Parked it is the draft department.
ReplyDeleteIn the recalcitrant countries, it will not take much of a mounting death toll to cause public clamor for the withdrawal of all their troops. So, although, pressing Germany and others to assume a more robust role might be good for morale in the short term, (six months) it could be counter productive in the long term (12 months.).
ReplyDeleteI think you wrote the Taleban strategy sttement. Suck them in, kill them, wait for them to leave, dare I say it? "sehr schnell"
A hodge podge of countries fighting an indig foe, supported from across the border, given training and Sanctuary by our Ally.
ReplyDeleteOne wonders why a country like Germany, Belgium or France would even get involved, or stay.
The policing of the poppy fields has been a bust, the NATO forces pinned down in old Forts across southern Afghanistan, awaiting the next attack.
Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei told visiting Iraqi President Jalal Talabani that US-led forces had to leave Iraq if security was to be restored in the violence-riven country.
ReplyDelete"The first step to solve the security issue in Iraq is the exit of the occupiers from this country and leaving the security issues to the people-based Iraqi government," Khamenei was quoted as saying by state television.
"Americans will absolutely not succeed in Iraq and the continuation of Iraq's occupation is not a mouthful that Americans can swallow," Khamenei said Tuesday during a meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.
"The main reason for the current situation in Iraq is the US policies that are being carried out by some intermediaries," the Iranian leader said.
He put the blame for Iraq's insecurity on "some US agents in the region who are mediators of these policies".
"Reinforcing terrorist groups and inflaming the wave of insecurity and killings in Iraq will be very dangerous for the US agents and the region," Khamenei said.
He also pledged that the Islamic republic would come to Iraq's assistance if requested.
"If the Iraqi government asks, Iran will not refrain from any action to establish stability and security in this country." ...