Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Washington Times
November 12, 2007
Pg. 17
Support fluctuates for Afghanistan mission
By Leander Schaerlaeckens, The Washington Times
BRUSSELS — For U.S. and other officials prodding NATO members to boost their troop strength in Afghanistan, it is a case of two steps forward and one step back.
Alliance spokesmen said several countries offered improved participation and cooperation in the mission at a recent conference in Brussels attended by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.
But a few countries seek to reduce their contributions to the effort — which is aimed at bolstering the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai against Taliban insurgents — and others are talking about withdrawing altogether.
One NATO official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Mr. Gates is "struggling" to find more soldiers for the operation, but also noted that with 41,000 troops, the International Security Assistance Force is at 90 percent of its target strength.
"In the Balkans, we"ve never had more than 80 percent and there has never been a casualty there, so 90 percent is actually a lot," he said.
Mr. Gates also asked European defense ministers to remove some of the so-called "caveats" that prohibit their troops from entering the most dangerous regions or participating in specified combat activities.
Although the exact details of the caveats haven"t been disclosed, they are thought to restrict some countries' troops from flying at night, fighting in snow or even fighting at all. One senior U.S. defense official told Reuters news agency there is a total of 62 such restrictions.
"We need to lift our sights, it seems to me, and see what is required long-term for success, beyond the specific commitments that have already been made," Mr. Gates said.
NATO spokesman James Appathurai said it is not realistic to ask governments to drop the caveats, but NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer did get a commitment from all countries that in an emergency situation, their forces can and will go where they are needed.
He also devised mechanisms making it easier for richer countries to help fund the deployments of poorer ones.
For example, "the Czech Republic has helicopters but can"t afford to deploy them," a senior NATO official said. "Now, other countries without helicopters but with more funds are able to help them."
Still, it has not been easy to coax more troops from NATO members, some of which have fewer than a dozen troops in Afghanistan.
The meeting in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, yielded commitments from Georgia for an additional 200 soldiers and some helicopters; from the Czech Republic and Slovakia for a combined 160 soldiers; from Hungary for a few dozen soldiers; and from Germany and France for 200 soldiers and 50 trainers, a NATO source said.
But the Netherlands prefers to cut its troop strength and wants another country to assume its logistical and helicopter duties. The Dutch government threatened that if these requests aren"t met, the country will consider pulling out of Afghanistan altogether.
Portugal, meanwhile, said it plans to reduce its contribution from 165 soldiers to 15 trainers and one transport airplane by August, according to the Lusa news agency.
The Netherlands warned it will not extend its troop presence in the volatile southern province of Uruzgan beyond August unless it gets more help from other NATO members.
"There is no free ride to peace and security. Fair risk and burden-sharing has to be the leading principle for NATO," said Dutch Defense Minister Elmert van Middelkoop.
If the Netherlands does withdraw, there are fears others might follow. Canada, which faces growing domestic opposition to the operation because of mounting casualties, is considered a strong candidate to follow suit.
November 12, 2007
Pg. 17
Support fluctuates for Afghanistan mission
By Leander Schaerlaeckens, The Washington Times
BRUSSELS — For U.S. and other officials prodding NATO members to boost their troop strength in Afghanistan, it is a case of two steps forward and one step back.
Alliance spokesmen said several countries offered improved participation and cooperation in the mission at a recent conference in Brussels attended by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.
But a few countries seek to reduce their contributions to the effort — which is aimed at bolstering the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai against Taliban insurgents — and others are talking about withdrawing altogether.
One NATO official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Mr. Gates is "struggling" to find more soldiers for the operation, but also noted that with 41,000 troops, the International Security Assistance Force is at 90 percent of its target strength.
"In the Balkans, we"ve never had more than 80 percent and there has never been a casualty there, so 90 percent is actually a lot," he said.
Mr. Gates also asked European defense ministers to remove some of the so-called "caveats" that prohibit their troops from entering the most dangerous regions or participating in specified combat activities.
Although the exact details of the caveats haven"t been disclosed, they are thought to restrict some countries' troops from flying at night, fighting in snow or even fighting at all. One senior U.S. defense official told Reuters news agency there is a total of 62 such restrictions.
"We need to lift our sights, it seems to me, and see what is required long-term for success, beyond the specific commitments that have already been made," Mr. Gates said.
NATO spokesman James Appathurai said it is not realistic to ask governments to drop the caveats, but NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer did get a commitment from all countries that in an emergency situation, their forces can and will go where they are needed.
He also devised mechanisms making it easier for richer countries to help fund the deployments of poorer ones.
For example, "the Czech Republic has helicopters but can"t afford to deploy them," a senior NATO official said. "Now, other countries without helicopters but with more funds are able to help them."
Still, it has not been easy to coax more troops from NATO members, some of which have fewer than a dozen troops in Afghanistan.
The meeting in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, yielded commitments from Georgia for an additional 200 soldiers and some helicopters; from the Czech Republic and Slovakia for a combined 160 soldiers; from Hungary for a few dozen soldiers; and from Germany and France for 200 soldiers and 50 trainers, a NATO source said.
But the Netherlands prefers to cut its troop strength and wants another country to assume its logistical and helicopter duties. The Dutch government threatened that if these requests aren"t met, the country will consider pulling out of Afghanistan altogether.
Portugal, meanwhile, said it plans to reduce its contribution from 165 soldiers to 15 trainers and one transport airplane by August, according to the Lusa news agency.
The Netherlands warned it will not extend its troop presence in the volatile southern province of Uruzgan beyond August unless it gets more help from other NATO members.
"There is no free ride to peace and security. Fair risk and burden-sharing has to be the leading principle for NATO," said Dutch Defense Minister Elmert van Middelkoop.
If the Netherlands does withdraw, there are fears others might follow. Canada, which faces growing domestic opposition to the operation because of mounting casualties, is considered a strong candidate to follow suit.