[Guardian Unlimited, U.K.]

Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany

Gates' Words 'Discredit'

NATO's Afghan Mission

"U.S. Defense Secretary Gates' terse words discredit the ISAF mission, since he speaks much about war and very little about peace. As a result, permanently stationing German soldiers in the south of Afghanistan would jeopardize their success in the north."

By Burkhard von Pappenheim

Translated By Ulf Behncke

February 10, 2008

Germany - Frankfurter Rundschau - Original Article (German)

The denial by the Defense Minister is so feeble that it should count as a confirmation. The Federal Government would like to dispatch to Afghanistan more troops than the 3,500 soldiers already approved by the Bundestag [Parliament]. The mandate is exhausted. Therefore, when the mission is extended into next fall, the Grand Coalition [Germany's governing CDU and SPD coalition] must debate an expansion at the same time. [After all], a military operation cannot be meaningfully led if commanders have to forever count their soldiers. The German Bundeswehr (Federal Defense Forces) needs a bit of room to maneuver in Afghanistan.

However: Anyone who sends more troops into the Hindu Kush must also consider how and when they will be withdrawn. This will decide whether this nation is debating a politically intelligent and helpful deployment, or a military adventure.

In their area, the Germans have been relatively successful. One reason is that militarily, they have it easier than their allies in the hard-fought south. But that’s not the whole story. Their approach - to help the country by working to stabilize it - is the right one. If the country needs to be better-secured, then the Bundeswehr must obtain additional authorization - because the hope has been growing that in the foreseeable future, the troops will be able to leave altogether.                                WORLDMEETS.US

That would assume a certain unity within NATO. U.S. Defense Secretary Gates' terse words WATCH  discredit the ISAF mission [International Security Assistance Force], since he speaks much about war and very little about peace. As a result, permanently stationing German soldiers in the south of Afghanistan would jeopardize their success in the north.

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[WORLDMEETS.US Posted February 13, 2:35pm]