...In her most outspoken comments on Afghanistan since Germany came under pressure this month to send more troops, the German chancellor said she had "absolutely no time" for proposals to redeploy Nato troops within Afghanistan.

...Without naming specific countries, Ms Merkel told a meeting with foreign correspondents in Berlin that she was "worried about the current debate in Nato. We decided only a few years ago on a division of labour among Nato partners," she said, referring to the role of Germany's 3,300 troops in the relatively peaceful north and the responsibilities of other countries elsewhere.

For the record,

1. I think Merkel realises that redeployment of fighting units in Southern Afghanistan would be domestic political suicide, even if she may not understand that it would be drawing vassals into the quagmire.

2. My own opinion is that Kissinger et al are right in one respect: the German (and other European) poaition on Afghanistan is highly hypocritical, it is alibi participation in a mission that can clearly not achieve its objectives with its current size and leadership. If you want to be serious rather than "serious", either pull out immediately or increase troops tenfold.