US President Barack Obama is sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan and NATO has pledged an additional 7,000. But in Germany, demands for more soldiers will put Chancellor Merkel in a political bind and could result in a new trans-Atlantic tiff. The telephone conversation between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Barack Obama last week had been going quite some time, but Obama still hadn't asked the question that Merkel knew was coming. The chancellor had just learned that the US planned to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. She also knew that in a few hours the president was going to specify a date for the beginning of a US withdrawal. But Obama had still not broached the one question that interested Merkel most: How many additional troops were the Germans expected to send to Afghanistan? Never one to waste time on small talk, Merkel ultimately asked the question herself. So many numbers have been mentioned in recent weeks, she said. She had heard that some expected 2,000 additional German troops, while another source had even mentioned 2,500. Was this the troop level increase the American administration expected from Germany, she wondered? He had heard the same numbers mentioned, Obama replied. They didn't come from his staff, though, rather from military experts -- in other words, nothing official.
The telephone conversation between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Barack Obama last week had been going quite some time, but Obama still hadn't asked the question that Merkel knew was coming. The chancellor had just learned that the US planned to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. She also knew that in a few hours the president was going to specify a date for the beginning of a US withdrawal.
But Obama had still not broached the one question that interested Merkel most: How many additional troops were the Germans expected to send to Afghanistan?
Never one to waste time on small talk, Merkel ultimately asked the question herself. So many numbers have been mentioned in recent weeks, she said. She had heard that some expected 2,000 additional German troops, while another source had even mentioned 2,500. Was this the troop level increase the American administration expected from Germany, she wondered?
He had heard the same numbers mentioned, Obama replied. They didn't come from his staff, though, rather from military experts -- in other words, nothing official.
Germany's Defense Minister Guttenberg has revised his opinion of the Sept. 4 bombing in Kunduz and now says it was inappropriate. But a look at the NATO incident report indicates he knew that immediately upon taking office. NATO has begun amending its rules of engagement as a result of the attack, which killed dozens of civilians. At first glance, it would seem that German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg successfully managed to avoid a major crisis early in his tenure. Speaking to the German parliament last week, Guttenberg backed away from his initial support of the German-ordered, Sept. 4 bombing of two tankers in Afghanistan -- an attack which killed dozens of civilians, possibly as many as 150. Whereas he first called the attack "militarily appropriate," on Thursday he said he had now come to the conclusion that the attack had been "militarily inappropriate." He nevertheless threw his support behind Colonel Georg Klein, the German commander who had ordered the air strike.
At first glance, it would seem that German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg successfully managed to avoid a major crisis early in his tenure. Speaking to the German parliament last week, Guttenberg backed away from his initial support of the German-ordered, Sept. 4 bombing of two tankers in Afghanistan -- an attack which killed dozens of civilians, possibly as many as 150.
Whereas he first called the attack "militarily appropriate," on Thursday he said he had now come to the conclusion that the attack had been "militarily inappropriate." He nevertheless threw his support behind Colonel Georg Klein, the German commander who had ordered the air strike.
The German defense ministry has said it is negotiating a compensation package for the families of the victims of the controversial NATO airstrike ordered by a German commander in September. According to a NATO report, up to 142 people were killed in the strike, including many civilians. Christian Dienst, a defense ministry spokesman, said the German government was looking into ways to reach a settlement outside the courtroom to avoid "unnecessarily lengthy legal battles." "We will find a solution," Dienst said, adding that the defense ministry "will have to find out who is entitled to compensation based on the circumstances of the airstrike."
Christian Dienst, a defense ministry spokesman, said the German government was looking into ways to reach a settlement outside the courtroom to avoid "unnecessarily lengthy legal battles."
"We will find a solution," Dienst said, adding that the defense ministry "will have to find out who is entitled to compensation based on the circumstances of the airstrike."
Despite the general consensus that without a substantial surge the situation in Afghanistan cannot be turned around, there is far less agreement on how to handle President Karzai and his new government. Initially, after Karzai was ultimately declared the winner of a drawn-out election process that was marred by fraud, most experts agreed that the international community must increase the pressure and set concrete goals for the new president such as fighting corruption and good governance. On his first official visit with Karzai in Kabul last month, Germany's new Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg delivered a strong message to the Afghan cabinet: "Just paying lip service isn't good enough: the Afghan government has to meet these targets." US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton relayed the same message at Karzai's inauguration last month and last week told the US Senate's Armed Services Committee: "We have real concerns about the influence of corrupt officials in the Afghan government, and we will continue to pursue them."
On his first official visit with Karzai in Kabul last month, Germany's new Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg delivered a strong message to the Afghan cabinet: "Just paying lip service isn't good enough: the Afghan government has to meet these targets." US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton relayed the same message at Karzai's inauguration last month and last week told the US Senate's Armed Services Committee: "We have real concerns about the influence of corrupt officials in the Afghan government, and we will continue to pursue them."
As Stuart said, America has more enemies in Queens. In the end, might makes right. Nothing has changed since the caveman.
Troops will start leaving in 18 months whether or not it's working. This is basically renovating the city and institutions as you leave the colony. No plans for actual fighting anymore.
WOW! Will have to mark my calendar and revisit this quotebox in 18 months. Somehow I got a feeling it's not going to work out that way. In the end, might makes right. Nothing has changed since the caveman.
