Afghanistan: The NATO Quagmire
by Sarah Meyer
Index Research
The NATO merry-go-round in Afghanistan, driven by America’s announced withdrawal of 2,500 - 4,000 (of 19,500) troops in the spring of 2006, is in overdrive. The New York Times, in a recent article said that “Britain and the Netherlands will join Canada in assuming control in the south, along with a much smaller contingent of American support troops.” This is incorrect.
The Dutch government is in disarray about its NATO participation in Afghanistan, and their Parliament will not be making a decision until the end of this month. Various headlines since November have read: (Pak Tribune) Afghanistan is Netherlands’ most disastrous oversees mission; (Sunday Times) Afghan posting ‘too dangerous’ for Dutch army; and, from Agence France, Netherlands Puts Off Decision on Afghanistan Deployment.
As for Canadian Forces in the 21st century, CBC’s in-depth discussion of Canada’s military says there have been concerns that the “military is stretched too thin.” In August, the present Canadian troops in Afghanistan prepared to move out of Camp Julian near Kabul in November to “join the bulk of the force at a new base near Khandahar.” However, the Toronto Star said in December that “as British and Dutch stall, fears grow that Canadians will be left holding the fort.” In the end of December, Col. Bowles said the Canadians will “assume responsibility for Kandahar.” He also said that his force “is prepared to extend the offensive nature of the operation. It's clear that this is not a peacekeeping mission," he said. What, exactly, is this “offensive” plan? There are now unconfirmed rumours that 100 commandos from the elite Joint Task Force 2 are leaving for Afghanistan this month to “prepare the ground” for the 2000-member “battle” group.
In the UK, it was announced in September 05 that Britain would send more troops to Afghanistan, making a total presence of 5,000 UK troops under the NATO command of Lieutenant-General Sir David Richards.
In November, Ahmed Rashid reported in The Telegraph that in Kabul, the capital, 500 – 800 British troops will have NATO ‘peacekeeping’ command. In Kandahar, under Canadian control, 500 – 800 UK troops will also be deployed. In Helmand, SE Afghanistan, 1000 troops will be deployed in Lashkar gar in the spring. In theory, these troops will be backed by civilian engineers and other experts and diplomats,” and will fight opium trade growth and help with reconstruction. And finally, at another base in Helmand (? Camp Bastion?) a further 1000 will fight the Taleban ‘insurgency.’ According to Simon Tisdale Britain is ‘uncertain’ about support from Canada, Australia and New Zealand and there is disagreement about “operational issues and rules of engagement.” In a later Guardian article Tisdale writes that the European Union is “ill prepared to take on … responsibilities” in Afghanistan. At the end of December, Michael Evans writes in The Times that “Britain’s plans are being disrupted by political indecision within Nato.” Simon Jenkins, in an excellent overview of Britain’s role in Afghanistan in The Guardian, Called the UK troop additions “the half-baked product of Tony Blair’s global machismo,” calling the precipitant disaster “Britain’s new opium war.”
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