The involvement of the EU countries in Afghanistan is deepening. The plans for augmenting the NATO force in Afghanistan (known as ISAF) is proceeding: Más soldados para apuntalar Afganistán: La OTAN amplía los efectivos a partir de julio y extiende su control hasta la frontera con Pakistán de Georgin Higueras El País 22.03.06. Higueras reports:
La presencia militar extranjera en Afganistán se enfrenta a un año decisivo tanto para su misión como por la reestructuración puesta en marcha. La OTAN ha llegado a un compromiso con Estados Unidos de aumentar sus efectivos a partir de julio en 6.000 hombres y, lo que es más importante, de extender su misión por todo el sur del país, donde el Pentágono está empeñado en acabar con los restos del régimen talibán.
[The foreign military presence in Afghanistan is entering a year just as decisive for its mission as for the restructuring process in progress. NATO has come to a agreement with the United States to augment its forces by 6,000 men starting in July and, most importantly, to extend its mission over the entrie southern part of the country, where the Pentagon is engaged in finishing off the remnants of the Taliban regime.]
But Higueras is also clearly aware that the "remnants" are more than a few scattered war criminals hiding out in obscure villages:
Todo apunta a que el aumento en los últimos seis meses de la violencia en esa zona obedece al intento de la insurgencia de minar a la OTAN y advertirle de que no le hará la estancia fácil. En estos años, los talibanes han tenido tiempo de reorganizarse y aprender las tácticas del terrorismo iraquí con las que hostigar a las fuerzas extranjeras. ...
La ISAF, que ahora mismo tiene algo más de 9.000 efectivos en Afganistán, espera contar para finales de año con al menos 29.000 miembros, incluyendo a los estadounidenses, que en la actualidad suman 18.500 efectivos. El Pentágono, a partir de julio y conforme la OTAN se vaya haciendo con el control del sur del país, tiene la intención de reducir en varios miles el número de sus hombres.
[All note that the increase in violence in the last six months in this zoneis due to the intent of the insurgency to undermine NATO and warn it that they will not make it an easy stay. In these years [since 2001], the Taliban have had time to reorganize and learn the tactics of Iraqi terrorism with which to harass the foreign forces.
[ISAF, which currently has a little more than 9,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, expects by the end of the year to number at least 29,000 members, including the Americans, which in reality total 18,500 forces. The Pentagon has the intention to reduce the number of its forces by several thousand beginning in July and assuming that NATO takes control of the south of the country.]
This could turn out to be a turning point for European forces in Afghanistan. ISAF has been sustained by European governments concerned about Afghanistan as a source of terrorists and opium. Most of its duties have been confined to Kabul, and the mission has not been especially violent, though some ISAF troops have been killed. But it's been a peacekeeping mission that has not been the target of major assaults like American and British forces in Iraq.
This effort was also a way that European NATO allies could should their support to the American GWOT (global war on terror) in a concrete way at relatively little political cost at home. US forces have been supposedly tracking down Al Qaeda and Taliban targets. But how effectively is certainly in question.
Higueras is putting the number of US troops in Afghanistan now at 18,500, which would make it about as big as it's ever been.
The idea behind this NATO deployment is to free up US troops to go to Iraq. But it also represents a significant escalataion of the role of European forces. They will be in considerable more dangerous situations under this arrangements. I have to wonder how long the European public will be willing to put up with a slowly escalating military presence in Afganistan if it starts to look like a hopeless task with minimal positive benefits.
It will also be important to watch whether the drawdown of US troops in Afghanistan really occurs.
Meanwhile, the Afghan government is putting an Afghan Christian convert who lived for years in Germany on trial for his life for having abondoned Islam. This has to raise more questions for both Americans and Europeans about just what our presence is actually accomplishing in Afghanistan right now.
Germany's government and opposition parties are paying attention to that case (Kabul verärgert über Kritik an Prozess gegen Christen Der Spiegel Online 22.03.06):
Außenminister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) mahnte in der "Frankfurter Rundschau" die Regierung in Kabul zur Achtung der Religionsfreiheit. Die afghanische Regierung wies die Kritik an dem Prozess zurück. Rahman hatte einige Jahre in Deutschland gelebt. Steinmeier sagte, die Religionsfreiheit sei sowohl in der afghanischen Verfassung als auch in der internationalen Menschenrechtskonvention garantiert, die das Land unterzeichnet habe.
Er verfolge den Fall mit großer Sorge. Die deutsche Botschaft stehe in engem Kontakt mit der afghanischen Seite. Er werde sich falls nötig auch persönlich einschalten. Deutschland vertraue darauf, dass Menschenrechte und Religionsfreiheit in Afghanistan nicht nur auf dem Papier stehen.
[Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) in the Frankfurter Rundschau called on the government in Kabul to respect freedom of relgion. The Afghan government rejected the criticism of the trial. Rahman [the Christian threatened with death] lived for a few years in Germany. Steinmeier said that freedom of religion garanteed not only by the Afghan constitution but also by the International Convention on Human Rights.
[He said his is following the case with great concern. The German embassy is in close contact with the Afghan side. He said he would also intervene personal if necessary. He said Germany is confident that human rights and freedom of religion in Afghanistan do not exist merely on paper.]
I may have mentioned before, I find the Afghan War even more confounding than the Iraq War. On the one hand, I think that to the extent that US forces in Afghanistan are making operations more difficult for Al Qaeda, there's real reason to keep up the pressure there. But, on the other hand, if we're trying to draw down American troops to send them to Iraq because the Army and Marines are hard-pressed to keep the 130,000 troops in Iraq due to recruitment and retention issues, I have to seriously wonder whether the mission in Afghanistan is really meaningful at this point.
And on top of that, actual reporting on the military operations there has been less than thorough.
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