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Afghanistan
German and Dutch troops take over Afghan force
2003-02-11
Germany and the Netherlands took over joint command of the international peace- keeping force in Afghanistan yesterday amid ongoing disagreement about the future of the mission.
Look! A weasel and an eagle, playing together in the green grass and sunshine! Will wonders never cease!
Even as Lt-Gen Norbert Van Heyst, the new commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), vowed to maintain law and order, a rocket landed a hundred metres from a German base in Kabul.
"Hi, we're Mahmoud and Fatima, your new neighbors. We were going to bring you a plate of cookies, but we got this lovely 122 mm rocket at the market today."
Fourteen peace-keepers have died on duty in Afghanistan since the United Nations created the international force in 2001. The force's worst tragedy was a helicopter crash on 21 December 2002 that killed seven German soldiers.
The Germans serving in Kabul, and especially these seven, deserve our respect and admiration. Thanks, guys.
The peace-keeping force, which numbers about 4,000 soldiers, was first deployed on the streets of Kabul in December 2001 to bolster security. Britain commanded the force until June last year, when Turkey took over. Lt-Gen Van Heyst said the mission of the force would remain the same. "Although the name and face of the commander of ISAF may change, ISAF's purpose and commitment will not," he said. The command was handed over by Turkey's Maj-Gen Hilmi Akin Zorlu during a ceremony at a secondary school in the capital. Dignitaries present included Hamid Karzai, the Afghan President; Peter Struck, the German Defence Minister, and Benk Korthals, the Dutch Defence Minister. "For the first time, Nato capabilities are being employed in Afghanistan – perhaps an initial step to an extended Nato responsibility for this country," Mr Struck said, referring to the Dutch and German membership of Nato.
Anybody see any French troops there? Hello?
Mr Struck has already proposed that Nato take command in Afghanistan after the joint German-Dutch administration ends in six months. But France says it is concerned that such a move could provoke further resentment in an already tense atmosphere.
Might also cut in on those TotalFina contracts with Pashtunistan.
If Nato did not take over command of ISAF in "August or September at the latest," Spain or Canada could possibly inherit the job, Mr Struck said.
Both good choices. I'll bet the Poles could do this too.
In December 2002, Germany doubled to 2,500 its contingent in the peace-keeping force and extended its participation by a year. The Turkish contingent, now about 1,400, is likely to be reduced to 160 men.
They're going to be busy; fortunately they've been tuned up nicely.
Eventually, the peace-keepers' duties are to be taken over by a newly created Afghan police force, but that is not likely to happen for several years. The Karzai government and the United Nations have called for an expansion of the force's role outside Kabul. Abdullah Abdullah, the Afghan Foreign Minister, said his government would like to see the force's mandate extended beyond 2003. But component countries have been reluctant to provide troops or funds for what would be a risky and expensive assignment. While security in the capital appears to have stabilised in recent months, there has been an increase this year in attacks in southern Afghanistan by groups believed to be linked to the ousted Taliban regime and renegade warlords. In addition to the ISAF peace-keepers, thousands of American-led combat troops are deployed in Afghanistan to hunt down remnants of the former Taliban regime and al-Qa'ida.
"Elk hunter" hunting licenses still available!
Posted by:Steve White

#4  I'm with RB, and hope the French offer of four planes for [non-warfare] Iraq patrols is turned down. Remember, French forces outside French territory have the right to vote on whether or not to undertake an assigned mission, and on at least one occasion during the fighting in Afghanistan did turn down a mission - leaving guess-who to reallocate resources and do the work.
Posted by: John Anderson   2003-02-12 00:20:53  

#3  Anybody see any French troops there?

What, you trying to get some of our guys killed?
Posted by: RB   2003-02-11 15:22:45  

#2  The important thing is to make the peace-keeping mission happen---with or without the UN---with or without NATO. Afghanistan will be a tough one to bring out of the dark ages, especially with all the bandits operating out of the peaceful country of Pak. Countries belonging to the UN and NATO that are results oriented will work together, and the rest can stay in the backwater with the de Gaulle et al.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2003-02-11 10:46:32  

#1  The important thing is to make the peace-keeping mission happen---with or without the UN---with or without NATO. Afghanistan will be a tough one to bring out of the dark ages, especially with all the bandits operating out of the peaceful country of Pak. Countries belonging to the UN and NATO that are results oriented will work together, and the rest can stay in the backwater with the de Gaulle et al.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2/11/2003 10:46:32 AM  

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