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NATO Wants More Troops for Afghanistan
Plans to expand the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Afghanistan could further strain thinly stretched allied forces, officials cautioned Tuesday.
"Nope. Nope. Can't do it. Sorry...
NATO’s military experts have presented a range of military options for extending the force of 5,500, which operates under a U.N. mandate and currently is restricted to operations in and around Kabul. Although the plans remained confidential, officials at NATO headquarters said they could involve sending an additional 2,000-10,000 peacekeepers into major provincial cities.
Sounds like a job for the Greeks. Or Turks. Or for another French brigade. How ’bout the Hungarians?
Although diplomats said there was broad political support for the dispersal, officials wondered how allied nations would find additional troops given existing commitments in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans. Germany’s ambassador to the U.N., Gunter Pleuger, said Monday the expanded force could operate in eight key regional cities to help stabilize Afghanistan ahead of elections next year. NATO officials said more cities could be included later. Ambassadors from the 19 NATO nations were set to debate the military plans Wednesday, and officials said a decision to expand ISAF could come soon. However, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, Nicholas Burns, said he did not expect a decision in the coming days. Both the United Nations and NATO have to approve the force’s wider mandate.
"They're typing up the forms right now, even as we speak..."
The 19 NATO nations have 4.4 million troops, but only a fraction of them are effectively equipped and trained for such far-flung missions.
Lessee, we have about 1.6 million, so that leaves 2.8 million. 1/3 train, 1/3 rest, 1/3 are on station so that’s 900,000. Leave out the Navy, the EU portion of Army and Air Force is at, oh, 600,000. Subtract the Balkans and various other things, that leaves maybe 400,000. That would be enough.
Alliance officials acknowledged difficulties in expanding the current ISAF force, which NATO took responsibility for in August. They fear another recruitment drive for the force could reveal more weaknesses. ``Do we have enough strategic airlift to get European soldiers to Afghanistan? The answer is ’no,’’’ Burns told reporters. France may be able to provide most of the troops.
Hey! Careful with that feather!
NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Gen. James L. Jones told Newsweek magazine this week that France ``has probably the most expeditionary army in Europe’’ and was ``good at peacekeeping.’’ Germany and Canada contribute almost 2,000 soldiers each to ISAF and France about 900 soldiers. France also has taken a lead role in training the fledgling Afghan armed forces. Germany is pushing to extend the mandate for an extra 230-450 soldiers to support reconstruction efforts in the northern city of Kunduz.
We’re arguing over a battalion?
Posted by: Steve White 2003-10-01
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=19312