Political Crossfire Forums

[learn to swim]

NATO positioning in Afghanistan

[learn to swim]

By Seed Haqiqi 2 hours, 36 minutes ago

HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) -
NATO troops took command of security and reconstruction efforts in western
Afghanistan from U.S. forces on Tuesday under a plan that will likely soon put NATO forces into insurgent hot spots.

NATO took charge of civilian-military Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) in Herat and Farah provinces which have seen factional and other violence, but not Taliban attacks that have plagued the southern and eastern parts of the country.

"It is ... ISAF's first critical step into the western region of Afghanistan, which will allow ISAF to more effectively support the upcoming ... elections," said Lieutenant General Ethem Erdagi, commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.

Parliamentary elections in September are Afghanistan's next big step on a rocky road to stability.

ISAF is a peace-keeping force that numbers about 8,000 troops from 47 NATO and non-NATO countries. NATO took command of ISAF in 2003, its first mission outside its Europe-Atlantic area of operation.

The United States leads a separate international force of 18,300, most of them Americans, fighting Taliban insurgents and hunting for
Osama bin Laden and other militants in the south and east.

The Provincial Reconstruction Teams are at the heart of the international community's efforts in Afghanistan. Small groups of civilians and military personnel working in the provinces, the teams are meant to provide security for aid and reconstruction.

Several hundred Italian troops are taking over the PRT in Herat while in Farah, to the south, U.S. troops will play a lead role but under ISAF command, the force said. Both provinces are on the Iranian border.

HEADING SOUTH

ISAF troops will set up teams in two other western provinces - troops from Lithuania in Ghor province and Spaniards in Badghis.

NATO will then command nine PRT teams, all in the relatively secure north and west.

But it is also due to take over teams from U.S. troops in the much more volatile south and east.

Britain takes command of ISAF next year and there have been reports of plans for British troops to take over two U.S. PRTs in the south but no announcement has been made. A British embassy official declined to comment.

Taliban attacks have been common in Kandahar, and other southern and eastern provinces, since U.S.-led forces ousted the hardline Islamic militia in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.

International community hopes that a winter lull meant the guerrillas were being choked of resources and recruits have been dashed by a series of bloody clashes and bomb attacks in recent weeks, mostly in the south and east.

Scores of insurgents have been killed, the U.S. military says. Dozens of government men and nine members of the U.S-led force, eight of them American, have also died in combat since late March.

NATO troops are meant to take over southern PRTs in the third phase of a four-phase plan, an ISAF spokesman said.

Details were still being worked out between NATO leaders and member countries and no date had been set. Eventually, NATO is envisaged taking responsibility for the whole country, he said.

But the expansion of NATO was not expected to signal the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.

"They've just signed their strategic partnership," a diplomat in Kabul said, referring to a pact that lets U.S. forces use their Afghan bases indefinitely while ensuring its long-term security.

"I don't think there's any suggestion of the Americans withdrawing," the diplomat said.


STORY LINK

[Gaea]

Well, its better than a draft.

Quote: "They've just signed their strategic partnership," a diplomat in Kabul said, referring to a pact that lets U.S. forces use their Afghan bases indefinitely while ensuring its long-term security.

"I don't think there's any suggestion of the Americans withdrawing," the diplomat said.

Was there ever any talk of the US leaving Afganistan? By not putting enough troops in there to begin with ensured failure of any meaningful democracy. Afganistan is getting worse not better. Hence Karazai's visit to the meet with Bush.

[lilrascal]

Moot wrote: Well, its better than a draft.

Quote: "They've just signed their strategic partnership," a diplomat in Kabul said, referring to a pact that lets U.S. forces use their Afghan bases indefinitely while ensuring its long-term security.

"I don't think there's any suggestion of the Americans withdrawing," the diplomat said.

Was there ever any talk of the US leaving Afganistan? By not putting enough troops in there to begin with ensured failure of any meaningful democracy. Afganistan is getting worse not better. Hence Karazai's visit to the meet with Bush.

Links. Is this your opinion, or just hearsay from your "Uncle" that told you it is gettig worse. Please link this info that you have gained this knowledge from. I have a cousin over there right now. I could get him on the SatCom. Seriously Links!.

The fact that A president of another country is visiting Bush is not really a sign of things worsening. Last time I checked the S.K gov wasnt asking us to leave. Are things getting worse in South Korea too. I lived there from 2001-2003 things appeared on the up and up.

[Gaea]

lilraacal wrote: Moot wrote: Well, its better than a draft.

Quote: "They've just signed their strategic partnership," a diplomat in Kabul said, referring to a pact that lets U.S. forces use their Afghan bases indefinitely while ensuring its long-term security.

"I don't think there's any suggestion of the Americans withdrawing," the diplomat said.

Was there ever any talk of the US leaving Afganistan? By not putting enough troops in there to begin with ensured failure of any meaningful democracy. Afganistan is getting worse not better. Hence Karazai's visit to the meet with Bush.

Links. Is this your opinion, or just hearsay from your "Uncle" that told you it is gettig worse. Please link this info that you have gained this knowledge from. I have a cousin over there right now. I could get him on the SatCom. Seriously Links!.

The fact that A president of another country is visiting Bush is not really a sign of things worsening. Last time I checked the S.K gov wasnt asking us to leave. Are things getting worse in South Korea too. I lived there from 2001-2003 things appeared on the up and up.

I lived in Seoul, S.Korea too. So what does what that prove? Absolutely nothing because this thread isn't about S. Korea. :roll:

Its old news, Newbie. If you had bothered to read the topic article it says....NATO troops are expanding their involvement in Afganistan. Now why would they be doing that five years after the invasion if there wasn't a need? The need is to prevent US troops from torturing detainees. Karzai asked Bush for some meaningful control over US troops in Afganistan and that meant punishing US troops who engage in torture. He was also asking the international communittee for their help in stopping the opium trade that skyrocketed after US invasion. See? It has NOTHING to do with S. Korea. NOTHING.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4572657.stm

The days before Monday's talks at the White House saw renewed controversy over the torture and killing of Afghan detainees at Bagram military base, north of Kabul.

New details surrounding the killing of two Afghans at Bagram in 2002, and the torture of other inmates were published by the New York Times on Friday.

Seven soldiers have so far been charged in connection with the two deaths.

The report led Mr Karzai to insist that during his talks with Mr Bush he would request the handover of all Afghan detainees in US custody and also control over US military operations in Afghanistan. ....read.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7923756/

“Now the international community must come and provide alternative livelihood to the Afghan people, which they have not done so far. Let us stop this blame,” he told CNN’s “Late Edition.”

Ahead of his White House meeting Monday with President Bush, Karzai said he wants greater control over American military operations in his country and punishment for any U.S. troops who mistreat prisoners. He cited reports of prisoner abuse by American forces at the main military prison north of Kabul, the capital.


Now don't you feel stupid?

[Jack Skelington]

in the one year that I spent in Afghanistan, things seemed to have gotten better. The local nationals seemed to be very happy that we were there, and not a single Afghan that I met was at all displeased with any of the NATO countries being there, especialy the US.
How I understood things was that Mr. Karzai ask that the US not leave Afghanistan in the forseeable future because of how much improvement there has been since we went in. The Taliban really screwed things up, and if you compair the countries history before the Soviet occupation and after when the Taliban took control, and then look at how much improvement has happened since we went in and displaced the Taliban, it's hard to see how the NATO involvment could have possibly made it worse. Women can go to school again, and you won't be shot on sight for flying a kite anymore... seems alot better to me.

[Jack Skelington]

Also, now that I read moot's point, not a single case of prisoner abuse occured while I was stationed at Bagram. In fact my unit constructed a new PUC (persons under confinement) facility to house said detainies, and vastly improve conditions for them. The 'harshest' treatment I witnessed any American soldier giving a prisoner was when one of my battle buddies pointed his rifle at one of the workers we were escorting when we found a break down 12 guage shotgun on him during a rutine search.
As far as poppies, you're trying to tell farmers to stop growing and harvesting a crop that will grow in a pretty harsh invironment and stop earning a livlihood for thier families. I'm not defending the drug trade, but saying you need to think in the terms of the Afghan farmer. It's going to take a little more than the few months that Mr. Karzai has been in office to compleatly turn the poppy farmers to another crop.

[StarsNstripes]

Moot wrote: Well, its better than a draft.

Quote: "They've just signed their strategic partnership," a diplomat in Kabul said, referring to a pact that lets U.S. forces use their Afghan bases indefinitely while ensuring its long-term security.

"I don't think there's any suggestion of the Americans withdrawing," the diplomat said.

Was there ever any talk of the US leaving Afganistan? By not putting enough troops in there to begin with ensured failure of any meaningful democracy. Afganistan is getting worse not better. Hence Karazai's visit to the meet with Bush.

Wow lots of ignorant opinions and not a shred of truth.

Anyone that expects the US to leave completely as soon as basic objectives are completed is absolutely ignorant to modern warfare and global politics. After you liberate a nation you generally keep bases in the region to maintain stability for many years to come. I offer up western Germany as proof.