Amid a rising chorus of failure over the drifting war in Afghanistan, Germany yesterday signed off on a rare injection of new boots on the ground, promising an additional 1,000 troops to the beleaguered NATO effort.
The German decision, which is subject to parliamentary approval, was a lone glimmer of encouragement for U.S. officials seeking new levels of commitment from the frayed military alliance.
However, all is not what it seems. The Germans will still be straightjacketed by the same reactionary and paranoid restrictions under which they've chafed thus far:
The move will increase German troop levels to 4,500, or nearly twice the number of Canadians deployed in restive Kandahar province. But unlike the Canadians, British, Dutch and Australians, the German commitment is conditional on the continuation of controversial caveats that bar deployment to southern Afghanistan, where reinforcements are needed most.
By: Widow 6-7
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The German population doesn't want the mission at all, it's politically impossible to do much more in Afghanistan:
http://defense-and-freedom.blogspot.com/2008/02/in-october-07-i-suggested-that-loyalty.html
There's a combat mission for up to 100 commandos in Afghanistan in addition to the ISAF mission, but leaks and politicians revealed that these about 90 commando soldiers weren't called to combat since three years. The foreign superiors sent these highly-trained troops to sit on mountain tops and observe instead.
They could have been sent to the midst of combat, but NON-GERMAN superiors didn't do so.
About 60 years ago the (then Western) German constitution was written, modeled on the U.S. constitution and with many precautions to avoid German warfare. Few years later, it was modified to turn W. Germany into a major NATO ally to help the Western powers.
Germany got indoctrinated for decades to turn it into an almost pacifist country that was barely willing to defend itself.
Less than twenty years ago that the world choked at the idea of a unified and sovereign Germany.
About 15 years since everyone choked at the idea that the German military might do more than to provide several corps for the defense of the NATO in Central Europe.
Afghanistan is the first ground war since 1945 with German participation.
It has provided a strong contingent of auxiliary troops for the expedition and has great success in its sectors (the area of responsibility grew over time).
The war in Afghanistan is a NATO war, but no member is forced by treaty obligations to participate at all - check the treaty. it's all voluntarily.
It's about time to accept reality. The alliance members are different from each other, and real-world differences don't give way to loud demands.
The USA got enough auxiliary troops from its allies - there would be more than enough troops in Afghanistan f it hadn't illegally and illegitimately invaded Iraq, thereby drawing many well-qualified troops away from Afghanistan.
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