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Nato's reluctant partnership
Fearing the US had taken its eye off the ball in Afghanistan few in Nato want to increase troops.
- Gulf News
- Published: 00:00 January 28, 2007
By stumping up more money and sending more troops to Afghanistan, the US Secretary of State managed to persuade some of her reluctant North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) members to also send a few more "boots on the ground". The US is very concerned that fellow Nato members are not making an adequate effort to support the operation in Afghanistan.
It is Nato's first major endeavour outside the European arena, so not only are Nato generals and administrators keen to see success, but leaders of other nations are curious to know how Nato manages when so far away from "home".
So far, the Nato venture has not been as successful as had been hoped. The senior officers on the ground complain there are inadequate troops and poor equipment, and an unclear mandate as to what is expected of them. This is not a healthy situation to be in, especially as Afghanistan is now entering the warmer months, when an upsurge in activities by the Taliban is expected.
The past year has seen a bumper opium poppy crop, the proceeds from which enable the Taliban and other local warlords to finance private armies and persuade farmers that growing poppy is more rewarding than foodstuffs. And just in case the message does not get through to the farmers clearly, the rebellious ones can always be persuaded otherwise at the point of a gun.
The reluctance of Nato members to take part in escalating an already worsening situation in Afghanistan is in part due to their fears that the US has been diverted from Afghanistan by Iraq, and not fully committed to seeing closure. But now, with the US increasing finance and troops there, in readiness for what is expected to be a tough summer ahead, Nato acquiesced to US bidding.
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