Inkless Wells

 Inkless Wells

Paul Wells on all the latest out of Ottawa—along with the occasional post about jazz. Follow Paul on Twitter: @InklessPW

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Afghanistan: Surprise! Yes they can, "they" in this case being the Europeans…or some of them…

by Paul Wells on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 12:42pm - 16 Comments

From our far-flung network of correspondents (OK, two websites) comes news that the French, the Germans and the Italians are all in for increased Afghanistan deployments, for varying terms and, in each case, to the tune of about 500 soldiers. (The Germans will probably come with the usual caveats, which substantially reduces but doesn’t eliminate their usefulness.) Other U.S. allies expect to get the tap on the shoulder soon, and there may indeed be further news out of a NATO ministerial in Krakow this week.

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  • http://macleans.ca kc

    Websites! I thought you guys took it in turn putting on the superman/woman suit, and dashing off to track down all those wonderful stories. Sigh, oh well i shouldn’t be surprised i suppose. Since my little one badgered me into accepting that santa ‘is’ a figment of my imagination and not hers, i’ve been exspecting something like this.
    Wow! all those hundreds of extry European troops should help! Are the Germans bringing their guns this time? Good news about the aussies though. Perhaps they can teach the taliban to play cricket – preferrably without heads – as this game is the best soporific yet devised by man. It’s one of the Brits great gifts to mankind. Along with tea-time, roast beef & Yorkshire, Van Morrison, magic roundabout and noddy ; well there was acouple of other things like Magna carta and a bloke called Shakespeare but these are only niche interests these days.

  • Mulletaur

    Small beer compared to the additional 17,000 troops Obama has just ordered in and for the most part not in the right places, but it’s better than nothing. It also means that Canada is going to be under a lot of pressure. Obama is going to want to talk about dirty tarsands oil on Thursday, judging by his interview with Mansbridge. Looks to me like the President has a very good negotiating lever for insisting on a longer and stronger Canadian commitment in Afghanistan …

    • Paul Wells

      I’d honestly be very surprised if the Americans were at all preoccupied with Canada’s 2011 exit date…for now. 2009 is going to be an extraordinarily difficult year. 2010 is a whole ‘nother year after that. I suppose this will sound simplistic, but the Americans have so much on their plate before 2011 that I doubt they’ll be in any hurry to deal with that question in the next several months.

      There could well be an “ask,” but (a) the Americans, starting with Petraeus in Munich, have been urging allies to come up with their own ideas for supplementary contributions, rather than making specific requests of specific partners (b) the preferred contribution will be “do more, now,” not “promise us you’ll keep doing the same, in two years’ time.” Helicopters, fighter jets, or a further augmentation of Canada’s already exemplary “civilian surge” (more police trainers, for instance) would fit the bill more than would a highly premature fight over 2011.

      • Wayne

        I have to agree Paul and Obama certainly made it clear that our approach (almost lifted words from Stevie’s past speeches) over there has a lot to offer if ramped up as it were. I think as well that over the years now we have built up a very usefull network of contacts and expertise re: diplomatically, developmentally and locally (like alliterationally) that may become even more usefull as we approach 2011 and then start to help out in those areas for the more and I emphasize ‘ Comprehensive ‘ approach.

        • http://macleans.ca kc

          Wayne
          Were you asleep during the Manley report? As i remember, it did not endorse wholasale or in pretty much any way you care to look at it, Harper’s approach.
          Considering the political realities of European involvement in Afganistan – only token or largely non combat roles permissable – i would surmise a lot more effort from Obama in coaxing, [ in particular Pakistan ] more out of the local powers. In this regard the Brits with their far more extensive ties in this corner of the world, will be more useful than Canada. Yet one more reason that the Harpy gangs reluctance to recognize that we need to cultivate ties around the world, – the way we used to – is so assine and small minded. Now, if only Obama played cricket!

      • Mulletaur

        What ISAF has been doing in Afghanistan up until now has clearly not been working. I wonder what Obama’s plan for changing the course of this thing is, and what they will ask us to do in the “more, now” vein that will actually improve the situation. His military people must have a plan, even if it is not in the public domain yet.

        I read a very interesting article in the Globe and Mail yesterday (which I cannot manage to bring up using the search engine on their Web site for some strange reason) suggesting that we have not been reaching out to tribal leaders to help us identify those Taliban linked with al Qaida and foreign jihadi. That sounds to me like a total strategic failure. I sense a policy (and strategy) shift in the air. I am sure you are right about the Americans having a lot on their plate, but if there is a change in strategy, the new one will need more time to work. And that means a longer mission.

        Whether our contribution really matters to Obama or not is another question. I always get a bit worried when a foreign leader praises us like Obama did yesterday in his interview with Mansbridge … call me cynical, but it usually means we are going to be asked to do something extra. I can’t wait to see what comes out of this tea break meeting tomorrow.

  • Critical Reasoning

    Clearly Mackay’s speech from two days ago was perfectly timed.

    • http://macleans.ca kc

      CR
      Why don’t you come right out and say you want credit for writing it? You did a good job too! Pity you didn’t get to proof read Pete’s…er..improvements. :)

      • Critical Reasoning

        LOL, Kc – very cute. I’m actually quite critical of Harper and some of his more clownish cabinet ministers – I just believe in credit where credit is due. It gets a little tedious surfing on waves of negativity all the time. Mackay may not be Superman but he’s actually done a pretty good job in the past few months.

  • J@ck M!tchell

    Via Juan Cole, not a good development: Kyrgyzstan is closing a main supply route for NATO troops in Afghanistan. Apparently we have the Russians to thank.

  • Neil

    The vast majority of the twentyish odd year olds are not interested………. turn on, tune in, drop out

    • Sophie

      That’s a vast generalization, sir.

  • Neil

    That’s a vast generalization, sir.

    Like it was during my heyday in the 60′s – 1967 Summer of Love, can’t forget 1968 though. Hey, Hey LBJ – how many kids you kill today!!!!

  • http://westofthefourth.blogspot.com Simon Kiss

    Have you seen this report: Wikileaks obtained it from Nato. The Independent has already reported on it:\
    http://file.sunshinepress.org:54445/nato-afghan-metrics-2008.pdf

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