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November 19, 2009

German defense chief: No move now on Afghan troops



WASHINGTON — Germany will hold off on any decision about adding troops to Afghanistan at least until the United States makes a move, the country’s defense chief said Thursday.

“We are, eagerly probably as you all are, waiting for the president’s speech and ... waiting for the new concept, the new strategic ideas from our American friends,” German Minister of Defense Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said following meetings at the Pentagon on Thursday.

A day earlier, his nation announced it will continue its military mission in Afghanistan next year despite the war’s unpopularity at home and doubts about the credibility of the Afghan government.

Guttenberg told reporters he has assured U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates that Germany’s commitment is firm. He also said Germany will make its own choices.

President Barack Obama is expected to announce soon whether the United States will add troops next year, above the record 68,000 U.S. forces now in Afghanistan.

For his part, Gates says the United States “can use all the help we can get” from European nations and others in Afghanistan. But he says asking for anything specific is premature until Obama announces his plans.

More than 4,000 German troops are serving in Afghanistan under a mandate that limits their number to no more than 4,500. The government said Wednesday that limit would remain unchanged and the troops would be predominantly stationed in northern Afghanistan.

The decision requires parliamentary approval, which is expected before the current mandate expires in Dec. 13. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition enjoys a comfortable majority in parliament.

The mission to Afghanistan has become increasingly unpopular with Germans. More than 30 soldiers have been killed as Taliban militants have become more entrenched in the north of the country where German soldiers serve in the NATO-led force.

But the German government has not come under significant pressure to pull out. All the main political parties, including most of the opposition, support keeping German troops in the country.

Meanwhile, NATO postponed a meeting at which the allies will pledge reinforcements for its 71,000-strong force in Afghanistan to take into account the latest developments in that country and the outcome of President Barack Obama’s strategic review of the war. The U.S. military has another 36,000 soldiers in Afghanistan who serve outside NATO, under independent command.

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