12-09-2009, 02:35 AM
Oh no! An outbreak of peace! Stop it now!
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b5e131b8-9da1-...abdc0.html
Financial Times
September 10, 2009
Nato fears direction of Afghan debate
By James Blitz in London, Matthew Green in Kabul and,Daniel Dombey in Washington
Anders Fogh Rasmussen , Nato's new secretary-general, yesterday warned that a rush to withdraw from Afghanistan was not an option for the US-led alliance, in spite of increasing signs that western public opinion is tiring of the war.
With German opinion polls showing a sharp rise in support for a party that opposes the Nato operation, Mr Rasmussen will say in a speech in the US he is concerned that the public debate on Afghanistan "has started to go in the wrong direction".
But while allegations of fraud during the Afghan presidential elections have been "disturbing", he will add: "We must stay in Afghanistan as long as necessary, and we will stay as long as necessary. Let no one think that a run for the exits is an option. It is not."
Mr Rasmussen's comments come as the Left party, which is opposed to the conflict, received a sharp increase in support ahead of Germany's general election later this month.
Support for the Left, the only mainstream party that is demanding an immediate withdrawal of Germany's 4,200 soldiers in Afghanistan, rose four points to 14 per cent in the latest poll by Forsa for Stern magazine yesterday.
It also comes in advance of scheduled moves by the Netherlands and Canada to draw down or pull out forces from the country next year and in 2011 respectively.
US officials are in negotiations with The Hague to keep 500 of the 1,600-strong Dutch force in Uruzgan province.
Mr Rasmussen fully backed calls by Britain, France and Germany for a UN conference on Afghanistan to be held this year, to focus on transition in civilian sectors. Gordon Brown, UK prime minister, signed a joint letter with Angela Merkel, German chancellor, and Nicolas Sarkozy, French president, asking Ban Ki-Moon, the UN secretary-general, to endorse the international conference building on the heavily disputed presidential elections in Afghanistan, which the leaders claimed marked "an important step in its democratic history".
The UK government said the Afghanistan conference could take place before the end of the year in two phases, with one meeting in Kabul and the second in a venue outside Afghanistan. Mr Brown has offered London as a possible location.
Mr Brown is anxious the conference is not seen as the moment when Nato maps out a detailed exit strategy from Afghanistan, in spite of political pressure from inside Germany for a clear plan for withdrawal.
Nato diplomats dismissed the idea that the call for a conference suggested European Union states were looking for an exit from Afghanistan.
*The US yesterday struck an emollient note about the Afghan election. The state department said that by "refraining from publicly commenting on the outcome of the election" President Hamid Karzai was "giving a chance to the process to work out".
Additional reporting by George Parker
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b5e131b8-9da1-...abdc0.html
Financial Times
September 10, 2009
Nato fears direction of Afghan debate
By James Blitz in London, Matthew Green in Kabul and,Daniel Dombey in Washington
Anders Fogh Rasmussen , Nato's new secretary-general, yesterday warned that a rush to withdraw from Afghanistan was not an option for the US-led alliance, in spite of increasing signs that western public opinion is tiring of the war.
With German opinion polls showing a sharp rise in support for a party that opposes the Nato operation, Mr Rasmussen will say in a speech in the US he is concerned that the public debate on Afghanistan "has started to go in the wrong direction".
But while allegations of fraud during the Afghan presidential elections have been "disturbing", he will add: "We must stay in Afghanistan as long as necessary, and we will stay as long as necessary. Let no one think that a run for the exits is an option. It is not."
Mr Rasmussen's comments come as the Left party, which is opposed to the conflict, received a sharp increase in support ahead of Germany's general election later this month.
Support for the Left, the only mainstream party that is demanding an immediate withdrawal of Germany's 4,200 soldiers in Afghanistan, rose four points to 14 per cent in the latest poll by Forsa for Stern magazine yesterday.
It also comes in advance of scheduled moves by the Netherlands and Canada to draw down or pull out forces from the country next year and in 2011 respectively.
US officials are in negotiations with The Hague to keep 500 of the 1,600-strong Dutch force in Uruzgan province.
Mr Rasmussen fully backed calls by Britain, France and Germany for a UN conference on Afghanistan to be held this year, to focus on transition in civilian sectors. Gordon Brown, UK prime minister, signed a joint letter with Angela Merkel, German chancellor, and Nicolas Sarkozy, French president, asking Ban Ki-Moon, the UN secretary-general, to endorse the international conference building on the heavily disputed presidential elections in Afghanistan, which the leaders claimed marked "an important step in its democratic history".
The UK government said the Afghanistan conference could take place before the end of the year in two phases, with one meeting in Kabul and the second in a venue outside Afghanistan. Mr Brown has offered London as a possible location.
Mr Brown is anxious the conference is not seen as the moment when Nato maps out a detailed exit strategy from Afghanistan, in spite of political pressure from inside Germany for a clear plan for withdrawal.
Nato diplomats dismissed the idea that the call for a conference suggested European Union states were looking for an exit from Afghanistan.
*The US yesterday struck an emollient note about the Afghan election. The state department said that by "refraining from publicly commenting on the outcome of the election" President Hamid Karzai was "giving a chance to the process to work out".
Additional reporting by George Parker
"The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it." Karl Marx
"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
“I think it would be a good idea” Ghandi, when asked about Western Civilisation.
"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
“I think it would be a good idea” Ghandi, when asked about Western Civilisation.