Germany to send 250 soldiers to Afghanistan

Berlin - Germany has announced that it will send a 250-man rapid intervention force to Afghanistan this summer. The troops, which will be stationed in northern Afghanistan, will replace a Norwegian contingent.

Berlin has turned down a NATO request to send soldiers to the south of the country, where the Taliban are active. London will send an elite fighting unit to Afghanistan in April, but the number of British troops will not be increased.

The United States, Canada and Australia have been pressuring the European NATO countries to send more soldiers to southern Afghanistan. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met in London today with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and her counterpart David Miliband; she again emphasised the importance of sending additional troops to fight the Taliban. Tomorrow the NATO will discuss the issue in Lithuania.

We already have around 3000 soldiers there. Admittedly, they only do development aid (building schools etc.) and are stationed in the safe north. Our politicians and media sell this conflict as a war started by the agressor U.S.A to the public. The GIs are the evil ones who kill and burn, whereas we Germans win their hearts and minds by being nice. The fact that our part wouldn’t be possible without other nations doing the fighting gets omitted.

That’s what 60 years of getting safeguarded does to a country. The U.S. must put more pressure on the German politicians. They must also pressure other European countries to pressure Germany. The U.S. must help us out of this pacifist swamp. I hope Hillary or McCain can do it.

Admittedly, they only do development aid (building schools etc.) and are stationed in the safe north

That basically echos the myth in the story = that all the fighting is going on the south, particularly in the Helmed Province.

You folk all swallowing the hype??? While the media, including military media, ignores the troops fighting and suffering a KIA/injured rate of 1 in 4 - while engaged in 2+ average firefights a day (450 in the first 5 1/2 months alone - that has more than tripled since - in the harsh winters of the Hindu Kush Range, in the Kunar Province of norhteastern Afghanistan - aka "Taliban Central" - well, tell the Sky Soldiers of the 173rd AIRBORNE they're not fighting.

But first, you might want to check the facts? You got the guts and can spare a few minutes of your time to see the truth?

Here's some links:

first, photos of some lost heroes of the 173rd -

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/popup?id=3855518&contentIndex=1&page=1

then the link below for the videos, scroll down to watch three short video clips:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/11/ambush-video-sh.html

After you've watched those clips and the battle of "Rock Avalanche" where they lost 3, tell the families of these 6 troops killed the same week the video appeared on ABC - also in the KUNAR - and watch the video of the rescue/recover operation that took 31 - THIRTY ONE - hours.

1st Lt. Matthew C. Ferrara, 24, of Torrance, Calif.

Sgt. Jeffery S. Mersman, 23, of Parker, Kan

Spc. Sean K.A. Langevin, 23, of Walnut Creek, Calif.

Spc. Lester G. Roque, 23, of Torrance, Calif.

Pfc. Joseph M. Lancour, 21, of Swartz Creek, Mich.

Marine Sgt. Phillip A. Bocks, 28, of Troy, Mich.

scroll down for video:

http://cjtf-a.com/index.php/Heroes-of-CJTF-82/MEDEVAC-Crews-AKA-DUSTOFF.html

Keep in mind - these are just what the 173rd goes through every day - and they've been isolated this winter in those valleys, perched on tiny shelves of rock they pickaxed out of the mountain sides, 24/7 with no heat, the only shelter, when not out patrolling the goat paths or in battle, the hootches they cobbled out of rock filled sand bags....isolated from the rest of the country - far away from heat, running water, PX's, etc...

Don't anyone assume or state where I can hear it - that they are not in the fighting, that they "only do development aid (building schools etc.) and are stationed in the safe north" -

a pox on your ignorance...

tell it to the comrades of these troops from the 173rd killed in the KUNAR

We all missed the part where the first german lead combat ground operation since ww2 was a success ...

‘Harekate Yolo’ was the name of a combat operation against the insurgency in Farjad the dirty job was done by the afghan armies soldiers but nevertheless it was lead by german officers.

Germany is now going to send 250 plain soldiers that - for the first time after WWII will not only shoot at the enemy - but will be sent into missions where this is planned to happen.

Although commando units allready did this before - but they got the privilege of diskretion.

Strictly speeking german soldiers have been to afghanistan long before GIs came there - because there were eastern german commandos supporting the russians then... I guess noone over here is eager to talk about that.

That’s the way we do history nowadays folks - one small step after the other so our folks at home got time to get used to it.

BTW germany has until now third most casualties of the western countries in the WOT - an these were not due to heartattacks and alcohol.

So it’s not fair to say we just sit in the comfy chair - which are quite rare in afghanistan.

I don’t have much doubt that people over here will get smarter - they have allready wised up a lot over the recent years and success in afghanistan and iraq cannot be denied.

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