Europe and America in bitter row over peace force

UK Independent ^ | 19 December 2001 | Kim Sengupta, David Usborne, Nigel Morris

[Gritty]

A bitter dispute between Europe and the United States over the multinational force for Afghanistan has delayed its deployment and forced Britain to provide 200 Royal Marines at less than a week's notice.

The argument, which has led to cancelled meetings and angry transatlantic exchanges, threatens to overshadow the installation of the interim government of Hamid Karzai in Kabul on Saturday, and shows no sign of being resolved.

The US is angry about a series of last-minute disagreements. The Germans are accused of holding up the deployment of the force by demanding details on rules of engagement for every situation the troops might possibly face.

"We're talking about a force for Kabul, not for the whole of Texas," said one frustrated diplomat said last night. The deployment of the Royal Marines has also led to strains between Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence. Number 10 was angered that the MoD announced the plans without sufficient consultation.

The UN had asked for the force to be in Afghanistan by the time the interim government takes office, and members of the US and British governments had pledged it would.

Yesterday, however, a defence source said, "It will be weeks rather than days before this happens.''

[Happygal]

Are you talkin' about peace keeping forces? Sorry, I'm not military minded....just a question.

[Adrastus]

Ah, yes. The European Union. Well of course, now that the hard part is over they want in,if not for any other reason than to claim some sort of legitimacy in the world.They will wind up trying to field a body of military (not to say "Peace Keepers") that will be so thoroughly uncoordinated as to be a Key-stone Cop effort.It would be interesting to turn it all over to them when the US gets through there. How long before Afghanastan turns into a perfect bedlam. If the US stays with them (EU) guess who will wind up paying the bill?

Let them have it....afer the US leaves.

[caisson71]

Why in the heck do we need europeans anyway. We could let the Russians take over Afghanistan and not worry about it anymore. In fact, The US should pull out of any formal agreements with the european continent and keep our alignment with the British and Russia. We'll let the French, Germans, Dutch, Swedes, etc. go "liberate" themselves.

[Adrastus]

The Europeans will dither until they get their own 9-11 and then the scrambling will start. Point well made,though,let them snatch their own chesnuts out of the fire.

[Frohickey]

"We're talking about a force for Kabul, not for the whole of Texas," said one frustrated diplomat said last night. The deployment of the Royal Marines has also led to strains between Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence. Number 10 was angered that the MoD announced the plans without sufficient consultation.

Yup. A force for the whole of Texas would be a lot of soldiers. I doubt the English or any of the European countries has enough of an army to keep Texas occupied. ;)

As far as the Germans demanding details on rules of engagement for every situation their troops might face, lets just say that their troops wont face any situation they will not have been trained for. Lets ask the Germans if they can only contribute cooks and supply clerks instead. ;)

[McGavin999]

If the Germans need clarification, then we should ask the Turks, the Aussies, the Brits, and the Poles to move a force in ASAP and let the Germans stew in their own juices as they're left out of this world changing event.

[fleur-de-lis]

If true, this is futher proof of the value of U.S. "unilateralism".

[Asclepius]

The Germans are accused of holding up the deployment of the force by demanding details on rules of engagement for every situation the troops might possibly face.

How unreasonable of our German friends. Why can't they just spray bullets randomnly into any crowd like we do? Pansies.

[gcruse]

 In fact, The US should pull out of any formal agreements with
the european continent and keep our alignment with the
British and Russia.

You're a bad boy, but I like the way you think.

[gcruse]

Why can't they just spray bullets randomnly into any crowd like we do?

Who are they planning to shoot?

[foreshadowed at waco]

We need the Europeans to help set up hospitals, schools, and to run meetings that keep the nutty Afghanis in check. We need the Russians and British to work with us on the battlefield. The Europeans are good bureaucrats and by being allowed to keep their hands clean while we do the dirty work they get to be morally superior to us, don't you know...and it keeps them busy and out of the way...kind of like sending the kids in to set the table while you're in the kitchen cooking the meal...LOL.