Doubts About Germany

United States special envoy Richard Holbrooke’s remarks show that the U.S. no longer believes Germany wants to continue defending Afghanistan’s northern region.

The good news is all bad. A cabinet committee led by Chancellor Angela Merkel is developing its own ideas for the future of Germany’s military action in Afghanistan. The goal is to present a common concept for Germany’s coalition government agencies when the Afghanistan conference is held in London on January 28. But is Germany waging its own war in the Hindu Kush? Are Germany’s tactical goals completely separate from those of other internationally mandated troop contingencies? Does Germany have specific withdrawal scenarios that could be accomplished, independent of the tactics and strategies of the U.S., Great Britain and Canada? The answer to all these questions is a clear “no.” Holbrooke’s aim was to clarify that it is in both Germany’s and America’s best interests that this war be won. Washington has reacted to Germany’s delaying tactics by announcing its intention to send additional troops to Kundus. Clearly, the U.S. now believes that Germany is either incapable of defending northern Afghanistan or unwilling to do so.