Cotland
13-02-2007, 14:25
Norway sends more troops to Afghanistan!
The Norwegian government has decided to send more soldiers to Afghanistan, dispatching another 150 special forces to Kabul. The decision marks a new defeat for the Socialist Left Party (SV), which is part of Norway's center-left coalition government.
The special forces will be in addition to the roughly 530 Norwegian soldiers and officers already in Afghanistan.
The government previously has rejected calls for more troops from both NATO and key NATO members such as the US. Now it's changed its mind, clearly after intense negotiations among its three center-left parties that strive to maintain a united front.
Political observers claim the decision to send the troops is aimed at placating the Americans, who have been pressuring the Norwegians to do more to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan and help bring some stability to the war-torn country.
NATO, faced with a troop shortage in the face of new Taliban aggression, also has repeatedly asked Norway to send more troops. Norway's own non-socialist opposition parties have joined the call, contending that Norway must meet its obligations to NATO.
Norwegian Defense Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen of the Labour Party had maintained, though, that Norway already was doing enough in the country. The Socialist Left (SV) also had continued to resist efforts to send more troops, with SV leader Kristin Halvorsen claiming as late as this past weekend that she doesn't believe military power will help solve problems in Afghanistan.
She clearly was overruled during negotiations within the government coalition. Labour Party members including Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre are expected to have lobbied hardest to appease NATO.
Støre, who recently returned from a trip to Afghanistan, noted that he's seen for himself "how important it is to contribute" in the area.
Halvorsen, who also serves as Norway's finance minister and isn't one to admit defeat easily, was quick to point out on Tuesday that the additional troops won't be sent to the southern regions of Afghanistan. That's where fighting has been the worst, and where NATO has the most urgent need for reinforcements.
The new troops will instead be sent to Kabul, where Norway already has agreed to run the airport. Halvorsen still faces a challenge quelling dissent within her party, where several veteran politicians remain adamantly opposed to more Norwegian military involvement in Afghanistan, and who believe their party is sacrificing too much in order to stay in the government.
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1640730.ece
So, we're finally listening to our NATO allies and send our special forces back, after repeated requests, but they're apparently not going to southern Afghanistan where they're needed. Then again, the Finance Minister isn't supposed to have a lot to say when it comes to where our armed forces are being deployed...
Any thoughts on the latest from Norway's first socialist government?
The Norwegian government has decided to send more soldiers to Afghanistan, dispatching another 150 special forces to Kabul. The decision marks a new defeat for the Socialist Left Party (SV), which is part of Norway's center-left coalition government.
The special forces will be in addition to the roughly 530 Norwegian soldiers and officers already in Afghanistan.
The government previously has rejected calls for more troops from both NATO and key NATO members such as the US. Now it's changed its mind, clearly after intense negotiations among its three center-left parties that strive to maintain a united front.
Political observers claim the decision to send the troops is aimed at placating the Americans, who have been pressuring the Norwegians to do more to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan and help bring some stability to the war-torn country.
NATO, faced with a troop shortage in the face of new Taliban aggression, also has repeatedly asked Norway to send more troops. Norway's own non-socialist opposition parties have joined the call, contending that Norway must meet its obligations to NATO.
Norwegian Defense Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen of the Labour Party had maintained, though, that Norway already was doing enough in the country. The Socialist Left (SV) also had continued to resist efforts to send more troops, with SV leader Kristin Halvorsen claiming as late as this past weekend that she doesn't believe military power will help solve problems in Afghanistan.
She clearly was overruled during negotiations within the government coalition. Labour Party members including Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre are expected to have lobbied hardest to appease NATO.
Støre, who recently returned from a trip to Afghanistan, noted that he's seen for himself "how important it is to contribute" in the area.
Halvorsen, who also serves as Norway's finance minister and isn't one to admit defeat easily, was quick to point out on Tuesday that the additional troops won't be sent to the southern regions of Afghanistan. That's where fighting has been the worst, and where NATO has the most urgent need for reinforcements.
The new troops will instead be sent to Kabul, where Norway already has agreed to run the airport. Halvorsen still faces a challenge quelling dissent within her party, where several veteran politicians remain adamantly opposed to more Norwegian military involvement in Afghanistan, and who believe their party is sacrificing too much in order to stay in the government.
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1640730.ece
So, we're finally listening to our NATO allies and send our special forces back, after repeated requests, but they're apparently not going to southern Afghanistan where they're needed. Then again, the Finance Minister isn't supposed to have a lot to say when it comes to where our armed forces are being deployed...
Any thoughts on the latest from Norway's first socialist government?