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Uniqueness overwhelms the link – the NATO operation in Afghanistan will be gone by the end of 2010

The Guardian 10 (Ian Traynor, Feb 22 2010, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/21/dutch-government-falls-over-afghanistan)IM

The Dutch government collapsed at the weekend, making it the first European and Nato administration to fall because of the war in Afghanistan. The fourth fall of a government under the prime minister, Jan-Peter Balkenende, in eight years could end his career and is certain to usher in a period of political uncertainty that could bring big gains for the extreme anti-Muslim right. The end of Balkenende's centrist coalition, mainly of Christian and social democrats, means that the almost 2,000 Dutch troops in Afghanistan, based around Uruzgan, south-west of Kabul, will start pulling out in August and be withdrawn by the end of the year. "If nothing else will take its place, then [the Afghan mission] ends," Balkenende told Dutch television yesterday. "The image of the Netherlands is far from flourishing abroad. They do not understand what we are doing." The Netherlands could set a precedent, encouraging other European countries to get cold feet about their presence in Afghanistan. "The moment the Netherlands says as sole and first country we will no longer have activities at the end of 2010, it will raise questions in other countries and this really pains me," Balkenende said. While the prime minister sought to extend the Afghan mission, under strong pressure from Nato allies and Washington, his Labour party coalition partner opposed the extension and walked out of crisis talks on Saturday, spelling the end of the government two years into its term. The Dutch withdrawal is a blow to President Barack Obama and comes as the US and Nato troops mount their biggest operation in Afghanistan for years. The Americans have been pressing for more European troops in Afghanistan and voiced satisfaction with European pledges of some 9,000 extra forces in recent weeks. But the Americans are demanding that the Europeans supply 2,000 trainers for the Afghan army and police.


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Overhaul from Washington checks any backsliding in US-NATO relations

Awwal 2 (Rabi-ul, Dawn Newspaper Writer, June 4 2002, http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27c/006.html)IM

The flurry of activity comes in response to fears that, by making a habit of unilateral action, the United States - which is way ahead of Europe in military technology and defence spending - could marginalize the alliance. But instead of snubbing NATO, Washington is now leading efforts to revitalize it. WASHINGTON SEEKS OVERHAUL: The senior official said that US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld would propose a review of NATO's command structure, raising the question of whether it still needs a Supreme Allied Commander based in North America (SACLANT) as well as the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe (SACEUR). And Britain's Sunday Telegraph reported this week that the Pentagon would also propose that NATO set up small, highly mobile units for risky missions. NATO officials said such a plan would be in keeping with the alliance's push for "smart" forces that can be deployed quickly and sustainably to far-flung troublespots.

NATO is initiating reforms to regain primacy – its actions will check the impacts of US withdrawal from Afghanistan

Awwal 2 (Rabi-ul, Dawn Newspaper Writer, June 4 2002, http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27c/006.html)IM

BRUSSELS, June 3: NATO is drawing up a new "military concept" to define its role in the fight against global terrorism and put an end to the identity crisis which has plagued it since September 11, officials said on Monday. Sidelined by the US military campaign in Afghanistan, NATO is working to make itself relevant for threats and security challenges that may lie far beyond the borders of Europe that it guarded during the Cold War. Defence ministers from the 19-nation alliance will kickstart the process at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday and the package of measures will be agreed at a summit in Prague next November. They will consider plans to streamline NATO's cumbersome military command structure and start work on a shopping list of military hardware to defend against weapons of mass destruction and get boots on the ground quickly when crises erupt. "The main function of this new military concept is to define NATO's role, and in particular the military role in relation to terrorism," a senior NATO official said. It will consider what role NATO could play in attacks on non-member countries outside its traditional area of operations and how it can contribute to international coalitions.


NATO is committed to remaining in Afghanistan

Poppelwell 9 (Teresa, Forced Migration Online, FMO Research Guide: Afghanistan,, July 2009, p. 9, www.forcedmigration.org/guides/fmo006/fmo006.pdf)IM

On 11 August 2003, NATO assumed authority for the ISAF mission with the aim of creating a common command structure to enable better planning and coordination. In October 2003, the United Nations extended ISAF’s mandate to the whole of Afghanistan (UNSCR 1510) which created the legal conditions for the expansion of the mission. As of January 2007, there are currently 37 Troop Contributing Nations (TCNs) with a total of approximately 32,800 troops. In addition, the American led ‘Enduring Freedom’ has approximately 8,000 troops which continue to focus on hunting down Al Queda. Around the country there are five Regional Commands (RCs). Each of the Regional Commands has a varying number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams – each led by various contributing nations, which report to them. Recent events indicate that NATO/ISAF’s engagement in Afghanistan will continue for the long term. On 6 September 2006, President Karzai and the Secretary General of NATO, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer signed the ‘Declaration by NATO and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’ which is a framework for long term cooperation and partnership. This declaration, as well as the fact that the NATO presence in the region is an important element on the ‘war on terror’, indicates that NATO and the ISAF mission will have an enduring presence in Afghanistan for a number of years. ISAF will remain in Afghanistan until ‘the people of Afghanistan have developed government structures and security forces that are sustainable and capable of ensuring the security of all Afghans without outside support.’ ISAF’s primary role is to support the Government of Afghanistan in providing and maintaining a secure environment that will be conducive to establishing democratic structures, to facilitate the reconstruction of the country and to assist in expanding the influence of the central government. ISAF’s key military tasks include: assisting the Afghan government in extending its authority across the country, conducting stability and security operations in coordination with the Afghan national security forces: mentoring and supporting the Afghan national army; and supporting Afghan government programmes to disarm illegally armed groups.




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