Forostar
Ancient Mariner
In the dangerous south of Afghanistan, it's time for more unity.
Read on:
source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews ... 8020071026
By James Grubel
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia promised to keep troops in Afghanistan on Friday after a second Australian soldier in a month was killed in action, but urged NATO countries to send more forces to Afghanistan's troubled south.
"It's not going to alter our commitment," Prime Minister John Howard said on Friday.
Australia has about 1,000 troops in Afghanistan, working alongside Dutch troops in Uruzgan province, including special forces units who conduct long-range raids on Taliban strongholds in the country's south.
Taliban insurgents have intensified their attacks over the past 20 months, the bloodiest period since U.S.-led troops overthrew the Taliban government in Kabul in late 2001.
Australia's Foreign minister Alexander Downer said European NATO countries needed to send more troops to Afghanistan, and to lift restrictions on their activities.
"We would like to see more European contributors contributing in the south where we have a particularly difficult environment," Downer told reporters in Adelaide.
"At the moment in the south, you have the Australians, the Canadians -- who have lost a large number of soldiers -- the Americans, the British, the Dutch of course," he said.
"But many of the European NATO countries have their troops in the north, which is not free of Taliban activity of course but it is a good deal quieter and a less threatening environment.
"We would like to see some of the restrictions that particularly European parliaments have placed on their troops lifted ... so that the European NATO countries that aren't making a big contribution in the south could make a more active contribution in the south."
Germany has lost 26 military personnel in Afghanistan, while Spain has lost 23. The U.S. has lost 451 while Canada has lost 71, according to the latest casualty figures.
The United States has also urged European NATO countries to send more troops, trainers and equipment to Afghanistan, and to lift restrictions on what activities they can do.
In the latest incident, an Australian special forces soldier based in Uruzgan was shot and killed fighting Taliban insurgents. His death follows the death on October 8 of another Australian soldier, killed by a roadside bomb in Uruzgan.
They are the first Australians killed in action in Afghanistan, although a third Australian soldier died in 2002 when his vehicle hit an old landmine from an earlier conflict.
Australia, a close U.S. ally, was one of the first nations to commit troops in late 2001 to the U.S.-led war to oust the Taliban and al Qaeda militants from Afghanistan. It also has about 1,500 troops in and around Iraq.
The deaths came during campaigning for Australia's national elections on November 24. The centre-left opposition Labor Party has promised to withdraw frontline troops from Iraq, but both sides of politics support the troop deployments to Afghanistan.
Howard made a private visit to the special forces base in Perth on Friday to offer his condolences for the tragedy. Labor's leader Kevin Rudd also visited the barracks to express his condolences and support for the military role in Afghanistan.
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http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM ... xsWUFbulbg
Nato troops launch Afghan offensive
12 hours ago
Dutch troops backed by Afghan and British forces have launched a major offensive against the Taliban in the southern Afghan province of Uruzgan.
The announcement came as Defence Minister Eimert van Middelkoop attempted to drum up support for the Dutch force of 1,600 troops at a NATO meeting in the Netherlands.
"This operation, code-named Spin Gahr, is aimed at improving security in specific parts of the province before winter," a Defence Ministry statement said.
"This security is essential for continuing development and reconstruction in Uruzgan province," it said.
Despite the Dutch troop presence, Taliban forces have gained in strength in Uruzgan in recent months, hindering attempts to help locals rebuild their lives after years of violence and Taliban rule.
Local officials approved the offensive and sought support from tribal elders before it began, the ministry said.
The Dutch government will shortly announce whether its troops will stay in Uruzgan when their mandate ends in August.
At a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Noordwijk, Van Middelkoop sought pledges of troops from other Alliance allies to bolster the Dutch presence.
On Wednesday, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates also called on other nations to join Britain, Canada, the Netherlands and the US, which are leading the fight against the Taliban in the south.
Read on:
source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews ... 8020071026
By James Grubel
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia promised to keep troops in Afghanistan on Friday after a second Australian soldier in a month was killed in action, but urged NATO countries to send more forces to Afghanistan's troubled south.
"It's not going to alter our commitment," Prime Minister John Howard said on Friday.
Australia has about 1,000 troops in Afghanistan, working alongside Dutch troops in Uruzgan province, including special forces units who conduct long-range raids on Taliban strongholds in the country's south.
Taliban insurgents have intensified their attacks over the past 20 months, the bloodiest period since U.S.-led troops overthrew the Taliban government in Kabul in late 2001.
Australia's Foreign minister Alexander Downer said European NATO countries needed to send more troops to Afghanistan, and to lift restrictions on their activities.
"We would like to see more European contributors contributing in the south where we have a particularly difficult environment," Downer told reporters in Adelaide.
"At the moment in the south, you have the Australians, the Canadians -- who have lost a large number of soldiers -- the Americans, the British, the Dutch of course," he said.
"But many of the European NATO countries have their troops in the north, which is not free of Taliban activity of course but it is a good deal quieter and a less threatening environment.
"We would like to see some of the restrictions that particularly European parliaments have placed on their troops lifted ... so that the European NATO countries that aren't making a big contribution in the south could make a more active contribution in the south."
Germany has lost 26 military personnel in Afghanistan, while Spain has lost 23. The U.S. has lost 451 while Canada has lost 71, according to the latest casualty figures.
The United States has also urged European NATO countries to send more troops, trainers and equipment to Afghanistan, and to lift restrictions on what activities they can do.
In the latest incident, an Australian special forces soldier based in Uruzgan was shot and killed fighting Taliban insurgents. His death follows the death on October 8 of another Australian soldier, killed by a roadside bomb in Uruzgan.
They are the first Australians killed in action in Afghanistan, although a third Australian soldier died in 2002 when his vehicle hit an old landmine from an earlier conflict.
Australia, a close U.S. ally, was one of the first nations to commit troops in late 2001 to the U.S.-led war to oust the Taliban and al Qaeda militants from Afghanistan. It also has about 1,500 troops in and around Iraq.
The deaths came during campaigning for Australia's national elections on November 24. The centre-left opposition Labor Party has promised to withdraw frontline troops from Iraq, but both sides of politics support the troop deployments to Afghanistan.
Howard made a private visit to the special forces base in Perth on Friday to offer his condolences for the tragedy. Labor's leader Kevin Rudd also visited the barracks to express his condolences and support for the military role in Afghanistan.
+
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM ... xsWUFbulbg
Nato troops launch Afghan offensive
12 hours ago
Dutch troops backed by Afghan and British forces have launched a major offensive against the Taliban in the southern Afghan province of Uruzgan.
The announcement came as Defence Minister Eimert van Middelkoop attempted to drum up support for the Dutch force of 1,600 troops at a NATO meeting in the Netherlands.
"This operation, code-named Spin Gahr, is aimed at improving security in specific parts of the province before winter," a Defence Ministry statement said.
"This security is essential for continuing development and reconstruction in Uruzgan province," it said.
Despite the Dutch troop presence, Taliban forces have gained in strength in Uruzgan in recent months, hindering attempts to help locals rebuild their lives after years of violence and Taliban rule.
Local officials approved the offensive and sought support from tribal elders before it began, the ministry said.
The Dutch government will shortly announce whether its troops will stay in Uruzgan when their mandate ends in August.
At a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Noordwijk, Van Middelkoop sought pledges of troops from other Alliance allies to bolster the Dutch presence.
On Wednesday, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates also called on other nations to join Britain, Canada, the Netherlands and the US, which are leading the fight against the Taliban in the south.