Military

SHAPE News Summary & Analysis

9 August 2004

AFGHANISTAN

• The Eurocorps Monday took command of an expanding NATO peacekeeping force in Kabul, exactly two months before Afghanistan’s first democratic presidential election, reports Reuters. The dispatch adds that accepting the transfer of command of ISAF from Canada’s Lt. Gen. Hillier, French Lt. Gen. Py spoke of the challenge facing the Eurocorps’ first mission outside Europe. “I think there is a great deal of expectation for the European Union to be here within a NATO operation,” he reportedly said. He was confident that while U.S.-led forces were engaged in the dangerous areas of southern Afghanistan, Kabul could be kept safe by NATO peacekeepers in the run-up to an election remnants of the Taliban has vowed to disrupt. “We have put so many forces in Kabul, but more than that, I’m confident because of the people in Kabul,” the dispatch quotes Gen. Py saying at the end of a low key ceremony and news conference at ISAF headquarters. According to the dispatch, he was encouraged that with one week to go before the end of voter registration, over 9 million Afghans had registered when just a few months ago many had expected only 5 million would put their names down to vote in the Oct. 9 poll. “Eurocorps Monday assumed command of ISAF in a heavily guarded ceremony in Kabul marking the 12-year-old force’s first deployment outside Europe,” says AFP. The corps faces a tough challenge during its six-month command, with security deteriorating ahead of presidential elections, the dispatch adds, quoting Gen. Py saying as he took command: “Afghanistan is now at a cross roads and … it will be for ISAF to see that things develop in the right direction.” He reportedly added that ISAF could extend its reach beyond Kabul and the nine northern provinces in which it operates “pending adequate support” from NATO nations. A related AP dispatch notes that analysts have complained about “NATO’s refusal” to commit the same level of forces to Afghanistan as it sent to calm other post-conflict zones, such as the Balkans, where the Eurocorps has also served. It adds, however, that Gen. Py suggested that Afghanistan presented a brighter picture than post-war Bosnia or Kosovo, because of the willingness of the Afghan government to take charge and of ordinary citizens to turn their backs on war. “There are great trends in Afghanistan,” Gen. Py is quoted saying, citing also Afghans’ enthusiasm for the upcoming vote. BBC News observed meanwhile that the Eurocorps’ takeover of ISAF’s command comes amid growing criticism of NATO support for ISAF. There are concerns NATO has been too slow in meeting promises for extra troops before October’s presidential elections, the program said and added: “(Gen. Py) has arrived into a situation of declining security and mounting criticism that his NATO-led force is failing to deliver on promises. In June, NATO member states committed to boosting the size of the force for the elections. But with just two months to go, it is still not clear when the extra troops will be deployed. NATO officials now also say that around 40 percent of the force will be so-called over-the-horizon troops, in other words, based outside Afghanistan. And most in the country will be in barracks in Kabul, rather than being spread around the provinces where security is a greater challenge. But ISAF spokesmen insist NATO is living up to its commitments.” Le Parisien reports Defense Minister Alliot-Marie will visit Gen. Py in Kabul in September in an effort to underline France’s involvement within NATO. Highlighting the Bundeswehr’s presence in Afghanistan, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Aug. 7, noted that before flying off to Kabul, Gen. Py said he expected an unchanged high level of terrorism. Against this background, the daily continued: “The Bundeswehr’s situation is described as currently calm, but not stable. That there have meanwhile been a break between the regional lord of the four northern provinces where the Bundeswehr has been sent, Fahim Khan, and President Karzai has been noted by the Defense Ministry, but it is holding back with an assessment of the new situation this has created.”

OLYMPICS

• The Sunday Telegraph, Aug. 8, claimed that British special forces have been sent to Greece to help protect British athletes taking part in the Olympic Games. Two six-man teams, one from each of the armed forces’ elite counter-terrorist units, have been advising Greek army and navy officials on how to thwart attacks by Al Qaeda, the article said. It added that the Special Boat Service (SBS) and the Special Air Service (SAS) are believed to be the only foreign special forces units brought in by the Greeks. The article said that while the SBS is officially in Greece in an “advisory” capacity only, it is believed it has taken all the equipment necessary, including weapons, to thwart a terrorist attack on Piraeus, Athens’ main sea port. According to the article, one of the unit’s main responsibilities will be to advise the Greeks on the security of the liner, the Queen Mary 2, and eight other ships, which will between them have about 15,000 passengers embarking to watch the Games, including state dignitaries.

Amid growing interest in NATO’s assistance for the Athens Olympics, Le Monde, Aug. 7, recalled opposition expressed earlier by some NATO countries to the presence, on Greek territory, of soldiers specialized in anti-terrorism and placed under the NATO flag. “Special forces, essential American and based mainly in Germany, will therefore be sent to Greece only in case of incidents and after a decision by the SACEUR,” said the daily. It noted, however, that the NATO effort will be impressive, stressing: “While Greek authorities will deploy 70,000 men and have already installed Patriot, S-300 and Crotale missiles to protect the air space, NATO will coordinate a multiform mission. A Greek liaison officer will also be present at NATO headquarters for the duration of the Games. AWACS will control the airspace….. Maritime surveillance will be conducted by about 30 Greek ships and eight ships of NATO’s Standing Naval Force in the Mediterranean. Two hundred Czech, Belgian and Hungarian military, based 60 kms from Athens, will carry out surveillance and detection missions to counter possible NBC attacks. This special battalion … will remain in place until the end of the Paralympic Games at the end of September.”

IRAQ

• News that NATO has launched its training mission for Iraqi forces, sending a small group of officers to the country to consult with authorities there and to prepare logistics is generating interest. “The advance guard of a small NATO training mission has left for Iraq, signaling the beginning of the Alliance’s role in the country,” writes the Financial Times. The symbolism of sending a NATO mission to Iraq is important after the divisions sowed by last year’s war, the newspaper comments.

BALKANS

• According to AP, a KFOR spokesman said in Pristina Monday NATO-led peacekeepers have introduced new measures around Kosovo’s minority areas, including shooting at would-be assailants, to improve security for residents. “We are very determined that no violent riot re-occurs in Kosovo,” the spokesman reportedly stressed, explaining the plan. NATO’s new system, first unveiled in the southwest of the Serbian province controlled by German peacekeepers, includes setting up signs around the minority areas in Kosovo, warning potential assailants that they are entering “a protected area,” the spokesman said. In case of increased tension in these areas, he added, the message on the signs will change to “restricted area” and say that “whoever enters them with hostile intent” may be fired at by peacekeepers.