Military

SHAPE News Summary & Analysis

12 August 2004

AFGHANISTAN

• Gen. Jones’ visit to Kabul Wednesday was noted by local media. The Bakhtar news agency, Aug. 11, reported that Gen. Jones briefed President Karzai about development programs in Afghanistan. “He said NATO troops will ensure security in Afghanistan during the elections and help the Afghan people take part in the presidential and parliamentary elections away from fear and pressure. He said that before the presidential election is held, NATO will send some PRTs to a number of northern Afghan provinces in order to assist people with the reconstruction process,” the dispatch reported. It added that Karzai expressed appreciation for the NATO troops’ activities in establishing security in Afghanistan. Kabul television, Aug. 11, reported that at a news conference, Gen. Jones said NATO was expanding in Afghanistan and this was good news for the Afghan people. “Gen. Jones said his visit was aimed at evaluating NATO commitments to Afghanistan,” said the program, adding that Gen. Jones was accompanied by a group of international businessmen. The program stressed that evaluation of economic and social conditions in Afghanistan was also part of the agenda of Gen. Jones’ visit. It added that Gen. Jones said the security situation was promising but warned about security threats during the elections. “Gen. Jones reiterated the readiness of the NATO forces to cope with any kind of security challenges,” added the broadcast.

Defense Secretary Rumsfeld’s statement Wednesday that he was encouraged that more than 9 million Afghans had registered to vote in the October presidential poll is noted by the Washington Post. The daily observes that the report on voter registration has been tainted by allegations that many voters have filled out two or more registration cards in different districts. In some areas, the number of registered voters has surpassed the estimated number of voting-age inhabitants, it stresses.


Mr. Rumsfeld’s announcement that a master plan was being developed by the Afghan government and the U.S.-led coalition to deal with the drugs trade is also generating interest. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung remarks that while Rumsfeld noted that the British government previously had taken a lead in working with the Afghan government in dealing with drug trade, he would not indicate which national contingents would participate in the campaign.

IRAQ

• Commenting on NATO’s Training Implementation Mission to Iraq, Sofia’s daily Sega, Aug. 11, wrote that “NATO has entered Iraq and hardly anyone has noticed.” The article continued: “On Saturday, the United States and their allies in the ‘coalition of the willing’ achieved their ambition of justifying their occupation of Iraq through the presence of a legitimate international body.… Four NATO officers flew from Naples to Baghdad. They are the first of a group of 45 soldiers who are to represent the ‘most powerful military alliance’ in the biggest theater of combat operations at the beginning of the 21st century…. On Sept. 15, the Training Implementation Mission will report on what it has accomplished. The allies will then decide what new tasks to assign them…. Of the 32 states in the coalition, 16 are NATO members, yet the Alliance has not authorized them to act. However, they will have to watch over the safety of the NATO team without acting as their bosses. Until at least mid-September, it will not be clear who will be in command of the instructors….. The issue of whether the mission will be financed by all the NATO allies, similar to the mission in Afghanistan, or only by those with troops in Iraq also remains unresolved and has been put off until autumn.” In a similar vein, Defense News, Aug. 9, noted that the agreement by NATO ambassadors to send a Training Implementation Mission to Iraq leaves questions about command arrangements and funding unanswered. “U.S. officials insist on unity of command and NATO common funding for the mission,” the article stressed.

OLYMPICS

• According to Athens News Agency, Greek Minister of Public Order Voulgarakis said Wednesday that in the case of a terrorist attack during the Athens 2004 Olympic Summer Games, "all measures have been taken and the Greek forces will tackle the situation.” He reportedly stressed that "only in the event of an extreme scenario of a World War III scale will NATO's contribution be requested." The dispatch adds that in an interview with NBC's "Today", Voulgarakis said the security system for the Olympics was functional and noted the "excellent cooperation" of Greece with foreign secret services to this end. "There has been no information from anywhere about a possible terrorist attack during the Games," he reportedly said, adding that "in any case and to deal with any eventuality, we are and must be on alert."