They join the Dutch, Canadians, Brits, French, ..... well ... pretty much everyone else who is going home while the getting is still good.
Germany has announced plans to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan more quickly than expected, with the pullout beginning next year and finishing by 2014.I don't blame them. We signaled our retreat with the President's West Point speech last year - and shifting to 2014 didn't change the fact that we have decided to accept ultimate defeat on our own choosing.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told the parliament Thursday that the pullout will begin about a year from now -- earlier than the 2012 date outlined in a 108-page progress report on Germany's mission in Afghanistan, issued earlier this week. Germany has been reviewing its Afghan plans at the same time that President Barack Obama has, and on Thursday the president announced details of his Afghan strategy review, citing slow progress but saying "we are on track to achieve our goals."
It doesn't matter that the surge we started in '08 is now fully up to speed and achieving the effects we want. Tactical and Operational success mean nothing of the Strategic and Political fail.
We are the big player in AFG. If I were German, I would bring my people home even earlier. The present administration lacks the will to win.
President Obama is completely detached from reality.
With those additional forces in Afghanistan, we are making considerable gains toward our military objectives. The additional military and civilian personnel that I ordered in Afghanistan are now in place, along with additional forces from our coalition, which has grown to 49 nations.No sir; all your usable and partially usable maneuver forces from allied nations are going home. With Germany leaving - the balance will follow them. They are following your lead in retreat on a timetable. Congratulate yourself - you just traded a good chance for some kind of victory for certain defeat.
The West is leaving AFG to its own devices. History will not look kindly on NATO's dithering from late '05 through today, or the Obama Administration's withdrawal under fire. He took the surge the previous administration gave him and wasted it.
The future is unknown - but my money is that we just promised a very bloody next quarter century to our children.
Also, check out my last post at Big Peace on Holbrooke's final service to his nation.
