The Next War
2008/09/24
The reason for Berlin's financial offer, negotiated by the German Defense Minister, Franz Josef Jung, at the beginning of September in Islamabad, is Washington's effort to extend the Afghanistan War across the border into Pakistan. Afghan rebels are still being supported from regions in Northwestern Pakistan, where an independent insurgency movement has now developed. For some time already US troops have been carrying out operations in Pakistan, mostly with the use of drones.[1] This had been quietly tolerated by the previous Musharraf government. The new administration could not continue this policy, because elements of the Pakistani military had begun working together with Northwestern clan leaders. There is growing resistance to the illegal US attacks.[2] The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, announced that he had ordered a new U.S. military strategy for the region that would, for the first time, encompass Afghanistan and Pakistan.[3]
Military Centers
Washington is attempting to recruit Pakistan's army to help in the combat at the Pakistani/Afghan border and in the Northwest region of Pakistan. About six months ago, military representatives from Pakistan, Afghanistan and the USA discussed relevant planning. The Afghan Defense Minister reported to the Pentagon on Sept. 22, that he is still trying to trying to get the accord of the appropriate Pakistani officials. The United States has set up a "coordination center," where Afghan, Pakistani and Western military forces are to synchronize their lines of action, as a first step. A second "coordination center" is under construction and six others are planned.[4] More far-reaching intentions that would include a comprehensive Afghan/Pakistani common war effort, under US leadership, has been rejected so far by Islamabad, which insists upon its sovereignty.
"Civilian" Accessories
At the beginning of September, the German Defense Minister, Franz Josef Jung became involved in the negotiations. Jung visited Islamabad and spoke to his Pakistani counterpart, as well as to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani about the so-called "comprehensive approach", an extension of military operations through feigned civilian personnel. The objective is to increase acceptance of the occupation forces by the population and reduce resistance. This is modeled after NATO's "civilian-military" line of action in Afghanistan. According to reports from the German Defense Ministry, Berlin and Brussels have earmarked a significant sum of money for Islamabad, in the context of the "civilian-military" accessories: Germany 30 million and the EU 50 million Euros.[5] The condition is the subordination of the Pakistani government to the Western war effort. Gilani, then affirmed that he, in fact, sees the "comprehensive approach" to be "the approach to take, to overcome the complicated situation in the border regions to Afghanistan" and will introduce the relevant measures to be taken in October.
Arms Exports
If this cooperation materializes, Islamabad can also expect more German military support. German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung promised Islamabad three German submarines for the Pakistani navy. Recent supplies included Luna drones for controlling the border regions with Afghanistan.[6] More than 250 Pakistani officers have already received military training in Germany. With the sale of its technology, Germany is hoping to profit form the arms buildup along the Pakistani border. Six check-points are to be established at the border with Afghanistan, equipped with the most modern technology. It will include fingerprint checking devices - a field, in which Germany is leading - because large sectors of the population inhabiting the border regions do not have identification papers.
More Soldiers
The war in Afghanistan, presently being extended to Pakistan with Germany’s help, is escalating. "Concerned about the security situation" [7], last Monday the UN Security Council called for increasing the number of occupation troops, thereby complying with US demands.[8] Washington is planning to send three additional brigades to Afghanistan and increase the number of its troops to nearly 50,000. At the same time, the USA is demanding more troops from its western allies. Berlin has agreed to raise its own troop level to 4,500, a number considered insufficient by Washington. US government representatives are demanding that countries not contributing troops to Afghanistan should help with the financing, meaning an overall contribution of $20 bil. Even though Berlin declared it is providing 40 per cent of the material - and 45 per cent of the personnel transport for the war at the Hindu Kush, the dispute over an increase of the German contribution will most likely extend beyond the US presidential elections.
Civilian Casualties
The war is also escalating because of the dramatic increase in civilian casualties. The organization Human Rights Watch recently published new data on civilian casualties resulting from western air strikes: In 2006, 116 Afghan civilians were killed in bombings and in 2007 the number had almost tripled to reach 321. In the first seven months of 2008, Human Rights Watch counted at least 119 Afghan civilian casualties, not including the deadly air strike on August 22 [9] killing approximately another 100 civilians. According to Human Rights Watch, these cases cause "concern" and the organization asks if western attacking forces are acting "in accordance with their obligations under the laws of war."[10] This is an incomplete quantity provided for civilian casualties. According to the United Nations, 577 civilians were killed in military operations by western forces and their Afghan auxiliary troops in the first eight months of 2008, 100 more than last year. These casualties account for about 40 percent of all civilians killed in the war in Afghanistan.[11] The barbarization of the war will not spare the Western occupiers.
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