Nato must take a clear stance on Afghanistan

With an eye to Afghanistan US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates has criticised growing antimilitarism in Europe calling it a danger to peace and security. But according to liberal daily NRC Handelsblad Nato itself is to blame for this trend: "The withdrawal movement in Europe is not just an expression of a strong tendency to leave the dirty work to the Americans. It is also a consequence of the confusion that has spread for over seven years about the goals in Afghanistan. ... Nato's stringing together of changing perspectives and goals undermines its right to exist in society. ... First of all the member states must agree on a minimal consensus about the strategy in Afghanistan. Essentially it comes down to Nato being militarily active there to prevent the situation in the region from deteriorating even further. ... Nato should stop beating around the bush and just say what it means."

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