Main focus of Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Isaf commander wants more soldiers for Afghanistan

The commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, US General Stanley McChrystal, has warned of a defeat against the Taliban. In an assessment of the situation in the Hindu Kush published on Monday he called among other things for more soliders and civilian assistance in the conflict. The confidential report was leaked to the Washington Post.

Die Presse - Austria

The daily Die Presse agrees with General Stanley McChrystal's negative assessment of the situation in Afghanistan: "One thing is certain: 'muddling along' will also lead to disaster, even if it can be delayed for some time. The new US commander Stanley McChrystal is 100 percent right in saying that what is needed now is nothing less than a 'revolutionary change' of the West's entire strategy in Afghanistan: away from conventional warfare and the goal of disabling as many Taliban forces as possible, and towards helping the Afghani population win the struggle themselves. Only they can defeat the Taliban. But Nato will only win the support of the population when people feel more secure, when Nato bombs have stopped falling on their heads, and when they no longer have the feeling that the foreign soldiers are only there to support the corrupt clique in Kabul" (22/09/2009)

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Afghanistan
All available articles from » Burkhard Bischof

Rheinische Post - Germany

The warning of US General Stanley McChrystal on the situation in Afghanistan is tantamount to an admission of failure, writes the conservative daily Rheinische Post: "The US believed that once it had driven the Taliban from power after the attacks of September 11, 2001 it could be held in check indefinitely. Now it must reluctantly admit that it was fundamentally wrong. The Taliban is on the advance, they have stood up to the strongest military power in the world and its allies. And the humiliations they have afflicted on them have only strengthened the Islamists' resolve. In this year alone more than 350 foreign soldiers have fallen. The calls for withdrawal are growing louder by the day in their countries of origin. For that reason the demand for more soldiers will hardly be politically viable. The Taliban must be disconnected from its supporters. That can only be done through reconstruction, strengthening the social fabric and improving living conditions." (22/09/2009)

» more information (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » U.S., » Western Europe, » Afghanistan
All available articles from » Godehard Uhlemann

La Repubblica - Italy

The left-liberal daily La Repubblica highlights the way General Stanley McChrystal's status report was leaked to the public: "A 'deep throat', a secret press informant, passed on Stanley McChrystal's confidential report to Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, who became famous in the 1970s Watergate scandal which cost [Richard] Nixon his presidency. This news leak conceals a trial of strength. The top leaders of the military forces are losing their patience with the White House's slow response to their demand for new troops. … The leaking of the news contained in the report reveals the quandary US President Barack Obama is facing. The option of a slow Iraq-like withdrawal is not open to him. Sending thousands more troops conjures up the spectre of the Vietnam syndrome - being stuck in a never-ending war. The president will just have to piece together a compromise position and thus run the risk of leaving everyone unhappy and putting off the difficult decisions for another couple of months." (22/09/2009)

» more information (external link, Italian)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Afghanistan
All available articles from » Federico Rampini

Népszabadság - Hungary

According to the left-liberal daily Népszabadság there is no going back now in Afghanistan: "US General [Stanley] McChrystal has called for massive reinforcements for the 68,000 US soldiers currently stationed in Afghanistan. … The new Nato secretary-general is playing the same tune. … The losses of the international forces in Afghanistan are higher than ever. And worse still, they 'have a knack of' decimating the civilian population with poorly aimed shots and air strikes. The civilising mission of the international troops is in many respects leading to the opposite of the desired result. So it's no wonder that the American, British, German and French public are growing increasingly sceptical, and the Afghans increasingly hostile. … But there is no going back now. No one can seriously believe that after eight years of war Afghanistan will be left to Osama Bin Laden and his henchmen so they can use it as a base for new attacks against the US and Western Europe." (22/09/2009)

» full article (external link, Hungarian)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » U.S., » Global, » Afghanistan
All available articles from » Endre Aczél

» To the complete press review of Tuesday, September 22, 2009