"Casualty rates among major European nations like France, Italy, Spain and Germany are negligible. The 2,900 German troops are prohibited from combat operations and have not suffered a single casualty. It is grossly unfair that our allies should share the burden so inequitably." -- The Vancouver Province, Nov. 29, 2006
"If Canada's partners in NATO have legitimate qualms about the Afghanistan mission, let's hear them, instead of the ducking and covering we heard in Riga this week. During the summit, German chancellor Angela Merkel was pressed repeatedly by reporters whether her country was doing enough in Afghanistan. She called the discussion 'unhelpful.' Less helpful is a group of powerful NATO allies who won't help prevent southern Afghanistan from again becoming a breeding ground for Taliban oppression and al-Qaida terrorists." -- Edmonton Journal, Dec. 2, 2006
"Life on the ground in Afghanistan would be easier and safer if, and the mission would be more effective, if Germany and France -- big countries with lots of soldiers and equipment -- pulled their weight." -- Montreal Gazette, Dec. 1, 2006
"Countries with modern, well-equipped militaries, such as France and Germany and Italy, are not only restricting their troops to working in the relatively peaceable north of Afghanistan, they're tut-tutting about our warlike insistence on shooting back at insurgents who are shooting at us. At a two-day summit in Riga, Latvia, this week, Canada insisted that our allies need to help. Little good it did. The closest they'll come is agreeing to support us in emergencies: If we're about to be overrun by Taliban, they'll come help. They'll stop us from obviously losing, in other words. If we want to win, we're pretty much on our own." -- Ottawa Citizen, Nov. 30, 2006
"If France, Germany, Italy, Spain and other European powers do not step up to the challenge, then NATO's first 'hot war' will be its last." -- National Post, Dec. 2, 2006
"Will other NATO countries - Germany, Italy, Spain, France and others - help? Or will the United States and Britain be obliged once again to do more heavy lifting? Or will these countries, their forces already stretched and their politicians frustrated at other NATO countries' passing the buck, conclude they can do nothing more?" -- Globe and Mail, Jan. 19, 2007
Post to other social networks:
Stay informed with our free news services:
| All news from SPIEGEL International | Twitter | RSS |
| All news from Under the Scope section | RSS |
© SPIEGEL ONLINE 2007
All Rights Reserved
Reproduction only allowed with the permission of SPIEGELnet GmbH
