Friday, 18 September 2009
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced late Thursday evening that Italy plans to withdraw 500 troops from Afghanistan. His remarks came as a response to Thursday’s midday Kabul suicide car bombing that struck a military convoy and claimed the lives of 6 Italian soldiers – the worst attack yet against the Italian contingent.
The Taliban immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which is the fourth in a series of similar attacks in Kabul in the past month. Violence has increased since the U.S. troop surge began this summer in an attempt to quash the resurgent Taliban and to provide extra security for the Afghan presidential election, which, though taking place nearly one month ago, has yet to be resolved. Taliban attacks have increased in the north and in Kabul and its environs, as well as in the notoriously violent southern provinces, making July and August the deadliest months for the NATO coalition since the 2001 invasion.
The increased violence, combined with the election debacle, has caused many of the U.S.’ NATO allies to reconsider their role in the Afghan war, if it is worth the cost in human life and financial support.
Yesterday’s incident brings the Italian fatalities to 20 since the arrival of Italy’s troops in 2004. Italy had sent 500 additional troops to Afghanistan before the national election; these are the troops Berlusconi plans to withdraw. There are over 100,000 Western troops in Afghanistan, 3,000 of which are Italian; the majority of them are American, though Britain, Germany and France also have significant contingents.
Berlusconi’s remarks follow a string of similar comments from his European counterparts that also express their misgivings and dissatisfaction with the current situation in Afghanistan. They come as U.S. President Barack Obama considers increasing the number of U.S. troops at the request of his top military commanders.
Safiye Ozkan (JTW)
