Afghanistan: majority for immediate retreat!
In connection with the NATO summit in Chicago the Federal Government criticised the new president of France, Hollande, for his announcement to pull the French troops out of Afghanistan already in 2012. To this, Christine Buchholz, member of the Executive Board of the DIE LINKE declares:
Hollandes announcement to begin with the pull-out of French troops from Afghanistan immediately meets with the will of the majority of the French people. A majority in Germany also wants an immediate retreat. But Merkel and Westerwelle ignore the popular will. Instead, they urged the French president to break his pre-election promises.
In Chicago, the hope for peace in Afghanistan was buried. After the will of the NATO Afghan armed forces shall receive over $4 billion a year starting in 2015 to continue the fight against rebellions. The German budget alone shall provide for 150 Mio euros a year. Despite a contrary announcement German, French, and other troops will remain in the country because military instructors are always accompanied by troops.
The NATO plans to continue this war. DIE LINKE does not want a military partnership but support of civil reconstruction.
Any further day of war in Afghanistan is one day to many. The retreat of the German Bundeswehr has to start now and has to be complete. This is an imperative of solidarity with the Afghan people. If this moves other states to pull their troops out as well – all the better.