In a series of articles sets Aftenposten focus on what happens behind the closed doors of NATO, based on 250 secret meetings of the American ambassaden.Bilde from Operation Sword Stroke or surgery, "Khan Jari» ¿July 2009 in Helmand province ¿PHOTO: MANPREET ROMAN
NATO attacks, the political leadership did nothing
The OGSA:
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- 13.07.2009:NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL MEETING, JULY 8,2009
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Early in the morning 2 July 2009 caught 4000 marines and 650 Afghan soldiers in Helmand valley in Afghanistan, backed by NATO aircraft. Operation Jari Khan "- meaning" sword "in Afghanistan - was the largest airborne operation with U.S. Marines since the Vietnam War. This was the start of the bloodiest months since the Afghanistan war began, with great loss of civilians, insurgents and NATO troops.
Secret U.S. documents reveal that the NATO operation was launched without either NATO Secretary General, the NATO allies or counsel knew what happened. Contrary to NATO's own rules were not the top political leadership in the world's most powerful defense alliance received information in advance.
Politicians uten info
The information appears in a report from the NATO Council 8 July 2009. The alliance's headquarters in Brussels was very strong reactions that the alliance could launch a major military operation without the political leadership in NATO learned something. Most allierste expressed "frustration about the lack of information in advance."
"Deputy Secretary General Claudio Bisogniero noted that the NAC had not been informed in advance of the start of operation Jari Khan," said the report from the U.S. NATO embassy.
The Norwegian government with Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store in the lead had to read in the media that NATO had started one of their biggest military operations.
"Norway commented that they had learned of the news operation," according to the minutes.
- Ill
Canada also reacted sharply, pointing out that it was crucial for NATO leadership knew what happened.
Even the Americans admitted that this was "an unfortunate incident," since it was difficult for politicians in NATO countries to defend in public what we did in Afghanistan, if not information.
NATOs Akilles
Wikileaks documents reveal that this was not the first time, NATO's top political leadership did not know what NATO did. When the 4500 ISAF soldiers from the U.S., UK, Netherlands, Estonia, Denmark and Canada began operation "Achilles" in Helmand in March 2007, it came as a bomb.
As NATO's Supreme Council met on 7 March 2007, the mood very testy from the start. A visibly disgruntled former Secretary General of NATO Jaap De Hoop Scheffer acknowledged that he had no clue that the operation was under way before the media reported it.
"Neither he nor the council had received adequate briefing," the U.S. embassy NATO. Hoop Scheffer warned NATO leadership had to "strike the right balance of communication between the NATO military leadership and the NATO Council."
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store was not informed when NATO launched one of its biggest operations. "You had knowledge of the operation through the news," according to a secret meeting between NATO.
- Et major problem
- This illustrates something that has been a major problem throughout the war in Afghanistan. NATO is virtually sand in the machinery of the United States. We have seen several times that the Americans advancing into and perform the attack without any warning or coordination, "said department manager at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs Ståle Ulriksen.
He points out that the question of where information is the political leadership of NATO is to have is a difficult and complicated question.
- Everyone knows that America is totally dominant. Viewed from the U.S. side, this is also understandable, since the operations mainly consist of American contributions. In their eyes, took the NATO allies have a great responsibility of being with, without following up with the troops. And the soldiers NATO countries have sent, has had clear limitations on its use.
Director of the Peace Research Institute (PRIO), Kristian Berg Harpviken also points out that Norwegian politicians have argumentert to participation in Afghanistan Norway gives greater influence.
- In Norway, it has been used as an argument that by participating in Afghanistan, we have greater influence. Then it gives reason to ask critical questions that key operational decisions are taken without Mon politicians, NATO Council and Secretary-General at all are informed. The paradox is that after President Barack Obama took over, it's become more American travelers started in Afghanistan, "said Berg Harpviken.
Had to complain
After both fade late NATO's political leadership was an apology from NATO's central military command (SHAPE). 15. July 2009 was advised NATO finally a briefing in Helmand. When the Allies had been inflicted their biggest defeat in what was the bloodiest month so far in the war. When Admiral David Rene Moreno from SHAPE gave the Americans described as a "dry" briefing. "Rebel activity is constant," said Admiral Moreno. When cooked it over.
- In a week of heavy alarming increase in the ISAF loss, how can we be told that rebel activity is constant, the Dutch representative exclaimed Schaper. Both the United States, Canada, Romania and the UK demanded a quick assessment of the impact of the Helmand operation had been given.
