HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------
[As with all features in the War Cabinets-cleared Western establishment press, it's a matter of speculation as to how much of the following is planted material, how much trial balloon and how much simple disinformation. But a scenario or two suggest themselves. The alleged opposition to NATO stalwart and Eastern springboard Turkey taking over the international (that is, NATO) command in Afghanistan from Great Britain is attributed to the former supposedly having "too much history in the region," when in fact Turkey has no history in the region; unlike, say, Great Britain, the United States and, to a somewhat lesser extent, Germany. The true opposition to Turkish influence, if it exists, is later attributed to "the Afghan administration and European nations contributing troops to the force." The Afghan administration in question, contrary to Western scare tactics of the past three months, is not primarily comprised of former Northern Alliance commanders, largely ethnic Tajiks, Uzbeks, Turkmens and Hazzaras. In fact the new Western-appointed power brokers in Kabul are ethnic Pushtuns like Hamid Karzai. As was perfectly predictable, the Hazzaras, who are of Shiite Muslim background, and the Tajiks, who are Persian/Dari-speaking, would both have presumable affinities to Iran and so were cut out. The Uzbeks and Turkmens are Turkic-speaking and this is where the Turkish question arises. The West, which is to say NATO, will employ Turkey to its own ends, as it did the Northern Alliance, but ultimately as always discard the interests of allies when it's time to enforce its own. Washington, London, Brussels and Berlin would be better pleased to see Germany take over the military occupation of Afghanistan from Britain, leaving - at least for the moment - a Western-controlled ethnic Pushtun minority government in power there. The latter because of Pakistani interests, as a Pushtun-dominated government is in Pakistan's interests and contra Iran's. (As well as Russia's and India's.) That is until any member of the current collaborationist regime mouths the word Pushtunistan - at which point all bets are off and the U.S. and its NATO allies turn on their friends and use their air and special forces in yet another effort at 'nation building.' Germany is slated for great things in the new order, having troops deployed abroad - for the first time since the fall of the Third Reich - in no fewer than seven nations currently. If Turkey is passed over in favor of Germany, because of putative "diplomatic baggage," it will also be because, as the penultimate paragraph so clearly spells out: "Turkey played a leading role in opposing the Taliban, aligning with Iran, India and Russia against the militia's chief sponsor, Pakistan."] The Daily Telegraph Afghans wary of Turks' peace role By Peter Foster in Kabul (Filed: 08/01/2002) TURKEY is facing increasing military and diplomatic pressure to abandon its plans to assume command of the international security force in Afghanistan later this year. Britain, which is leading the force, called ISAF, for its first 90 days, is due to hand over command to Turkish troops in March. Senior figures in the Afghan interim administration are opposed to Turkey's planned role and are lobbying for another Western European power, preferably Germany, to take control. British defence sources said they had no problem with Turkey taking over, since it was one of the few countries whose forces were capable of doing so. But United Nations sources in Kabul confirmed the growing opposition to Turkey, both among the Afghan administration and European nations contributing troops to the force. "There is genuine unease at the prospect of Turkey taking over when the British leave," a senior diplomatic source said in Kabul yesterday. "They have excellent troops but also too much history in the region." There are substantial fears that Turkey, which provided financial support to anti-Taliban forces during the movement's rule, will not be seen as a neutral power by the Afghan public and politicians. "It is fair to say we would like another country, rather than Turkey, to lead ISAF," said a senior figure in the new Afghan administration. In 1997 and 1998, Turkey twice provided a place of exile for the Uzbek warlord Rashid Dostum when he was being driven out of Mazar-i-Sharif and later Shibergan by advancing Taliban troops. Gen Dostum, who was appointed deputy defence minister in the new administration, is known to have received financial backing from Turkey to rebuild his power base in the north. Although Turkey is anxious to fulfil the ISAF role, reinforcing its claim to be considered worthy of a position in the European fold, it is a country that comes with much "diplomatic baggage" in the region. Turkey played a leading role in opposing the Taliban, aligning with Iran, India and Russia against the militia's chief sponsor, Pakistan. The war against the Taliban has also strengthened relations between Turkey and Iran. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! 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