The "Who Let CAN Down in AFG" Guessing Game

[The Bread Guy]

Just came across a British think tank study on Afghanistan]a British think tank study on Afghanistan.  While generally negative about the prospects, this bit on how caveats haven't helped intrigued:

(....) The case of Germany illustrates a more general and serious difficulty with coalition operations in Afghanistan: not all ISAF members are prepared to share the increased risk of casualties that is inherent in ISAF’s geographical expansion. The unwillingness to share risks emanates from national domestic political contexts but inevitably has larger repercussions for NATO’s future.  (....)  A prime example of the effects of these constraints on operations was seen in Operation Medusa in southern Afghanistan, conducted in September 2006 and led by Canadian ISAF forces and Afghan National Army troops. Its purpose was to take control of an area in Kandahar province. In the course of the operation ISAF forces were confronted with entrenched Taliban units capable of defending and holding ground against them. Canadian commanders asked at least four allied partners for relief, but were turned down on the basis that legal restrictions would not permit their forces to come to the Canadian forces’ assistance. As a result of such operational experiences, national caveats have become increasingly contentious matters among coalition members. The willingness to share risks has become a key political aspect of the operation. The principle of alliance solidarity has been put on the line.....

I've read a fair bit during and after, but this is the first reference to a specific number of countries Canada approached for help to no avail. 

Anybody see any open source info on who these may have been?

 

[dapaterson]

This may be making hay of a minor issue - depending on the ally whose assistance was requested their possible contribution may have been minimal.

I'd probably begin by looking over the NATO site for info on who's doing what in ISAF, and use that as a starting point to dig.

 

[FascistLibertarian]

yeah it certainly shows the problems we run into in coalition warfare. Problems that have existed forever but show why 10,000 troops from 1 country can operate much better than 10,000 troops from 5.

 

[Journeyman]

This may be making hay of a minor issue

Perhaps if one is overlooking the Rideau.  :

If, however, you are in combat against an entrenched enemy, and find a need to ask not one, but several coalition partners for assistance...it may not be quite as minor an issue. In fact, those combat troops may even have had to take a later bus out to Orleans~!   [/sarcasm]

Our inability to rely on 'NATO allies' is neither rare nor a thing of past campaigns.*



* I have nothing open source to back that, but for the price of a beer I'll tell you why I will despise the fucking Dutch until my dying day.

 

[Teddy Ruxpin]

The open source was posted here before...it was the Germans.  There's a Der Spiegel article on it somewhere on the forum...I'm much too lazy to find it at the moment.

* I have nothing open source to back that, but for the price of a beer I'll tell you why I will despise the fucking Dutch until my dying day.

  As I do the bulk of the Eurotrash that populate ISAF.

 

[exspy]

Journeyman,

I'll buy you a two-four if you tell your story!

Dan.

 

[armyvern]

The open source was posted here before...it was the Germans.  There's a Der Spiegel article on it somewhere on the forum...I'm much too lazy to find it at the moment.
  As I do the bulk of the Eurotrash that populate ISAF.

Ruxted brings up problems with Allied refusal here in:

About Turn

and the Sandbox & Areas Report thread (Jan 2007) notes German refusal here:

The big Afghanistan push comes to shove from the Jan 30th 2007 UK The Guardian

The American attempt in Brussels to squeeze more help out of the European Nato allies, like a similar US-British effort at last November's Riga summit, appears to have little immediate impact. Lithuania has answered the call. Peer pressure is growing on France, Germany, Italy and Spain, who are accused of falling short in war-fighting and aid.

(emphasis mine)

And, this thread here goes back to the German caveats along with the hyperlink to the Der Speigel article "Dying for Kabul", 24 Nov 06:

Too many Restrictions on Forces in Afghanistan

 

[The Bread Guy]

Thanks loads for the links - I'll keep hunting for stuff as well, and share anything I find on specific CAN requests turned down.

Journeyman - if we're in the same town at some point, I'll be happy to stand you a beer or three for that one.