Germany: Greens won’t back Afghan mission
There are interesting issues that arise for Green parties around the world after they get seats. Politics, they say, is the art of compromise – especially once in government. In the German case the Greens want to get back into government…
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These articles discuss the recent rejection of the membership of their leadership’s support of the NATO Afghanistan mission. The membership decided to go with majority public opinion in this case who want the German “peacekeepers” to come home.
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In the 90s, many people wondered why the German Greens supported the Kosovo mission, considering the Global Green Party movement supports peace. It is the old trade-off between pragmatism and idealism. One day, Canadian Greens too will have to make these type of agonizing decisions.
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Ariel Lade, Foreign Correspondent
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German Greens won’t back Afghan mission
Published: Sept. 15, 2007 at 3:47 PM
BERLIN, Sept. 15 (UPI) — Germany’s Green Party voted Saturday to oppose keeping troops in Afghanistan.
The party held a special meeting during which the party voted against a motion to extend Germany’s participation in anti-terrorism operations. The military deployment issue will come before the Bundestag this fall.
Deutsche Welle said a counter proposal that was passed recommended Green Bundestag members vote to reject the extension of the mission.
Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier in the day publicly urged the Greens to support German presence in Afghanistan, calling it necessary to bolstering Germany’s security.
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Articles on this topic:
Germany’s Green Party Split Over Afghanistan Mandate
German Greens Slide Into Turmoil
Germany’s Greens in disarray over Afghanistan
September 25th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
This is an awesome article. I think that the Greens every need to come to an understanding of exactly how the military should be if they are ever in government.
October 2nd, 2007 at 3:44 pm
It is pretty simple, really:
No foreign military adventurism!
Exceptions may be made for UN controlled missions into countries seeking to extricate themselves from warfare AND if a majority of Greens support the action.
Peace is not obtained at the end of a gun barrel.