Survey: Two-thirds of Germans against more troops for Afghanistan

Berlin - Two-thirds of the German public are against sending more troops to Afghanistan as part of the US-led "surge" strategy there, a survey published Wednesday said. The poll, carried out by the Leipzig Institute for Market Research, reported that 66 per cent of a representative sample of the population were against increasing Germany's some 4,500-man troop contingent in northern Afghanistan.

A conference of NATO allies is due to take place in London at the end of January, partly to decide on how many extra troops European countries will send to augment the 30,000 extra forces announced by US President Barack Obama in December.

Germany has said it will make no commitment to extra troops before the conference, and insists the meeting should be more about forging a comprehensive strategy for the conflict.

The survey also reported that 51 per cent were in favor of an immediate withdrawal of German troops from Afghanistan.

Germany's involvement in the conflict has become highly controversial since a German army officer ordered an airstrike in Kunduz in September which is assumed to have killed dozens of civilians.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/301501,survey-two-thirds-of-germans-against-more-troops-for-afghanistan.html.