People and Politics # Afghanistan – Growing Difficulties in the Mission to the Hindu Kush # 04.12.2009

Last week, German Labor Minister Franz-Josef Jung resigned following allegations of a cover-up of civilian deaths in Afghanistan when he held the portfolio for defense. It's becoming increasingly apparent that the Afghan conflict is a problem for the new government. More and more people oppose the fact that German troops are involved in the conflict. And this at a time when the German parliament, the Bundestag, is due to vote on extending the mission. Meanwhile, the signal that's coming from the US is that more soldiers are needed in the region. What position will Germany take with respect to the US President's new strategy? And will the German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg soon have to invest even more money and possibly send more troops to Afghanistan.