“As far as I am concerned the perspectives are chilling, because it is increasingly difficult to explain to relatives why their sons have to offer their lives. We should have a clear exit strategy.”

That was the clear statement from the Chairman of the Danish Officers Association Commander Bent Fabricius who said in Jyllands-Posten that he wishes to ‘question the entire project’ - a statement supported by the chairmen of the organisations of both NCOs and Privates.

The remarkable statements came the day after several Danish politicians acknowledged the fact that the goal of democracy in Afghanistan is no longer credible – instead pointing to the War on Terror.

But even that argument is unable to justify a continuation of the war. The latest terrorist threat came from Chicago, with kingpins in Pakistan, and not Afghanistan.

The theory that Danish anti-terrorism is best served by activities in Central Asia, is a doubtful one – not just because terrorism is global, but because the war has clearly given rise to more Taleban in Afghanistan and more terrorists in Pakistan.

We have supported Denmark’s participation in the war because it was the right answer to 9-11. But we can no longer support a war that has no prospects of success and which creates much greater problems than it solves.

Mistaken war strategy
President Obama has declared a hiatus in Washington as he revamps a mistaken war strategy. The absence of realistic goals will soon make it unavoidable that he formulates an exit strategy.

In Denmark we can be proud of the fact that our soldiers have fought in the front lines and have belonged to the minority of coalition countries who have not evaded even the most difficult tasks.

But a Danish battalion is naturally unable to win a war that increasingly does not make sense.

We are the only country in the international coalition where a majority still supports the war. But political support neither changes the facts, nor the prospects.

Our politicians must come out in the open and admit that they are no longer able to explain what we are fighting for, and how the war will provide results.

And there is absolutely no point – as Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller has attempted – in accusing soldiers’ spokesmen of serving the interests of the Taleban and al-Qaeda.

That is an attempt to silence them by intimidation, in which he presupposes what he is supposed to be arguing for. He should be ashamed of himself.

ts