Will Afghanistan impact the German elections?

The deadly airstrike carried out by nato on two hijacked fuel tankers in Afghanistan on Friday, which undoubtedly killed scores of civilians, has intensified the ongoing debate over the Afghan war. Since taking charge of U.S. and nato forces in June, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal has severely restricted the use of nato air power in hopes of reducing the number civilian casualties. In response to Friday’s bombing, McChrystal ordered an immediate investigation into the attack and promised to share the results of the study with the Afghan people.

The war in Afghanistan is not going well for Western forces. Popular support for the war in Britain and America, as we wrote about on Friday, is quickly eroding.

The same is true in Europe, particularly in Germany. Regarding Friday’s airstrike, the New York Times reported that German forces were responsible for ordering the attack. “If a high number of civilian casualties is confirmed,” the Times wrote (emphasis mine),

it is likely to not only deepen antipathy toward nato forces in Afghanistan, but also further diminish support for the war in Germany, where it is already unpopular. It could also become an issue in the coming German election as Chancellor Angela Merkel tries to win a second term.

We have been urging our readers to keep close watch on the upcoming German elections, scheduled for September 27.