Nato's Eastward March to Include a "Political Role"

According to Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO Secretary-General, NATO should become a more “political body” and take up roles such as shaping policy in Afghanistan, Kosova, Iraq and even Gaza,. “should the Israelis and Palestinians reach an agreement on Israeli withdrawal and request help from NATO”! He even added that NATO should debate on Iran’s nuclear program and any possible NATO mission!What is striking is that after the expansion of NATO to its current strength of 26, the military alliance is setting its sights on Asia and in the process steadily expanding the scope of its reach to the political domain. According to Mr. Scheffer, “a more political role for NATO may improve the relationship between the US and Europe”, strained since the Iraq war. Already there is discussion that NATO may not leave Afghanistan after the parliamentary elections are held next April, contary to the current agreement. This could be justified in the name of fighting the narcotics trade. NATO plans to set up a military academy in Iraq by the end of 2005 and is eager to send NATO troops to safeguard the school from Iraqi insurgents. Although not yet openely articulated by any official, a role in the Indo-Pak border to “oversee” a solution to the Kashmir problem is not far off in the list of political missions Mr. Scheffer is articulating.