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The Week in Germany: Politics November 4, 2005 Cabinet votes to renew anti-terror deployment The German government has decided to extend the mandate of troops serving in Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led operation against global terrorism, by one year from November 15.
The extension, which is expected to gain easily the final endorsement of lower-house lawmakers next week, was approved by outgoing German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's cabinet on Wednesday. Under the new mandate, Germany can deploy an anti-terrorist force of up to 2,800 troops, down slightly from the previous ceiling of 3,100 in a move that reflects the temporary withdrawal of ageing reconnaissance aircraft for modernization. "This is not a sign of a lower engagement, which would be a totally false signal," a defense ministry spokesperson told dpa new agency. German troops deployed in Enduring Freedom and Active Endeavor, a related operation, are currently stationed off the Horn of Africa and in the Mediterranean as part of maritime monitoring operations. Together with their international allies, they are working to pursue, capture and prosecute terrorists as well as to permanently prevent third-parties from supporting terrorist activities and to eliminate the leadership and training capabilities of terrorists. Germany initially decided to commit troops to Enduring Freedom in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Separately, Germany has a large contingent of troops working with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) providing security in Afghanistan. In September, Germany's parliament voted overwhelmingly to increase the number of German troops deployed in the ISAF force to 3,000 from 2,250. Links:
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