"Amber light is on" for future of Finland’s ISAF presence in Afghanistan

Colourful but thinly-attended debate takes place in Parliament over Finnish peace-keeping mission

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The Finnish government has become a two-headed monster and the Left Alliance is ready to join the ranks of the deserters.
      Such were the sentiments of the Finnish MPs during a colourful Parliamentary debate regarding the situation with Afghanistan on Thursday evening. The Left Alliance criticised the Finnish presence in Afghanistan, whereas the government and the opposition Social Democratic Party were in favour of the present policy.
     
But even the support from the Social Democrats was not entirely without reservations.
      “There is a large-scale war in the country”, stated Erkki Tuomioja (Soc. Dem.). “There is no unambiguous answer to what we should do. The amber light is on.”
      Tuomioja acted as Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs when the first Finnish peace-keepers were sent to Afghanistan back in the winter of 2002. Now there are around 200 Finnish ISAF troops in the country.
     
The peace-keepers' mission has become more troublesome than ever before. This was seen as a reason to give the MPs a chance to discuss the meaningfulness of the entire operation. At its best, roughly a sixth of them made use of the offered opportunity.
      The discussion was the only time this autumn that the MPs have been provided with a platform to discuss in the Chamber what is perhaps Finland’s most highly topical political question.
     
Afghanistan dominates the international security debates as well. The August presidential election proved to be a farce, and large portions of the country are battle-zones. A record number of the International ISAF operation’s soldiers have lost their lives this year.
      “We will stay there for the time being, and as long as is needed”, summarised Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition).
      From the Left Alliance camp more than one representative fired their broadside cannons in the government’s direction.
      “The Finnish troops could leave Afghanistan next year”, stated Annika Lapintie, head of the Left Alliance parliamentary wing.
      Left Alliance Chairman Paavo Arhinmäki in turn criticised Stubb for his statement that Finland is “in the same football team” with the United States.
      “There are two varieties of football, however, There is the European football, or soccer, which is like chess on grass, and then there is the American variant, which is all about collisions and rough tackles. “
      Afghanistan produces the majority of the world’s opium.
      More than one Finnish MP offered growing rye and wheat instead of poppies as a solution.
     
The debate was lively, but the attendance was little short of pathetic.
      Perhaps the MPs are worn out by the discussion of election funding, but one might have expected a better turn-out than the couple of dozen members who showed up to discuss what Finland is doing in Afghanistan.
      One was left with the worrying feeling that a substantial majority really couldn't care less, wrote Helsingin Sanomat journalist Heikki Aittokoski in an acidic commentary piece.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Younger Finns most eager supporters of Finnish peace-keeping operation in Afghanistan (30.9.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat