These restrictions, for example, may prohibit forces from engaging in combat operations or from patrolling at night due to a lack of night-vision equipment. In addition to caveats, some governments do not permit their forces to be transferred to other parts of Afghanistan. Caveats pose difficult problems for force commanders, who seek maximum flexibility in utilizing troops under their command. NATO must accept troops from governments and shape the mission to fit the capabilities of and caveats on those troops. NATO commanders have sought to minimize the number of caveats on forces dedicated to ISAF, an effort that has met with mixed success.

[CRS report for Congress, NATO in Afghanistan: A Test of the Transatlantic Alliance - July 2007 - http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33627.pdf]

Please, Login or Register to leave a comment.