From Spiegel: [B]ehind closed doors, the debate over Germany’s position has become intense, and it pits two of Merkel’s leading ministers against one another: Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle stands in almost direct opposition to Defense Minister Theodor zu Guttenberg…

The rivalry became more obvious than ever on Monday. The setting was a meeting of top government ministers — the so-called “Afghanistan Round” — to determine Berlin’s course in London. Those attending were Merkel, Guttenberg, Westerwelle, Ronald Pofalla the general secretary of the Christian Democrats, Interior Minister Thomas de Mazière and Dirk Niebel, minister for economic cooperation and development. But agreement proved elusive. Westerwelle made it clear that he would, under no conditions, agree to a premature pledge to increase the number of German troops in Afghanistan from its current level of 4,500. He argued that instead, Germany should redouble its efforts to train the Afghan police, although he declined to indicate how that should be done…

And both camps have not been shy in looking for openings to go on the attack. While Westerwelle’s team have tried to paint Guttenberg as a warmonger when it comes to the Bundeswehr mission in Afghanistan, the Defense Ministry has been fond of pointing out, and laughing at, the new foreign minister’s inexperience in the issue. It is hardly a situation that promotes a matter-of-fact approach to the problem.

It is now up to the chancellor. As so often, Merkel has given little indication as to which way she is leaning, preferring instead to let her ministers battle it out. But time is no longer on her side. (photo: AP)