U.S. calls NATO hand on Afghanistan
Published: Oct. 24, 2007 at 10:24 AM
NOORDWIJK, Netherlands, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- NATO defense ministers meeting in the Netherlands Wednesday faced pressure from the United States over living up to military commitments in Afghanistan.
The ministers, meeting in the Dutch seaside resort of Noordwijk, were given advance notice of U.S. plans earlier this week by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who expressed frustration in Kiev with the alliance's performance.
"I am not satisfied that an alliance whose members have over two million soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen can not find the modest additional resources that have been committed for Afghanistan," he said.
That number doesn't include the United States, which is providing half of the nearly 35,000 NATO troops fighting Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents in Afghanistan, Voice of America reported.
Gates said the new troops required were not so much for combat, but rather training the Afghan military and police with a goal to them eventually assuming responsibility for their own security, the BBC said.
The ministers, meeting in the Dutch seaside resort of Noordwijk, were given advance notice of U.S. plans earlier this week by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who expressed frustration in Kiev with the alliance's performance.
"I am not satisfied that an alliance whose members have over two million soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen can not find the modest additional resources that have been committed for Afghanistan," he said.
That number doesn't include the United States, which is providing half of the nearly 35,000 NATO troops fighting Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents in Afghanistan, Voice of America reported.
Gates said the new troops required were not so much for combat, but rather training the Afghan military and police with a goal to them eventually assuming responsibility for their own security, the BBC said.
© 2007 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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