WASHINGTON, March 15 (UPI) -- A leading Democrat Thursday urged America's top general in Europe to get U.S. allies to send more troops to Afghanistan.
"I remain convinced that the effort in Afghanistan is still winnable. But our partners must seriously step up their efforts by contributing more troops and aid. They must also free their forces from restrictive 'national caveats' that limit their involvement in operations," Rep. Ike Skelton, chairman of the Armed Services Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, said in a statement Thursday. Skelton was addressing Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, the commander of the U.S. European Command.
"Afghanistan is not only a central front in the war on terrorism, but the outcome there could well determine the future of the NATO alliance," Skelton said.
"The alliance will rise or fall, in large part, based on its commitment and effectiveness in Afghanistan. So I hope you will tell us what you are doing to get more from NATO in Afghanistan," he told Gen. Craddock.
"You have a difficult job ahead of you," Skelton told Craddock. "Today the European Command faces a number of critical security challenges. And pressing our NATO allies to significantly increase their contributions to security and stability in Afghanistan is top on the list."
"We are just a short time away from an anticipated spring offensive, and recent reports predict Afghanistan's opium harvest this year will be at an all time high. Yet Gen. (Karl) Eikenberry, former U.S. commander in Afghanistan, recently testified before our committee that NATO's actual contributions of troops and equipment for Afghanistan leave the approved NATO requirement under-fulfilled, and that they have filled only 85 to 90 percent of the requirement," Skelton said.
