The American ambassador to Kabul has accused European members of Nato of jeopardising the future of the alliance by refusing to send troops to Afghanistan, or banning their forces from entering areas with heavy fighting. Ronald Neumann, who has survived two attempts on his life this year, said European nations must not turn "coward" and "run away" from fighting terrorism in Afghanistan.However, even as Mr Browne headed for Slovenia, Spanish officials briefed the Madrid press that their government — in conjunction with France, Germany and Belgium — had seen off a request from the military commander of Nato, Gen James Jones, to mobilise ground forces from the "Eurocorps" — a rapid reaction force made up of troops from several European nations.
Spanish sources told El Pais newspaper that the four European nations had told Gen Jones the rapid reaction force was for unforeseen emergencies, and not for propping up an existing mission.
Spain's Socialist government also refused to send more troops, or to move any of its 750 armed forces now in western Afghanistan to the south, where British, Canadian and Dutch forces have been
Mr Neumann criticised the "caveats" placed on forces from Germany, Norway, Belgium and other nations — variously keeping them away from the south, away from heavy combat zones, or forbidding them from going out at night. He said: "If you can't fight in the place that produced al-Qa'eda and September 11 and a series of terrorist attacks in Europe, what is the point?"