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| Afghanistan | ||||
| Nato chief calls for US support | ||||
| 2009-09-29 | ||||
Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said Americans should set aside any doubts about the commitment of other Nato members to the war in Afghanistan. In his first speech in the US as secretary-general, Mr Rasmussen said the campaign in Afghanistan was one of necessity, not choice.
Mr Rasmussen pointed out 40% of the Nato troops involved in the operation were from non-US countries and that soldiers from more than 20 countries had been killed. Shoring up the coalition is what this visit is all about, says the BBC's Paul Adams in Washington, and with that end in mind, Mr Rasmussen carefully avoided taking sides in the American troop debate. "I'm a little concerned about the doubts I hear these days in the United States about Nato," Mr Rasmussen said in an address to the Atlantic Council think-tank. "Talking down the European and Canadian contributions - as some here in the US do, on occasion - can become a self-fulfilling prophesy." He said he was aware of frustrations among US officials caused by "the restrictions some Nato nations put on their forces; by the time it takes Nato to take decisions; by the reluctance of some countries to send more forces to the mission, even for training. "Let me be very clear. I understand those frustrations. I am already working hard to address those very real problems," he went on. "While body count is no measure of solidarity, it is, unfortunately, a symbol of commitment. Over 20 countries have had their soldiers killed, some in large numbers," he says. "I will not accept from anyone the argument that Europeans and Canadians are not paying the price for success in Afghanistan. They are."
Mr Rasmussen also says the training programme for Afghan forces needs to be stepped up. "If Afghan security forces are to take the lead, they will need to be better trained, better equipped and likely more numerous, which means we are all going to have to invest more in training and equipping them."
Correspondents say that European countries are not expected to offer any significant increase in troops unless Washington takes the lead. The Netherlands and Canada have already set 2010 and 2011 as deadlines for withdrawal and Italy has announced plans for a "strong reduction" in its forces. | ||||
| Posted by:lotp |
| #1 Aw, c'mon Rasmussen. You didn't like Bambi's 'put up or shut up' speech at the UN? Is the bloom off the rose already? Join the club. Next thing you know, he'll be suggesting a 'civilian national security force' for you, too! |
| Posted by: Woozle Uneter9007 2009-09-29 12:34 |