 WASHINGTON - A fifth of the members of the US Senate on Friday warned the situation in Afghanistan was quickly getting worse and called on Washington’s NATO allies to share more of the security burden. The senators complained that “caveats” restricting how certain members of the alliance’s troops could be used in the restive nation were unfair to countries that did put their soldiers in high-risk situations.
“The situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating rapidly,” said Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd, who laid out his concerns in a letter to NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer. “The United States alone cannot combat the Taliban and Al Qaeda and the violence that is regaining a foothold, particularly in southern Afghanistan.”
| What? I'd like to see NATO pick up some slack as well, but the notion that the situation is 'deteriorating rapidly' is just plain silly. Come to the Burg, Senator, and we'll educate you on the true meaning of the phrase, 'dreaded summer offensive'. |
“The imposition of caveats by some nations places an unfair burden on the troops of other nations and hinders operational efficiency,” said Dodd.
Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, who also signed the letter, along with 21 other senators, warned that without action, NATO ran a ”serious risk” of failing in Afghanistan. “We must ensure that the Taliban are uprooted, and that an effective Afghan force can take responsibility for the security of Afghanistan.”
| We're doing both of those; the real need is ensuring political stability and uprooting the damned poppies. |
“But, the United States alone cannot effectively accomplish these goals; we need the robust support of our NATO allies,” Hagel said.
| How on earth was this man ever a Republican? Must represent the Chicken Little wing of the party. |
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