Dr Rice will have to calm a growing row within Nato, fuelled by Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, over individual states' troop contributions to Afghanistan. New reports caution that Afghanistan risks collapse if the international community does not redouble its efforts there.
The Bush Administration is sending another 3,200 Marines to southern Afghanistan from March to September, and is looking to Britain to help to convince Nato allies to put together an equivalent European force to take over from it. Canada has threatened to pull out its 2,500 troops unless other countries share its combat burden in the south.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3308786.ece
Note: http://www.timesonline....
Rice Wants Nato Allies To Do More In Afghanistan
Posted on Wednesday, February 06 at 14:36 by a free mans lifeContributed By
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Morans.
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The preceding comment deals with mature subject matter, however immaturely presented. Viewer discretion is advised.
that the U.S. military had routed the Taliban from Afghanistan. Echoing his
recent assessment that the Taliban has “lost” in Afghanistan, Gates said the
Taliban has been “thrown out”:
The Taliban no longer occupy any territory in Afghanistan. They were thrown
out of Musa Qala a few weeks ago before over Christmas. And the Taliban
have had some real setbacks. Probably 50 of their leaders have been killed or
captured over the past year, and we know that that’s had an impact on their
capability and also on their morale.
Now back to reality:
...Today, the U.K. and U.S. “issued a renewed appeal to Nato allies in
Afghanistan to take on a greater share of the fighting against the Taliban.”
MOREOVER, WTF.
3 major reports concluded that the situation in Afghanistan is eroding
quickly. “Make no mistake, NATO is not winning in Afghanistan,” said a
military report chaired by ret. Gen. James Jones and Thomas Pickering.
1) Jones-Pickering Report: “The progress achieved after six years of
international engagement is under serious threat.”
2) Atlantic Council Report: “Afghanistan remains a dangerously neglected
conflict in a Washington transfixed by Iraq. … On the security side, a
stalemate of sorts has taken hold.”
3) National Defense University Report: “It is our assertion that the current
Afghan government and its allies, principally NATO and the United States, are
not winning the battle in the civil sector.”
Over the past year, the situation in Afghanistan has dramatically deteriorated.
Violence has jumped 27%. Suicide bombings rose to 140 in 2007, compared
with five between 2001 and 2005. Coalition and Afghan civilian casualties
have reached “the highest level since 2001.”
CANADA OUT OF AFGHANISTAN!