NATO To Lead U.S. Troops In Afghanistan

The NATO expansion into the east wasn't expected to happen for a few weeks. The alliance's troops took command of southern Afghanistan just two months ago and have struggled to stem escalating violence. A forthcoming NATO order will give the exact date of the handover that places 12,000 U.S. troops in eastern Afghanistan headed by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin Freakley under alliance command. The NATO takeover caps an already historic expansion of missions for the largely European alliance that was created as a Cold War bulwark against the Soviet Union. NATO has seen 45 soldiers killed since arriving in August 2003. Its combat role in southern Afghanistan is the largest the alliance has ever undertaken. "It is a big deal," Laity said. "We've got an unprecedentedly complex mission here. In some areas it's heavy combat. In other areas it's law and order. And it includes everything in between." http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/90-10012006-720998.html

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