General Asks Where Is The NATO Commitment To Afghanistan?
Matthew Borghese - All Headline News Staff Writer Kabul, Afghanistan (AHN) - NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe U.S. Marine Gen. James L. Jones, says Afghanistan is understaffed because nations have failed to send the troops they promised. General Jones says the 26-nation NATO alliance needs to fulfill its commitment of military forces which was agreed to a year and a half ago. Currently, the NATO command in Afghanistan has only 85 percent of the force it was promised. Jones says, "The rounding out of this plan ... and the capabilities that we're currently lacking will give the commander a cushion - would give him some insurance that he has more than enough force to do the job." "It's not a reinforcement in the desperate sense, but it is prudent military advice that adds a certain measure of guarantee and cushion to the forces that are already performing very well." According to the Pentagon, included in the additional 15 percent are an attack helicopter squadron, some C-130 cargo planes, and a tactical theater reserve battalion, all of which are lacking in the NATO forces now, Jones said. He estimated the force would be about 2,000 people, but he emphasized that the number of people was not as important as the capabilities they would be bringing. The General maintains, "I do believe that they'll be successful without it, but I do believe that if we can do it quicker, if we can minimize casualties, and sin |
