Posted by
Reeson on Tuesday, January 16, 2007 10:30:38 AM
Two really important things should have been addressed at this meeting: (a) NATO countries have got to contribute more money to their defense budgets. The gap between the United States and NATO countries creates problems on the ground when conducting contingency operations. (b) NATO countries need to step up to the plate in Afghanistan. When the NATO commander calls for more troops, these countries can't just turn their backs and hope the United States will come to the rescue. Excerpts from the
Department of Defense web site:
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| NATO operations in Afghanistan, NATO’s ongoing transformation, Kosovo and the general state of the North Atlantic alliance were on the table as Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met here today with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
Gates met with British officials yesterday in London and NATO officials today. Senior officials traveling with Gates said the visits so soon after taking office emphasize how important the secretary believes the alliance is to America.
Afghanistan was an important discussion point. There are about 30,000 soldiers from 37 NATO and partner countries serving as part of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force. Gates called the NATO mission in Afghanistan a model of the organization’s potential in the new era. “Success in Afghanistan is our top priority,” he said.
Gates said NATO has made much progress since 2003 and called on its members to fulfill the commitments they made. “I’m confident that we can meet and overcome any challenge in the future,” he said.
But much work remains to ensure NATO is prepared to 21st-century challenges, he said. NATO must continue to work on a strategic airlift capability, global partnership alliance, the special operations forces initiative and training cooperation initiative, he said. |