Europe praises Obama, offers few troops help
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 06, 2009 00:00
STRASBOURG, France - European leaders enthusiastically praised President Barack Obama's new Afghan strategy at a NATO summit, but held their ground on a central disagreement and offered only military trainers and extra security forces for upcoming elections.
Violent anti-war protests that marred the alliance's 60th anniversary celebrations were a stark reminder that much of Europe has no appetite for the other, costlier half of Obama's Afghan equation: more combat troops.
"I am pleased that our NATO allies pledged their strong and unanimous support for our new strategy," Obama said Saturday. "We'll need more resources and a sustained effort to achieve our ultimate goals."
Afghanistan is seen as a crucial test of the power and relevance of the alliance, which was founded at the height of the Cold War to counterbalance the Soviet Union and now is struggling against a rising insurgency far beyond its borders.
The escalating war has highlighted doubts in Europe about the ability of NATO's 58,000 troops to stem the Taliban insurgency. Worries about casualties and costs have contributed to opposition to a conflict many Europeans see as an unnecessary distraction during economic crisis.
Despite a security crackdown on both sides of the Franco-German border, thousands of anti-war protesters fought running street battles with police, setting ablaze a hotel and a customs post and forcing the leaders' spouses to cancel a visit to a nearby cancer hospital.
New strategy
During the summit, jointly co-hosted by France and Germany as a symbol of European unity, Obama briefed NATO leaders about his new strategy aimed at stabilizing Afghanistan while rooting out Taliban and al-Qaeda hard-liners in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
After the meeting, Obama heralded what he called "concrete commitments" from NATO allies on Afghanistan, saying their agreement to send up to 5,000 more trainers and police was "a strong down payment" toward securing the country. Obama's new strategy has him adding 21,000 U.S. troops to an American force of 38,000. The White House said NATO countries agreed to send 3,000 personnel on short-term deployments, to help stabilize the countrybefore elections in August
The alliance must ensure "no more terrorist danger emanates from Afghanistan," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown echoed Obama's argument that Afghanistan was key to Europe's security. "Now we are working to build a successful, democratic Afghanistan and that will be that our streets will be safer in Britain," he said. "With important presidential elections to come in the next few months we must not allow the Taliban to disrupt the democratic process."
Meanwhile, Obama's top envoy for Afghanistan and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff arrived in Afghanistan yesterday. The U.S. Embassy said Richard Holbrooke and Adm. Mike Mullen were set to meet with Afghan and U.S. officials.
"I am pleased that our NATO allies pledged their strong and unanimous support for our new strategy," Obama said Saturday. "We'll need more resources and a sustained effort to achieve our ultimate goals."
Afghanistan is seen as a crucial test of the power and relevance of the alliance, which was founded at the height of the Cold War to counterbalance the Soviet Union and now is struggling against a rising insurgency far beyond its borders.
The escalating war has highlighted doubts in Europe about the ability of NATO's 58,000 troops to stem the Taliban insurgency. Worries about casualties and costs have contributed to opposition to a conflict many Europeans see as an unnecessary distraction during economic crisis.
Despite a security crackdown on both sides of the Franco-German border, thousands of anti-war protesters fought running street battles with police, setting ablaze a hotel and a customs post and forcing the leaders' spouses to cancel a visit to a nearby cancer hospital.
New strategy
During the summit, jointly co-hosted by France and Germany as a symbol of European unity, Obama briefed NATO leaders about his new strategy aimed at stabilizing Afghanistan while rooting out Taliban and al-Qaeda hard-liners in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
After the meeting, Obama heralded what he called "concrete commitments" from NATO allies on Afghanistan, saying their agreement to send up to 5,000 more trainers and police was "a strong down payment" toward securing the country. Obama's new strategy has him adding 21,000 U.S. troops to an American force of 38,000. The White House said NATO countries agreed to send 3,000 personnel on short-term deployments, to help stabilize the countrybefore elections in August
The alliance must ensure "no more terrorist danger emanates from Afghanistan," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown echoed Obama's argument that Afghanistan was key to Europe's security. "Now we are working to build a successful, democratic Afghanistan and that will be that our streets will be safer in Britain," he said. "With important presidential elections to come in the next few months we must not allow the Taliban to disrupt the democratic process."
Meanwhile, Obama's top envoy for Afghanistan and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff arrived in Afghanistan yesterday. The U.S. Embassy said Richard Holbrooke and Adm. Mike Mullen were set to meet with Afghan and U.S. officials.