US allies to send 5,000 troops to Afghanistan
Source: Agencies |
December 3, 2009, Thursday
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EUROPEAN and other United States allies will contribute more than 5,000 more troops to the international force in Afghanistan, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said yesterday, declaring that "this is not just America's war."
Still, with the exception of new combat troops from Poland, the pledges of additional troops came in small numbers from small nations. European powers France and Germany praised President Barack Obama's speech on his new strategy for Afghanistan but were noticeably silent on the offer of new troops.
Reacting to Obama's call for more help, a Polish official said the government will likely send 600 combat-ready reinforcements, mainly for patrolling and training to beef up its existing 2,000-strong contingent in Afghanistan.
Albania said it would look favorably on increasing its 250-member unit, while Spain's El Pais daily said the defense ministry was considering sending 200 more soldiers to its 1,000 contingent. Italy declared it would do its part and Finland confirmed that it had been asked to consider sending more troops and would do so next week.
However, the largest contributors - Britain, France and Germany - held off on new troop pledges, waiting for an Afghanistan conference in London planned for late January. French presidential spokesman Luc Chatel said President Nicolas Sarkozy wanted to "give himself some time." Earlier, Sarkozy commended Obama's speech as "courageous, determined and lucid."
In Germany, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle praised Obama's speech as supporting Germany's position that a political solution for Afghanistan backed by military support was the only way forward.
Still, with the exception of new combat troops from Poland, the pledges of additional troops came in small numbers from small nations. European powers France and Germany praised President Barack Obama's speech on his new strategy for Afghanistan but were noticeably silent on the offer of new troops.
Reacting to Obama's call for more help, a Polish official said the government will likely send 600 combat-ready reinforcements, mainly for patrolling and training to beef up its existing 2,000-strong contingent in Afghanistan.
Albania said it would look favorably on increasing its 250-member unit, while Spain's El Pais daily said the defense ministry was considering sending 200 more soldiers to its 1,000 contingent. Italy declared it would do its part and Finland confirmed that it had been asked to consider sending more troops and would do so next week.
However, the largest contributors - Britain, France and Germany - held off on new troop pledges, waiting for an Afghanistan conference in London planned for late January. French presidential spokesman Luc Chatel said President Nicolas Sarkozy wanted to "give himself some time." Earlier, Sarkozy commended Obama's speech as "courageous, determined and lucid."
In Germany, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle praised Obama's speech as supporting Germany's position that a political solution for Afghanistan backed by military support was the only way forward.
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