US allies to send 5,000 troops to Afghanistan
Source: Agencies |
December 3, 2009, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
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.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
