Greece says can't help expand NATO Afghan mission

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23611871.htm

ATHENS, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Greece turned down a NATO request on Thursday to send military helicopters to Afghanistan to beef up the alliance's mission there, saying it was too stretched by preparations for the Athens 2004 Olympics.

NATO has still not found all the military kit and personnel it needs to run the Afghanistan peacekeeping force, nearly three months after it took command.

It is short of 10 helicopters and 30 intelligence officers. NATO Secretary-General George Robertson has been lobbying alliance members to help get the current force to full strength before the mission expands beyond the Afghan capital Kabul.

"Lord Robertson told us that the presence of Greek Air Force helicopters would be very useful and necessary," Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis told a news conference after a meeting with Robertson in Athens on Thursday.

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[E_Zapata]

1. This is outrageous!

We need to cancel the Olympics until the war on terra is won. I mean, how absurd that a country can't send boys to die because they have to build stadiums and get all ready for fun and games. Tsk tsk.

[Capt_Nemo]

2. Georgie boy, face it: NATO is dead

And you know what? It was your neo-con heroes that destroyed it!

And you know what else? I will not miss it a bit! Good riddance!