Envoy: NATO to send more forces to Afghanistan

[unhappycamper]

Envoy: NATO to send more forces to Afghanistan
By Slobodan Lekic - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Dec 3, 2009 16:56:30 EST

BRUSSELS — U.S. special envoy Richard C. Holbrooke acknowledged Thursday that the war in Afghanistan is unpopular, given “the legacy of Iraq and Vietnam,” but he predicted that NATO allies will soon contribute more forces to join the 30,000 additional U.S. troops being deployed there.

“We have been very gratified by the strong support of our European allies for President Obama’s policy,” Holbrooke, the president’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, told journalists. He spoke before a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers that opens later Thursday. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will brief the ministers on Friday.

Obama’s new plan for the war in Afghanistan calls for the dispatch of 30,000 more troops, but includes assurances that some of them will begin withdrawing in July 2011.

On Thursday, NATO spokesman James Appathurai said pledges from the alliance already have exceeded 5,000 troops. More than 20 nations are expected to make firm commitments at a force-generation conference on Monday, and following the international conference on Afghanistan in January, he said.

After Appathurai spoke, Italy — which has 2,800 troops in Afghanistan — announced that it will increase its contingent by about 1,000 soldiers starting next year. That will allow its force to take full responsibility for Western region of Herat, Afghanistan, and reduce the commitment of U.S. and British troops there. Armenia also announced it would send a small contingent of 40 troops to Afghanistan early next year, its first deployment as part of the international coalition.


Rest of article at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/12/ap_nato_afghanistan_troops_120309/