Commander: More NATO forces needed in Afghanistan

[Coventina]

Source: Associated Press

MONS, Belgium (AP) — The commander of NATO said Monday he hopes that U.S. plans to send more troops to Afghanistan will motivate other alliance members to do the same.

The Bush administration has announced plans to send 3,500 additional Marines to Afghanistan before year's end, then an Army brigade of about 5,000 soldiers in January. Over the next 12-18 months, the U.S. hopes to add as many as three more combat brigades, with more planes and helicopters to support them.

"We hope this will be a lead effort, a forcing function for other nations to increase their contributions," NATO's supreme allied commander, Gen. John Craddock, said at a news conference.

There are currently about 65,000 international troops in Afghanistan, including some 32,000 U.S. forces, all record numbers.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5haetoc5Il4nNpPYavrg1ZM0VmGaQD94LCAEG3

[balantz]

1. And the real terrorists use our soldiers to continue their boogyman hunt n/t