Mute response to US Nato troop call

[laststeamtrain]

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Mute response to US Nato troop call

US appeals for greater assistance in the war in Afghanistan have failed to win much support from Nato allies.

At a two-day meeting of Nato defence ministers in Poland, Robert Gates, the US secretary of defence, said the US was ready to raise its troop levels in the country, but said "there clearly will be expectations that the allies must do more".

But his plea met with a limited response from European allies after only a few announced plans to send hundreds, not thousands, more troops.

France said it had no plans to send additional forces.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/02/2009219145057278830.html

[LakeSamish706]

1. I think that most NATO countries know that fighting in Afghanistan is a lossing...

cause and most especially with the economic situation that all countries are going thru right now. Nobody has the money to spend on sending troops to Afghanistan.

[frog92969]

4. Including us

the money part that is

[laststeamtrain]

2. Reuters: NATO allies offer limp response to U.S. Afghan call

http://uk.reuters.com/article/usPoliticsNews/idUKTRE51I3JF20090219

[bemildred]

3. "Say Buddy, can you spare a dime?" nt

[CHIMO]

5. I Don't

Know what NATO is anymore. Maybe India and China should join?

Or maybe it should come under the UN?

Just what is NATO in Afghanistan.

Just what has NATO got to do with terrorism?

Has me befuddled.

[pasto76]

8. the US, a a NATO signatory, was attacked

basically in the pact, they are obligated to come to our aid. However, many have already done so under Bush's lies. They can withdraw from the pact at any time, or simply refuse. Which in effect does the same thing.

Its too bad, cause the Taliban and Al Quaeda are scary shit over there. They just pressured the legit gov of Pakistan to impose Sharia law in the Swat Valley.

[CHIMO]

10. NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

The system was set up to defend the menmbers from the Soviet Union.

Members are not obliged to defend another member. Response is voluntary.

No country attacked the US. It was an act of terrorism by a band of people.

The government of Afghanistan offered to turn over the accused to a third party for trial if proof was offered.

So you wonder why it is withering on the vine.

[LynnTheDem]

18. The US was not attacked by Afghanistan. Nor did the Taliban attack us.

Attacking Afghanistan was as big a piece of total bullshit as attacking Iraq was.

[jwirr]

6. I am sure that the world was expecting both wars to be included in

the change we were voting for.

[LakeSamish706]

7. Well President Obama did make clear that he was going to bolster Afghanistan....

before he was elected, but many were wishing not. These military costs could sure go along way to helping the economy.

[pasto76]

9. Afghanistan is a priority

the Taliban and Al Queada are basically one in the same. They control much of Afghanistan, and parts of pakistan now. They pressured the pakistani government to impose Sharia law in the Swat valley last week. Do you think extremists are ever satisfied? Next week there will be something else they find utterly offensive, superceding the current cease fire. Oh, there was a cease fire just a while back too...critics say that it only enabled the Taliban to regroup and reload, before it fell apart.

Pakistan has about 50-ish nuclear weapons. A stable government is extremely vital.

The Afghanistan budget has been paltry compared to the Iraq budget. Even now I think we can squeeze it out. I really think it is important. I would have much preferred to be fighting in Afghanistan than having been sent to Iraq.

SGT PASTO

[Pastiche423]

11. Why is it important?

No citizen of Afghnaistan ever attacked the U.S. So, why in the fuck are we there?

[ConcernedCanuk]

12. Because it is beside Iran - I've looked at maps and noticed where the US bases are

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.
.

They are surrounding Iran

It's that simple IMO

Iran is next

and the Iranians know it

[Pastiche423]

13. Why?

What has Iran done to us? And please be specific. You still haven't said what Afghanistan has done.

[ConcernedCanuk]

14. I never said that Afghanistan or Iran or Iraq DESERVED USA's meddling

.
.
.

It's just the American way

bomb, bomb, bomb whomever . .

OH

Iran has oil, the 2nd largest reserve in the World

Gas too

Some coincidence that the oil-hungry USA is surrounding and threatening Iran

I don't believe in coincidences like that . .

[John Q. Citizen]

15. Also the road from the Central Asia oil fields runs right through Afghanistan and

Pakistan to the Indian Ocean.

[Pastiche423]

17. Oops!

My bad. I thought I was replying to the 1st poster that sounded like he had a hard on for war.

My apologies.

[cambie]

16. It's all about

Women's rights and building democracy and stuff just like George W. told us.