NATO urges allies to do more in Afghanistan

[laststeamtrain]

Source: Reuters

NATO urges allies to do more in Afghanistan
Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:54pm EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - NATO's secretary general said on Monday he regretted failing to get more member states to give up national 'caveats' that mean they won't carry out dangerous missions in places such as Afghanistan.

Speaking to foreign policy experts before he leaves his post next week after 5-1/2 years, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said he would have liked to have done more to get all NATO member states contributing in equal measure to the alliance's operations.

"I have tried to be as proactive as I could to lift caveats, as we call them in our jargon -- the limitation on the use of force," he told an audience at Chatham House. "I have had some success, but I would have liked to be more successful."

U.S. officials have often expressed frustration that many nations deployed as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan will not take part in combat missions because of opt-outs they have secured.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSLK26724520090720

[timeforpeace]

1. How bout givin our boys a ride out of Dodge? That would be a big help.