Indignant NATO Allies Blast Gates' Critique

Grumbling nations only want to provide half

(NEWSER) - The US is struggling to convince its allies to commit 10,000 more troops to the war in Afghanistan, according to federal sources. Allied leaders are willing to provide only half that figure for an operation increasingly unpopular with their citizens, particularly amid concerns about corruption in the Afghan government. The Obama administration views allied troops as both a tactical benefit and a way to help derail criticism in its own political problems with the war. More»

Clinton: 'Stranger things have happened'

(NEWSER) - Western nations seem to be quickly warming to the idea of talking peace with the Taliban. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who only last month said talks would be premature, backed the idea at a NATO meeting yesterday, the AP reports. "Whenever opportunities arise that are worth exploring, I think we ought to take advantage of that," he said. A NATO official says the alliance has helped safe passage for Taliban leaders to attend talks. More»

Niger, Afghanistan round out list of 182 nations; China makes big gains

(NEWSER) - Norway is the best country in the world to live in, according to the UN’s human development index, and Niger is the worst, ranking just below Afghanistan. The index ranks 182 countries based on life expectancy, school enrollment, and GDP per capita. China came in at 92, up seven spaces since last year—a larger jump than any other nation. The US was at 13. UN officials stressed that the rankings are based on 2007 data and don’t reflect changes due to the global recession, AFP reports. More»

(NEWSER) - The US is expected to push for more British troops to help fight the Taliban in Afghanistan, a move certain to be unpopular with the British public, reports the Guardian. NATO Gen. Stanley McChrystal will likely recommend to President Obama that the current total of 150,000 Afghan troops should be doubled, which would require more US and British training and support, and that America should boost monetary aid to support the Afghan government. Britain has been pressuring the US to increase financial aid. More»

Commanders say extra 20,000 troops will quell rising Taliban violence

(NEWSER) - US commanders are drawing up plans to send an extra 20,000 troops to Afghanistan over the next 12 to 18 months, Reuters reports. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the surge will help reverse the rising violence in the country and safeguard elections planned for next fall. Commanders say the current NATO force in southern Afghanistan is overwhelmed by the growing Taliban insurgency. More»