US Wants More NATO Troops for Afghan War

The US will pressure its NATO allies to commit more troops to Afghanistan, Reuters reports, but won't send more Americans, beyond the 3,200-Marine surge ordered last month. The need for increased manpower in the 6-year-old conflict resurfaced this week when Canada's prime minister threatened to withdraw his nation's 2,500 soldiers unless they're supported by more NATO forces in the embattled southern region of the country.

The Taliban, ousted from the country and apparently defeated after 9/11, have made a violent comeback, despite the presence of 50,000 NATO and 29,000 US troops. "We've got a number of allies with us there," said the Pentagon's press secretary. "Hopefully they can see to it to dig deeper and find additional forces." (More Afghanistan stories.)