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US consults NATO, EU allies on Afghan strategy
Brussels (AFP) March 4, 2009 US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton consulted NATO and European allies late Wednesday on Washington's new strategy to combat the insurgency in Afghanistan. At an evening "transatlantic dinner" in Brussels and in talks with her NATO counterparts Thursday, Clinton was to outline progress and gather feedback with the review set for completion late this month. Her talks here will also focus on Russia and the likely unfreezing of high-level relations with NATO, sparked by Moscow's decision to send troops into Georgia last August. "I am looking to demonstrate that the United States intend to be an active participant within NATO and with our NATO partners," she told reporters travelling with her to Brussels, ahead of the closed-door dinner talks. "I will certainly be raising issues that are important to the United States such as our plan going forward for Afghanistan and Pakistan, the NATO-Russia relationship, some of the old problems and new threats together". The United States and its NATO allies are battling to halt a Taliban-led insurgency that has severely dented their efforts to spread democracy and foster reconstruction throughout Afghanistan. President Barack Obama has demanded a strategy review focused on fighting extremism in the strife-torn country, where he is deploying 17,000 extra troops, and in neighbouring Pakistan as he winds down US involvement in Iraq. "This will be an important opportunity for an exchange of views," NATO spokesman James Appathurai told reporters a few hours before Clinton touched down in Brussels. He said Clinton "will update allies on the US review, where it is, and where it is going." The previous administration under president George W. Bush had a strained relationship with some European allies caused by the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. But Obama's election was warmly welcomed in European capitals, where hopes are high that he will bring new momentum to diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts in hotspots around the world. However many European allies remain reluctant to send more troops and equipment to the south of Afghanistan, where the insurgency is at its worst, and their reticence is straining the alliance. The EU, for its part, is already providing Afghanistan with some eight billion euros over the 2001-2010 period and is helping train the Afghan police, and officials in Brussels want to know what more NATO and Washington want. When asked about a possible unfreezing in NATO's ties with Russia, put on ice over Moscow's decision to send troops into Georgia last August, Clinton suggested there might be other means through which to engage Russia. "I think the NATO-Russia Council is one vehicle but there may be other ways that we can design. But it is not the vehicle so much as the substance," she said. According to alliance diplomats, she and her NATO counterparts are set to announce Thursday the resumption of formal high-level ties with Russia while reassuring Georgia and Ukraine they have a future in the military alliance. "We want to have a more robust and meaningful dialogue with Russia going forward on a range of issues," Clinton said. One of the thorny issues is US missile defence plans, and Clinton said she hoped Russia could be convinced of Washington's point of view. "It is my hope that we will persuade Russia to (take) part in that defence," she said, adding that she thought Moscow might now feel less threatened by the US anti-missile shield plans. "I think they are beginning to really believe it, that this is not about Russia." The United States has been negotiating with Poland and the Czech Republic to install 10 missile interceptors, which would not carry explosive warheads, and a radar system on their territories to expand its shield into Europe. The move, meant to counter any missile threat from Iran, angered Russia but Obama has since ordered a review of the project to see if it is still technically feasible and cost effective. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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Outside View: A strategy for AFPAK
Washington (UPI) Mar 4, 2009 Having announced a strategy for Iraq, the Obama administration is now completing a strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan collectively called AFPAK. The White House appears to assume that "success," as achieved in Iraq, is obtainable in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, that assumption is flawed. |
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