Gates rejects reports of NATO criticism

[unhappycamper]

Gates rejects reports of NATO criticism
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jan 16, 2008 14:38:28 EST

On the heels of recommending a new U.S. troop deployment to support NATO operations in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert Gates is “disturbed” that a news story published Wednesday made it seem like he was criticizing America’s NATO partners in Afghanistan for lacking essential counterinsurgency skills, a Pentagon spokesman told reporters today.

The story, published in the Los Angeles Times, drew immediate criticism from NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

“I’m surprised because I have no indication — and neither has the military chain of command — that any country or countries are not exercising their tasks to the highest levels,” de Hoop Scheffer told Reuters. “I think there is no reason not to conclude that all nations, including the ones in the south, are performing very well.”

The 43,000-member International Security Assistance Force is currently commanded by U.S. Army Gen. Dan McNeil; current major troop contributors include Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, Estonia, Romania and the U.S., which has 14,000 troops assigned to the force.

The story begins: “In an unusual public criticism, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he believes NATO forces currently deployed in southern Afghanistan do not know how to combat a guerrilla insurgency, a deficiency that could be contributing to the rising violence in the fight against the Taliban.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/military_nato_gatesreact_080116w/