“There will undoubtedly be an offensive this spring in Afghanistan,” said Mr McCain.

[Flabbergasted]

McCain criticises Nato on Afghan support
By Demetri Sevastopulo in Munich

Published: February 10 2007 20:05 | Last updated: February 10 2007 20:05

John McCain, the US Republican senator, on Saturday told the FT he was “fairly close” to making a decision about whether he would enter the 2008 race for the White House.

Mr McCain made his comments in Munich on the same day that Barack Obama, the Democratic senator, announced his candidacy for the 2008 presidential race in Illinois.


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The maverick Arizona politician was attending an influential Munich defence conference – attended by Russian president Vladimir Putin and a host of European defence ministers – where he criticised Nato allies for not contributing more military and financial support for the alliance’s mission in Afghanistan.

“There will undoubtedly be an offensive this spring in Afghanistan,” said Mr McCain. “The only question is whether it will be Nato’s offensive or the Taliban’s. Nato members can help ensure that we keep the Taliban on their heels by at least matching the US troop increase of 3,000 and by reconsidering national caveats.”

The US wants European countries, including Germany and Spain, to reduce restrictions imposed on their troops serving in Afghanistan.

Mr McCain said the Nato campaign in Afghanistan was crucial to ensuring its relevance. “If Nato does not prevail in Afghanistan, it is difficult to imagine the alliance undertaking another “hard security” operation – in or out of area – and its credibility would suffer a grievous blow”.

In contrast to Robert Gates, the US defence secretary who arrived in Munich following a two-day meeting of Nato defence ministers in Seville, Mr McCain was publicly critical of Nato members. He also singled out particular countries, included the government of Germany.

Mr McCain said Germans should be “proud” of their involvement in Afghanistan, but called on the German government to step up its training of Afghan police.

“There are just 41 German instructors, and the number of German-trained police is well below the number trained by the US,” said Mr McCain. “I hope that Germany would significantly increase its leadership in this regard.”

The US recently pledged an additional $10.6bn for economic reconstruction. Mr McCain called on the European Commission to join the US, citing Karl Eikenberry, the outgoing commander of US forces in Afghanistan, saying, “Where roads end, the Taliban begins.”

“The international community still falls far short in meeting its prior pledges and in committing the resources Afghanistan needs to avoid failure,” said Mr McCain. “It would be a significant sign of multilateral commitment to Afghanistan if Europe would at least match the $10bn pledge from the United States.”

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/4e6110a6-b93f-11db-a5bc-0000779e2340.html

[Olney Blue]

1. Oh? I thought we had that war already.

[tblue]

2. So many wars, so little time. It's making my head spin. Maybe if we hadn't blown it in Iraq, the

international community wouldn't 'fall short' in helping us try to dig ourselves out of another hell hole, Sen. Kissass McC*in.

[Canuckistanian]

3. I predict...

That most Americans will think McCain is an idiot.

[stillcool]

4. reminds me of Mr. Rogers' song...

who are the people in your neighborhood?