from u.s. coalition to nato, where we belong

NATO could handle all Afghan peacekeeping by August: General
31 Mar 2006, CBC News

NATO's top operational commander said Friday that the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force should be ready to take over peacekeeping duties throughout Afghanistan by the end of August, provided alliance members agree.

U.S. Marine Gen. James Jones has been Supreme Allied Commander Europe since 2003.

While no formal timetable had been set for the deployment of NATO forces in the mountainous Pakistani border region in eastern Afghanistan, the most ambitious target spoken of by alliance officials had been October.

Up to now, NATO's mission has been limited to Kabul and the relatively peaceful northern and western regions.

However, U.S. Gen. James Jones, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said the planned expansion into the more dangerous southern sector is planned for July and the move eastward could be completed by August because it mainly involves bringing U.S. troops already there under NATO command.

"It's better to do it sooner than later," Jones told reporters at NATO headquarters in Belgium.

He added that the U.S. would first have to agree to the transfer.

The addition of American troops would raise the strength of the NATO force to between 23,000 and 25,000, up from 8,400.

The expansion in the south involves 9,000 troops mainly from Britain, Canada and the Netherlands. Canada's 2,300 soldiers are mostly stationed in volatile Kandahar province.

The Canadians are currently part of the U.S.-led coalition, but will come under the command of the NATO force when it expands into the southern sector this summer.

The U.S. has about 16,000 troops in Afghanistan. NATO officials said they expect 6,000 to 10,000 of them to transfer to the NATO force, with the remainder continuing to focus on hunting for Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters.

Jones expressed confidence that the NATO force was well-equipped to handle matters in more violent regions of the country, adding that the nations involved had not placed any restrictions on the use of their troops.

"They are going in without caveats," he said. "They will make their presence felt and I am quite confident that the capacity they will bring ... will send a strong message to those committing the acts of violence."