NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer pressured the alliance’s European members to commit more troops to Afghanistan today, saying an escalation of Europe’s commitment to the nearly decade-long war was necessary to avoid the “Americanization” of the war.
“This is not President Obama’s war,” Scheffer cautioned. “Allies need to do their part. I would not like to see a mission which is out of balance.” Just days ago, Obama announced a new “comprehensive” strategy for Afghanistan, which included a massive increase in US forces and money, and increased US control over the situation.
At the same time he is trying to lure nations into committing more forces to the war, however, Scheffer also cautioned them that they should not expect to be able to withdraw from the nation any time soon. Scheffer insisted the troops will remain “for the foreseeable future.”