Defense Secretary Gates criticizes NATO on Afghanistan

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates faulted European members of NATO on Monday for failing to offer the extra troops for security in Afghanistan that their governments had promised last year, The Associated Press reported the same day.

Of particular concern is the shortage of troops needed to train the Afghan National Army and the Afghan Police.

“I am not satisfied that an alliance whose members have over 2 million soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen cannot find the modest additional resources that have been committed for Afghanistan,” Gates told a news conference after a meeting of a separate organization of southeast European countries.

During the Southeast European Defense Ministers meeting, Gates implored members to increase their contributions to security efforts in Afghanistan, warning that their countries “risk eventual irrelevance” if no action is taken.

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