NATO to double troop force in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — NATO will double the number of soldiers in southern Afghanistan when it takes over security there from U.S. troops next month, seeking to quash the worst rebel violence since the Taliban's ouster, the NATO force commander said Sunday.

Lt. Gen. David Richards also said NATO troops will be more ``people friendly" in an effort to win the support of the local population amid rising resentment over what many Afghans see as overly aggressive tactics by the separate U.S.-led coalition force.

Appearing on CNN's "Late Edition" on Sunday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged that Karzai is urging U.S. forces to avoid actions that could damage support for the campaign against the Taliban.

"Of course, people are told to be careful, but it is a matter of war, a war zone, in which our soldiers are trying, as he said, jointly to root out the terrorists," Rice said.

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So folks there it is. Our military in Afghanistan believe they are in a war and our leaders don't call it a war. And the leader we are following says it is a war.

Guess that Harper hasn't been listening while he he has been telling others what to say!