Gates clarifies comment

Gates clarifies comment
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, January 18, 2008

ARLINGTON, Va. — The upcoming deployment of an additional 3,200 Marines to Afghanistan does not signify that the U.S. government is dissatisfied with the performance of NATO troops in the southern part of the country, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said.

Gates made the point Thursday while talking to reporters in the wake of a controversy surrounding a recent Los Angeles Times article in which Gates was quoted as saying most NATO troops are not trained in counterinsurgency.

“There have been several recent media reports of discontent in the United States and among other NATO members about operations in Afghanistan,” Gates said. “This does not reflect reality or, I believe, the views of our governments.”

Gates praised the performance of NATO allies in Afghanistan, saying they had dealt the Taliban decisive blows last year, forcing the enemy to stop attacking coalition forces in set battles and resort to suicide bombings.

In comments published in Wednesday’s Los Angeles Times, Gates appeared to say that U.S. forces in Afghanistan are better at counterinsurgency than NATO forces.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=51723