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Nato chief Rasmussen: 'more troops for Afghanistan'

By Channel 4 News

Updated on 12 November 2009

As a US envoy warns against sending more soldiers to Afghanistan, Nato's new general-secretary, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, speaks to Jon Snow about the future of the coalition's mission.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen speaks to Jon Snow

As US President Barack Obama ponders a military surge in Afghanistan, it has emerged that America's envoy to the country, Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, has said that there is no point in sending more troops to fight in the conflict.

Leaked memos show the former military commander's concerns about the country's security following the recent presidential election.

But Nato General-Secretary Rasmussen thinks otherwise.

Speaking to Jon Snow on a visit to meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London, Rasmussen urged support from the international community and said that success in the country was crucial.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen: First and foremost we are in Afghanistan to avoid that once again the country becomes a safe haven for terrorists, and if it takes more soldiers to secure the country then we have to do what it takes.

We have been quite successful until now, but there is a clear risk that if we leave Afghanistan behind once again then terrorism could easily spread through from Afghanistan through central Asia and further - not to speak about the risk of destabilising neighbouring Pakistan, a nuclear power. That would be a very dangerous situation.

This is the reason why we are in Afghanistan and the reason why we have to do what it takes to finish our job.

Jon Snow: It's quite a negative approach isn't it - if we leave there will be more trouble. Not if we stay we can someway bring some extraordinary change that will obviate ever having to be there even again.

AFR: Indeed there is a positive story about our presence in Afghanistan - actually there are a lot of success stories.

We have constructed several thousands school, several million students go to school now out of which one third are girls - in the past they were not allowed to get an education. 85 per cent of the population now has access to basic services we have constructed 30,000 km roads.

Even concerning drugs we have succeeded according to UN statistics the cultivation of opium has decreased by more than 20 per cent during the last year.

So we do make a difference.

JS: I can accept your point but the US ambassador who is himself a former general is simply saying no more troops. And we Nato are considering sending more troops. If the advice from somebody is actually there and has a military background says don't - who are we to say we should?

AFR: General McChrystal, who is actually the commander in charge, has recommended to send more troops to make sure that we actually succeed in Afghanistan, and right now we are considering all these pieces of advice and I would expect us to make final decision within a very few weeks.

JS: But you say "we" - and I guess "we" means Nato. Nato is just a cipher of the America endeavour. We are nothing as Nato. There are 9,500 British troops, there are a few thousands here and there from other countries, but at the end of the day this is an American adventure which Nato is merely a bit-part player.

AFR: We all know that America is the major contributor. But it is not an America solely - it is an alliance mission. 43 countries contribute to this mission.

JS: In theory.

AFR: But also in practice.

Actually other allies have increased the number of troops in the last year - they have nearly doubled the number of troops. So despite the fact that America is the biggest troop contributor, it is really a broad alliance and we should keep it that way. And this is the reason right now we are in a very intense face of consultation among all allies.

Does Nato want more troops?

JS: But that consultation in the US is bitterly divided. You have McChrystal on the one hand, and you have the ambassador in Kabul on the other, and you have Mr Biden on one side, you have Mr Obama in the middle. And yet we, Nato, has to wait upon their decision. What is Nato's view?

AFR: I think it is quite natural that in few democracies you have different views and angles and then at the end of the day the political authorities have to make the decision. And this will happen within a few weeks and you will see new momentum.

JS: What does a few weeks mean?

AFR: It means a few weeks. I would expect a couple of weeks, then we will make important decisions to how we can proceed, and I think the headline will be transition to Afghan lead across the board from security to development. We need a stronger Afghan ownership. We need to hand over responsibility for the security to the Afghans themselves, and therefore we have to educate and train more Afghan soldiers, Afghan police.

JS: You are new to Nato, you didn't get us to this position. As you take over Nato, are you not concerned that you have an alliance which is so America-heavy that it isn't really an alliance? It really is some kind of a collective which is marching around the world in America's shadow.

AFR: It is a collective, it works as an alliance. And actually the Americans have been very careful to conduct detailed consultations with all allies - and this is also the reason why I urge all allies to step up to the plate. It's only natural that we wait for a decision in the biggest country, the biggest troop contributing country.

JS: How many troops do you want from Britain, for example?

AFR: It's premature to make a decision on exact troop numbers, but I welcome the British decision to add troops to our mission in Afghanistan on the condition that other allies follow suit.

I urge all allies to step up to the plate, and in particular we need more trainers and resources for our training mission with the aim to train more Afghan soldiers and more afghan police so that they eventually can take over responsibility themselves. This is the way ahead.

JS: Will Mr Obama tell you before he tells the world what he is going to do?

AFR: Yes, I think so.

JS: If Nato means anything, he'd better, hadn't he?

AFR: The Americans have made this an alliance mission. Though they are the biggest troop-contributing country, they attach great importance to keeping it as a collective alliance mission, and this is the reason why we are right now in a very intense face of consultation, so at the end of the day it will also be a Nato announcement.

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