Saying uncle in Afghanstan

At one time the country was nailed down now this.

signed,

Cant wait till '08
Afghan force 'needs more troops'

Canadian troops near Kandahar, Aug 29

Phone video of battle
Nato's top commander, General James Jones, has urged member countries to provide reinforcements to the mission in southern Afghanistan.

He admitted the military alliance had been taken aback by the extent of violence in the region.

But he predicted that the coming weeks would be decisive in the fight against Islamist Taleban guerrillas.

Commanders on the ground had asked for several hundred additional troops and more helicopters and airlift, he said.

"We are talking about modest reinforcements," he told reporters at Nato European headquarters in Belgium.


We should recognise we are a little bit surprised at the level of intensity, and that the opposition in some areas are not relying on traditional hit-and-run tactics
General James Jones

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Several Nato soldiers, most of them British or Canadian, have been killed in fierce fighting with Taleban guerrillas since the alliance extended its peacekeeping mission to the south a month ago.

Nato troops took over leadership of military operations in the region from the US.

Gen Jones is due to meet generals from the 26 Nato nations this weekend in Warsaw, Poland.

The US marine general said he would initially ask for reinforcements from existing contributors to the 37-nation International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), including Germany, which has several thousand troops in the calmer north of the country.

'Before winter'

He told reporters that Nato forces had expected some opposition in southern Afghanistan, but added: "We should recognise we are a little bit surprised at the level of intensity, and that the opposition in some areas are not relying on traditional hit-and-run tactics."

However, he said he was confident the situation could be contained relatively quickly.

"It is my feeling that... certainly before the winter, we will see this decisive moment in the region turn favourably to the forces that represent the (Afghan) government and the efforts we are trying to achieve."

He said reinforcements "will help us reduce casualties and help us bring this to a successful conclusion in a shorter period of time".

The Taleban ruled Afghanistan until late 2001 when it was toppled by US-led forces in the wake of the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington.