NATO Chief Vows Afghan Commitment

NATO Chief Vows Afghan Commitment
July 21, 2010
Deutsche Presse-Agentur

ISLAMABAD - NATO's secretary general on Wednesday argued against a retreat from Afghanistan, saying the duration of the international troop presence would be "driven not by the calendar, but by commitment."

Anders Fogh Rasmussen met Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Islamabad to discuss the Afghan situation.

He said the troop presence would be determined by the security situation and that NATO "will not leave Afghanistan prematurely."

Rasmussen expressed fears that the Taliban could take over the country in case of hasty pullout, and pose a great risk to the international security.

"Taliban will return and create a safe haven for terrorists and Afghanistan will become a launch pad against North America and Europe," he said.



unhappycamper comment: NATO will leave Afghanistan when a) the money runs out or b) 218 congresscritters in the House get the balls to vote NO on a supplemental to continue this occupation.