'Bloody outrageous': NATO allies bristle after U.S. questions skills

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/world/743552,nato011608.article

January 16, 2008
FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Some of America’s closest NATO allies reacted with surprise and disbelief Wednesday to reported comments from U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates suggesting that their troops fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan are not up to the job.

The Dutch Defense Ministry summoned the U.S. ambassador for an explanation of a Los Angeles Times article that said Gates suggested soldiers from Canada, Britain and the Netherlands did not know how to fight a guerrilla insurgency.

In Washington, Gates’ spokesman Geoff Morrell said the secretary had ‘‘read the article and is disturbed by what he read.’’

Morrell did not challenge the accuracy of the quotes in the story, but said he thought it left the wrong impression — that Gates had singled out a particular country.

‘‘For the record he did not — to the L.A. Times or at any time otherwise — publicly ever criticize any single country for their performance in or commitment to the mission in Afghanistan,’’ Morrell told Pentagon reporters in Washington.

Instead, Morrell said Gates had pointed out that ‘‘NATO as an alliance, does not train for counterinsurgency. The alliance has never had to do it before.’’

The United States has regularly criticized Germany, France, Italy and other allies that refuse to allow their troops in Afghanistan to join U.S. forces on the front line against the Taliban in the insurgents’ southern strongholds.

[indepat]

1. Those who not see the world through the dark, distorted neocon eyes will garner a heap of criticism

[Fresh_Start]

2. so who needs allies

is there anyone left we haven't screwed over?

[ixion]

3. I'm sure that NATO will be more than happy to dump Afghanistan back in our lap

so we can show them how it's done...:eyes: :sarcasm:

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

4. "never criticized any single country" - no, he criticized 3 countries

[gratuitous]

5. Classic misdirection by Gates' mouthpiece

Geoff Morrell doesn't argue that Gates was dissing our closest allies, but he protests that Gates "did not . . . ever criticize any single country." Well duh, but was he accused of doing that? No, but as a bright shiny object to distract the press puppies, it worked better than a laser pointer on my cat.

[SpiralHawk]

6. "You cheese-eating Euros need to practuce compertunce skills, like me." - Commander AWOL

"I are doing a heckuva job. Smirk." - Commander AWOL