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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bush berates hesitant Nato allies | Bush berates hesitant Nato allies |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US President George W Bush has berated Nato members reluctant to send troops to Afghan hotspots, demanding they must accept "difficult assignments". | |
| Speaking ahead of a Nato meeting in Latvia, Mr Bush said members must provide the forces the alliance needs. | Speaking ahead of a Nato meeting in Latvia, Mr Bush said members must provide the forces the alliance needs. |
| Several Nato nations have caveats that keep their troops out of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan, where Taleban forces are strengthening. | Several Nato nations have caveats that keep their troops out of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan, where Taleban forces are strengthening. |
| The difficulties of the Afghan mission are due to dominate the two-day summit. | The difficulties of the Afghan mission are due to dominate the two-day summit. |
| The US president, who led the campaign to topple the Taleban regime five years ago, echoed the earlier words of Nato chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. | The US president, who led the campaign to topple the Taleban regime five years ago, echoed the earlier words of Nato chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. |
| See map of key Afghan flashpoints | See map of key Afghan flashpoints |
| But the Dutchman had also sought to strike an upbeat note, saying that the Afghan operation - Nato's first outside Europe - was "mission possible", and that it might even be able to start pulling out from 2008. | But the Dutchman had also sought to strike an upbeat note, saying that the Afghan operation - Nato's first outside Europe - was "mission possible", and that it might even be able to start pulling out from 2008. |
| "We need to be frank about the risks," he said, "but we also need to avoid over-dramatising." | "We need to be frank about the risks," he said, "but we also need to avoid over-dramatising." |
| Bearing the brunt | Bearing the brunt |
| Nato-led forces have faced fierce resistance from Taleban militants in the south of the country in recent months, where violence has risen to heights not seen since the toppling of the Taleban. | Nato-led forces have faced fierce resistance from Taleban militants in the south of the country in recent months, where violence has risen to heights not seen since the toppling of the Taleban. |
| CAVEATS Restrict where, when and how troops can be usedGermany, France, Spain and Italy all have themCritics say they prevent Nato being flexible, and keep some troops away from danger | CAVEATS Restrict where, when and how troops can be usedGermany, France, Spain and Italy all have themCritics say they prevent Nato being flexible, and keep some troops away from danger |
| Some 4,000 people are believed to have died this year in the insurgency - about a quarter of them civilians. | Some 4,000 people are believed to have died this year in the insurgency - about a quarter of them civilians. |
| About 90% of the casualties suffered by troops serving with the Nato force have involved just four countries: the US, Britain, Canada and the Netherlands. | About 90% of the casualties suffered by troops serving with the Nato force have involved just four countries: the US, Britain, Canada and the Netherlands. |
| Germany, France, Spain and Italy all have troops in Afghanistan but they have negotiated dozens of so-called "red cards", which were offered in exchange for their assistance in the security and reconstruction programme. | |
| Under these terms, they do not take part in certain operations if they do not choose to. | Under these terms, they do not take part in certain operations if they do not choose to. |
| The summit is also expected to debate Nato's continuing role as a military alliance in the 21st Century. | The summit is also expected to debate Nato's continuing role as a military alliance in the 21st Century. |
| "There are still too many messages of the Cold War in the way Nato is structured," said Mr de Hoop Scheffer, adding that partnerships with nations around the world "hold much potential". | "There are still too many messages of the Cold War in the way Nato is structured," said Mr de Hoop Scheffer, adding that partnerships with nations around the world "hold much potential". |
| "The decisions I expect from our summit here should help us unlock this potential," he said. | "The decisions I expect from our summit here should help us unlock this potential," he said. |
| MAIN FLASHPOINTS IN AFGHANISTAN There are 32,500 Nato-led troops in AfghanistanMain troop contributors: US, (11,800), UK (6,000), Germany (2,700) Canada, (2,500) Netherlands (2,000), Italy, (1,800) and France (975) Return | MAIN FLASHPOINTS IN AFGHANISTAN There are 32,500 Nato-led troops in AfghanistanMain troop contributors: US, (11,800), UK (6,000), Germany (2,700) Canada, (2,500) Netherlands (2,000), Italy, (1,800) and France (975) Return |