US enlists allies in new surge: Afghanistan

NEW YORK - US President Barack Obama's administration is talking with NATO officials about staging a coordinated rollout of a new Afghanistan war strategy, a major American newspaper reported Saturday.
Citing "officials familiar with the talks," The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday White House negotiators are meeting with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to nail down foreign troop commitments before announcing a US troop surge into the Afghan struggle, thus sending a clear message the United States isn't alone in its fight against the Taliban.
The Journal said estimates from US and European sources place potential troop contributions from NATO allies from 3,000 to 7,000, while Washington would send in between 10,000 to 40,000 troops. It cited unnamed US officials as saying a combination of combat troops and training forces totaling 35,000 has gained the most momentum within the White House.
The newspaper said that with NATO foreign ministers to meet in Brussels starting Dec 3, Obama was most likely to make his announcement on Afghanistan troop levels ahead of the meeting.
Rasmussen "has already begun an intensive series of consultations with European allies," NATO spokesman James Appathurai told the Journal.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Canada's contributions to the war against Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan are a key to success.
Speaking Friday in Halifax, Nova Scotia, at the Halifax International Security Forum, Gates praised Canadian contributions in Afghanistan, especially in the strategic southern province of Kandahar, where Canadian forces have seen fierce fighting.
"In Afghanistan, the Canadian military has more than distinguished itself in battle in some of the most dangerous parts of the country," Gates said. "Canada has been a major contributor to the international military coalition, with more than 2,800 troops currently deployed, plus a strong commitment to support future development and governance efforts."
Gates noted that "with more than 130 fallen heroes, among the highest of coalition members on a per-capita basis, the Canadian army has certainly paid the price and borne a heavy burden in Afghanistan."
Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay told reporters more allied forces were needed to help secure Kandahar, but, as Gates and the Obama administration deliberate on how much to increase Afghanistan troop levels, he didn't specifically mention US troops, the Los Angeles Times reported.