Bush taps NATO allies for more troops in Afghanistan

U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday called on NATO allies to provide more troops for Afghanistan, in order to fill what he described as the "security gap" there.

During his speech at the conservative think-tank American Enterprise Institute (AEI), Bush said the NATO allies must also lift restrictions on their forces in Afghanistan, so NATO commanders there will have more flexibility to defeat the enemy.

He said sending more troops to Afghanistan is not only an obligation for NATO members, but also is for their own sake.

"By standing together in Afghanistan, NATO forces protect their own people," Bush added.

The Bush administration is bolstering U.S. forces in Afghanistan, raising the troop levels to the highest-ever level: 27,000.

But many other NATO allies are reluctant to make further commitments.

Countries such as Germany, don't allow their forces to deploy to the south and east of Afghanistan because those parts are considered as very dangerous.

U.S. media said the recent U.S. military buildup in Afghanistan is aimed at countering a possible spring offensive by Taliban remnants.

Source: Xinhua