Republicans and Democrats united in slamming NATO over Afghanistan

[whottt]

http://washingtontimes.com/upi/20050922-030732-5829r.htm

Congressmen slam NATO over Afghanistan
Sep. 22, 2005 at 3:37PM
Republicans and Democrats united in slamming NATO over Afghanistan, Thursday.
America's European allies were falling short in their contribution to restoring stability and security, the House of Representatives Committee on International Relations was told.
Calling NATO "timid and pathetic," Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., singled out France, Italy and the Low Countries for criticism. Republicans, including committee Chairman Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., echoed his view.
Eastern European countries new to NATO also met with condemnation. Seven ex-communist states joined the trans-Atlantic alliance in March 2004.
Europe's role came under fire despite the announcement this week of German plans to extend the country's commitment in Afghanistan for another year and increase Germany's manpower contribution from 2,250 troops to 3,000. The proposal, already approved by the German cabinet, will be submitted for parliamentary approval on Sept. 28.
But German soldiers are deployed predominantly in the capital Kabul and the north of the country. These areas are less violent than the south and east, where responsibility lies mainly with American forces, prompting the claim in Washington that the United States is shouldering an unfair proportion of the burden.
According to the Pentagon, there are 17,900 American troops currently deployed in Afghanistan. France, meanwhile, has contributed fewer than 700.
"We protected Europe from the Soviet Union for two generations," said Lantos. "All we are asking is for European countries to step up to the plate."

[Phil E.Buster]

I'm all over this.

[whottt]

Calling NATO "timid and pathetic," Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., singled out France, Italy and the Low Countries for criticism


:nerd


I guess eyes are the first thing to go as you get older...

Going to get mine checked...obviously I need it.

[SpursWoman]

I had to clean my glasses and read that part twice. :lol

[whottt]

Biography of Rep Lantos:

Tom Lantos has served as a Member of the United States Congress since January 3, 1981. He is currently serving his 13th term in the House of Representatives.
An American by choice, Tom Lantos was born in Budapest, Hungary, on February 1, 1928. He was 16 years old when Nazi Germany occupied his native country. As a teenager, he was a member of the anti-Nazi underground and later of the anti-Communist student movement. He is the only holocaust survivor ever to serve in the U.S. Congress. Tom was awarded an academic scholarship to study in the United States, and he arrived here in 1947. He received a B.A. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Washington in Seattle and later earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

For three decades prior to his service in Congress (1950-1980), Tom Lantos was a professor of economics, an international affairs analyst for public television, and a consultant to a number of businesses. He also served in senior advisory roles to members of the United States Senate.

As a Member of the House of Representatives, Tom Lantos has worked diligently to address quality of life issues in Bay Area communities. He has a strong record on environment protection and has fought for reform of our nation's energy policy. As a former Professor and Chairman of the Millbrae Board of Education, Tom has been a consistent supporter of public education. Tom led a major investigation of waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and he has been a leader in Congressional oversight over Federal government programs. As the Ranking Democratic member of the House International Relations Committee Tom Lantos is a strong voice for responsible international involvement, and advocate for participation in international organizations, and particularly for Human Rights. In 1983 he was the founder of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, and he continues to serve as its Co-Chairman.

Tom and his wife Annette are the parents of two daughters - Annette and Katrina - and they have seventeen grandchildren.

[whottt]

That explains that...