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A2 UP FRONT
Friday 30 June 2017
US, NATO allies wrangle over troop levels in Afghanistan

tributions.” He expected said. “War is a fundamen-
more commitments to tally unpredictable phe-
come, but confusion about nomenon.
America’s plans may have Every effort to try to create
held back some countries. a pat answer to something
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim like that is probably going
Mattis said at a news con- to fail.”
ference after the meeting He added: It’s not like you
that he was pleased by al- can declare a war over or
lies’ willingness to contrib- want it over or say I’m go-
ute more. ing to quit, and you’re not
“We still have a few gaps going to pay a price for it.
and nations are stepping The most important answer
up,” Mattis said. “We’ve to that is, ‘What is the price
filled 70 percent of those of not fighting this war?’
gaps right now and I’m And in that case we’re not
very, very optimistic that willing to pay that price.”
based on what I heard here Considering that Britain
we’ll be filling the rest.” said it would contribute a
Mattis added that upon re- bit less than 100 troops in
turning to Washington, he a noncombat role, it’s un-
will consult with U.S. Gen. clear how NATO will mus-
U.S. Secretary for Defense Jim Mattis, left, speaks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
during a meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, June Joseph Dunford, chairman ter several thousand new
29, 2017. NATO defense ministers met Thursday to discuss, among other issues, the situation in of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, forces. To hit that mark, the
Afghanistan and defense spending. and then will submit a rec- other allies would need to
(AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) ommended new Afghani- average more than 100
By LORNE COOK help Afghan forces break a of almost 4,000 American stan strategy to President troops each. Britain is the
LOLITA C. BALDOR stalemate in the fight. forces, divided between Donald Trump. “We will alliance’s most powerful
Associated Press At a meeting in Brussels, the NATO mission and refine U.S. troop numbers member aside from the
BRUSSELS (AP) — More than NATO agreed to send more America’s counterterrorism at that time, within that U.S., though Germany con-
16 years into the Afghani- forces in response to com- operations against Taliban, framework,” he said. tributes the second most
stan war, the United States manders’ requests for as al-Qaida and Islamic State Asked how much longer forces.
and its NATO allies wran- many as 3,000 troops to militants in Afghanistan. the war is likely to last, Mat- “We’re in it for the long
gled anew on Thursday train and work alongside NATO Secretary-General tis said it is not sensible to haul. It’s a democracy,”
over how to meet the need Afghan security forces. That Jens Stoltenberg said 15 predict. British Defense Secretary
for more troops to counter number does not include countries “have already “I don’t put timelines on Michael Fallon said, refer-
a resurgent Taliban and an expected contribution pledged additional con- wars. It’s that simple,” he ring to Afghanistan.q
Diplomats: Watchdog concludes sarin was used in Syria attack

used. One of the diplomats of the aftermath, including
spoke on condition of ano- quivering children dying
nymity because the report on camera, were widely
had not been made pub- broadcast.
lic. U.S. President Donald
U.S. envoy to the United Trump cited the images
Nations Nikki Haley issued a when he launched a puni-
written statement express- tive strike days later, firing
ing confidence in the re- cruise missiles on a Syrian
port, “which confirms what government-controlled air
we already knew: chemi- base from where U.S. offi-
cal weapons were used cials said the Syrian military
against the Syrian people.” had launched the chemi-
“Now that we know the cal attack.
undeniable truth, we look It was the first direct Ameri-
forward to an independent can assault on the Syrian
investigation to confirm ex- government and Trump’s
actly who was responsible most dramatic military or-
for these brutal attacks so der since becoming presi-

In this Tuesday, June 27, 2017 photo, United Nations special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura is we can find justice for the dent months before.
seen on a video screen as he listens to a Security council meeting on Syria at U.N. headquarters. victims,” Haley added. Syrian President Bashar
An investigation by the international chemical weapons watchdog has concluded that sarin or The OPCW investigation Assad denied responsibility
a sarin-like substance was used as a chemical weapon in an April 4 attack on a Syrian town that did not have a mandate to for the attack. Syrian ally
left more than 90 people dead, diplomats said Thursday. apportion blame. It will be Russia argued after the in-
(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) sent to a joint United Na- cident that the victims had
By MIKE CORDER sarin-like substance was zation for the Prohibition tions-OPCW investigative died of exposure to toxic
Associated Press used as a chemical weap- of Chemical Weapons into mission that aims to estab- agents released when Syr-
THE HAGUE, Netherlands on in an April 4 attack on a the Khan Sheikhoun attack lish who was responsible for ian warplanes hit a rebels’
(AP) — An investigation by Syrian town that left more was not publicly released, the attack. chemical weapons depot.
the international chemical than 90 people dead, dip- but two diplomats who saw The Khan Sheikhoun attack The conclusion that sarin
weapons watchdog has lomats said Thursday. its contents confirmed the caused an international was used had been ex-
concluded that sarin or a The report by the Organi- key finding that sarin was uproar as photos and video pected. q