Vital Perspective

NATO Countries Sending Thousands More to Battle Taliban in S. Afghanistan

NATO countries are sending thousands more troops to Afghanistan to help battle a surprisingly violent Taliban resurgence in the south -- the alliance's first test in ground combat for "a long, long time," NATO's top commander said yesterday. Gen. James L. Jones said NATO members Romania, Poland, Canada, the United Kingdom and other countries would begin deploying from 2,000 to 2,500 additional troops to Afghanistan beginning next month to bolster the 20,000-strong NATO contingent.

The NATO buildup comes in addition to the approximately 20,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan -- the highest number of U.S. forces in the country since the Taliban government was toppled in 2001. An escalation of violence has driven casualties for foreign troops and Afghan civilians this year to their highest level since the war began.

NATO called for the fresh forces as it engaged in a major offensive this month that Jones said has killed about 1,000 Taliban fighters who massed against NATO troops near Kandahar in southern Afghanistan, the Taliban's traditional stronghold.

"The Taliban decided to make a test case of this region," which had only a thin presence of U.S. troops until a NATO force of 6,000 took charge July 1, Jones said. "We have disturbed a hornet's nest, and the hornets are swarming," he told reporters at the Pentagon. He called the situation a "moment of truth" for security in lawless southern Afghanistan, where crime and narcotics are also rampant.

The Taliban announced a "tactical retreat" last week as its forces dispersed from the Kandahar region to seek refuge farther west, but they are expected to regroup and continue attacking civilians, Jones said. The fighting caused an exodus of about 20,000 people in the Pashmul area about 30 miles west of Kandahar, and NATO is focusing on providing food, clothing, and shelter for the war refugees.

"Many of the people of Afghanistan are on a fence right now, and they will be for whichever side wins," he said. Despite the deteriorating security, Jones pointed to progress in Afghanistan, citing the fact that 6 million children are attending school, and hundreds of development projects have been undertaken -- including the construction of about 1,800 miles of roads -- in the past four years.

Iranian Forces Attack, Seize Romanian Oil Rig in Persian Gulf; 26 Held Onboard

Iran attacked and seized control of a Romanian oil rig today in the Persian Gulf, one week after the European company Grup Servicii Petroliere (GSP) removed another of its rigs from Iranian waters because of non-payment of fees. An Iranian naval vessel fired on the rig in Iran's offshore Salman field and took control of its radio room at 07:00.

"The Iranians fired at the rig's crane with machine guns," GSP representative Lulu Tabanesku said. "They are in control now and we can't contact the rig." The Romanian company has 26 workers on the platform, he said.

Iran accused GSP last week of "hijacking" a rig from the same Iranian waters where the rig that was attacked today operates. GSP said it moved the rig to UAE waters because its client, Oriental Oil Kish, had not met agreed payment terms.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad suspended Oriental Oil's activities in 2005 on charges of "financial corruption" and ties to Halliburton, state news agencies reported last August. The UAE-registered drilling company had signed a preliminary contract with Halliburton after winning an estimated $310 million contract to develop phases 9 and 10 of Iran's offshore South Pars gas reservoir.

Romania has "asked for clarification over the situation of Romanian citizens and their release if they are being held,: the Romanian foreign ministry said. "A note has been sent to the Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry requesting clarification." However, Romanian President Traian Basescu unsuccessfully attempted to contact Ahmadinejad regarding the seizure of a Romanian oil rig.