Obama Speech on NATO Video

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NATO Agrees To Boost Troops for Afghan Election

AFP: STRASBOURG (AFP) - NATO leaders pledged thousands more troops for their Afghan mission Saturday and named the organisation's next leader, as violent anti-war demonstrations raged outside the summit.

Britain, Spain and Italy said they would send hundreds of extra troops each to secure Afghanistan's key August presidential election, adding up to what the White House said was a total of "up to 5,000" personnel.

The deal was a victory for new US President Barack Obama, who came to his first NATO summit to promote his new Afghan strategy and warn his allies that Europe would have to shoulder more of the war-fighting burden.

Hardline protesters set fire to the ground floor of a hotel near the summit
"I am pleased that our NATO allies pledged their strong and unanimous support for our new strategy," Obama told reporters.

Although France and Germany were not among the countries who made major new troop commitments, Obama praised President Nicolas Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel as the joint hosts of the 60th anniversary summit.

"This summit and this alliance have delivered," outgoing NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told reporters at the end of the gathering in Strasbourg.

For more on NATO, check out the website here.
NATO protesters. They're largely protesting a U.S. radar installation proposed in the Czech Republic (get background on this project here).

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Obama Speaks in Germany on NATO's Future

Obama speaks on G20 and the future of NATO. "I'm here to listen, share new ideas...

Obama and NATO Chief Chat-Video

Obama and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer agree to coordinate a better Afghanistan strategy.

The United States has about 38,000 troops in Afghanistan, and is the largest contributor to a joint NATO force. NATO also has about 30,000 non-U.S. troops in the country. Obama has approved sending an additional 17,000 American troops this spring and summer, but has emphasized the need for a broader, unified international approach.

Ahead of NATO's summit in early April, the French and German ambassadors said their governments had not been asked to contribute more troops, but said commitment to the fight was solid. "We are prepared to stay as long as necessary," said the French ambassador, Pierre Vimont. German has 3,400 troops in Afghanistan and has been bolstering its force, Ambassador Klaus Scharioth said.

On Russia, Obama said he wants to improve ties with Moscow in a context consistent with NATO membership. The alliance was founded after World War II to counter Soviet expansion in Europe. De Hoop Scheffer said that NATO and Russia should not hide their differences, but air them in careful negotiations. Read more at IHT

Read more at the Washington Post and AP.