More unrest in Afghanistan

Remember a few days ago when Bush touted Afghanistan as a model for Iraq? Of course Bush did not see modern events once again coming back to haunt his words, as yesterday Afgahni insurgents took control of an Afghan town and now seem to have their sights set on another one.

Taliban insurgents attacked a government office in southern Afghanistan, sparking a gunfight with Afghan troops that killed seven people, police said Saturday.

Just to the north, the U.S. military said two American soldiers were wounded and their Afghan interpreter killed when their vehicle hit a mine.

Meanwhile, President Hamid Karzai sent troops to the town of Chagcharan in Ghor province, some 350 miles west of Kabul, which was overrun Thursday by a group of local warlords, forcing out the governor and the provincial security chiefs.

All of this has caused a Nato security general to call for more help in Afghanistan (which, ironically, does seem to serve as a model for Iraq):

Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has made an impassioned plea for member states to commit resources to existing operations, notably in Afghanistan.

Speaking in London, Mr de Hoop Scheffer said it was "simply intolerable" that he was forced to get out his begging bowl as a standard operating procedure.

Nato has not provided extra personnel and equipment for Afghanistan
Nato's members, he said, announced political decisions to undertake missions, but "then we suddenly find out that nations are not prepared to make available the necessary capabilities".

(snip)

Mr de Hoop Scheffer said Nato had to "devise a formula that both encourages and enables nations to honour their collective decisions and commitments".


De Hoop Scheffer feels allies have been distracted by Iraq
The alliance had no choice but to deliver, making sure its means matched its ambitions, he added. He wants to reform the planning process.

The allies, he said, should consider common funding of essential capabilities, like airlift and medical facilities.

He is also clearly worried that Nato leaders are thinking too much about Iraq at a time when they should be making good on their promises to Afghanistan.

I could not have said it better myself.