NATO official agrees with Obama’s Afghan approach

WASHINGTON — NATO’s secretary-general said Tuesday President Barack Obama is right to decide strategy first, then resources for Afghanistan and said he’s confident that U.S. and allied troops will remain “as long as it takes.”

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, chief of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and Obama met in the White House, addressing reporters afterward. Fogh Rasmussen said European leaders are examining an on-the-ground assessment from the U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal. That report, among other things, calls for more combat troops.

But Fogh Rasmussen said that Obama and other leaders have an obligation to think about more than just that. “The first thing is not numbers,” he said.

Said Obama: “We both agree that it is absolutely critical that we are successful in dismantling, disrupting and destroying the al-Qaida network.”

They did not take questions. Also, neither man mentioned Iran.

Obama currently is debating whether to shift course in Afghanistan, and is torn between ramping up military strength there to try to prevent the Taliban and other extremists from again making the nation a haven for terrorists or turning to a new strategy of focusing mostly on rooting out al-Qaida elements in neighboring Pakistan. The latter option would involve few troops and more unmanned spy planes and special forces units.

The White House is not expected to consider McChrystal’s troop request for at least two weeks, until it decides what strategy to pursue, a senior military official said.

McChrystal was in Germany on Friday, hand-delivering copies of his troop request document to Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, U.S. Central Commander Gen. David Petraeus and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Adm. James Stavridis, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Obama didn’t discuss McChrystal or any specifics about his Afghanistan deliberations. But Fogh Rasmussen endorsed the process he is following.

“I agree with President Obama in his approach: strategy first, then resources,” he said. “And don’t make any mistake: the normal discussion on the right approach should not be misinterpreted as lack of resolve. This alliance will stand united and we will stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes to finish our job.”