Rice comments on U.S.-Turkish relations

Today Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice addressed an audience at the American Turkish Council’s 27th Annual Conference on U.S.-Turkish relations, expressing a desire for cooperation between the two governments. Rice assured her audience that the U.S. is developing a strategy to suppress the guerrilla organization PKK, or Kurdistan Worker’s Party. Rice also mentioned Turkey’s strategic location for oil transfer and the importance of investing in renewable energy, and said that the U.S. continues to support Turkey’s candidacy for membership in the European Union. Stressing the importance of an open democratic government and society, Rice said that the U.S. also supports amending Article 301 of the Turkish penal code that condemns criticism of the government.

When asked by an audience member about her perception of the recent NATO summit at Bucharest that she attended, Rice said that it was a great success with real conversation and progress and demonstrated that the Taliban in Afghanistan fears NATO. She also applauded the admission of new members despite controversy over enlargement of the treaty.

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A direct threat to Europe from Afghanistan

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, speaking at a press conference at the Pentagon, says that European NATO member countries need to be aware that they face a direct threat of terrorism from Afghanistan, and that should inspire them to increase their commitments to the war there. (0:25)
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NATO wants to work with the Russian government, not against it

Kurt Volker, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to NATO, says missile protection program desires to work with the Russian government, not against it. (0:30)
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UK shadow secretary says Lisbon Treaty could compromise NATO's primacy

Liam Fox, shadow secretary of state for defense in the United Kingdom, says the Lisbon Treaty could compromise NATO's primacy and international security; he also says that most European Union NATO members have not significantly contributed to operations. (0:45)
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Heritage Foundation speakers say NATO is crucial to international security

The Heritage Foundation hosted a discussion entitled "Post Bucharest: NATO and the Future of the Transatlantic Alliance" to discuss the recent developments of the treaty agreement in light of last week's Bucharest summit.

Liam Fox, shadow secretary of state for defense in the United Kingdom, outlined the British conservative party's vision for NATO, which consisted of a unification and reinforcement of the treaty and more equal contributions from all members. Fox criticized the European Union's Lisbon Treaty, which he called a virtually renamed version of the previously rejected European Constitution, as well as talk of a potential EU pillar within NATO on the grounds that both threaten to undermine NATO's primacy and thus international security. He also refuted claims that NATO was no longer necessary in the post-Cold War world by stating the world is involved in a larger global network with shared interests and proliferating threats.

Kurt Volker, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to NATO, summarized the U.S. government's perspective of the Bucharest summit and its vision for NATO. Volker, like Fox, called for greater European investment in defense. He confirmed that NATO is prepared to accept Macedonia as a member as soon as it changes its unpopular name. He also emphasized that NATO desires to work in conjunction with Russia, not against it.

Both Fox and Volker called for an elimination of the gap between those who fight and those who fund NATO missions, emphasizing that NATO's success depends upon the cooperative efforts of all its members.

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The Bush Administration is begging for more troops from NATO

Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Adjunct Senior Fellow for Alliance Relation at the Council for Foreign Relations, says that tension between NATO allies exists over the need for more troops in Afghanistan and lagging public support in NATO countries for participation during a conference call on the upcoming NATO summit. (0:56)
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NATO's future is not about Afghanistan

Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Adjunct Senior Fellow for Alliance Relation at the Council for Foreign Relations, says that the strategic future of NATO is about more than involvement in Afghanistan and Kosovo during a conference call about the upcoming NATO summit. (0:32)
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EUCOM Commander: The enemy fights in the gap between the forces we have and the forces we need

General John Craddock, Commander of US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that NATO caveats to their fighting forces put US forces at risk. (0:37)
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Lt. Gen. David Barno addressed House Armed Services Committee on Afghanistan

Retired Lieutenant General David Barno spoke today in front of the House Armed Services Committee about the escalation of violence in Afghanistan since 2004. He cited figures revealing stark increases in “security incidents,” roadside bombs, suicide bombings, and air attacks by coalition and NATO forces. He described suicide bombings in Afghanistan as a “decidedly non-Afghan phenomenon… which has been imported from Iraq.”

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Ambassador Karl Inderfurth addressed House Armed Services Committee on NATO role in Afghanistan

Ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee Duncan Hunter expressed concern regarding NATO's cooperation in Afghanistan claiming that the organization is not offering enough support to the U.S. in carrying out their military activities. Ambassador Karl Inderfurth addressed the committee and explained that NATO members are operating in a manner reflective of the desires of their respective nations in their attempts to resolve the conflict in Afghanistan with minimal violence and military force.

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Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell answers a question about the NATO alliance and counterinsurgency during a press conference at the Pentagon.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell answers a question about fallout from the NATO alliance after comments made last week by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates about how NATO was not well trained in counterinsurgency. (0:58)
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Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell speaks about strategic defense talks with Poland during a press briefing at the Pentagon

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell speaks about defense talks between the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, and the Polish defense minister, focusing on missile defense and the proposal to construct a site in Poland.
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Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell speaks about troops in Afghanistan during a press briefing at the Pentagon

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell speaks about the difficulty of deploying an additional 3,200 Marines to supplement allied forces in Afghanistan.
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Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell speaks about troops in Afghanistan during a press briefing at the Pentagon

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell speaks about the Defense Department's expectations of NATO member countries in light of an announcement of an additional 3,200 Marines to the allied forces in Afghanistan during a press briefing at the Pentagon.
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