Gates denies NATO discontent over Afghanistan

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday denied reports of discontent between Washington and NATO allies over Afghanistan, a day after a newspaper quoted him criticizing NATO's counterinsurgency skills.

Gates projected an image of unity among Western nations involved in Afghanistan during a Pentagon news briefing, praising the "valor and sacrifice" of NATO forces battling Taliban militants in the country's volatile south.

"Allied forces from the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia and Denmark and other nations have stepped up to the plate and are playing a significant and powerful role in Afghanistan," the U.S. defense chief said in remarks that struck a conciliatory tone.

The Los Angeles Times on Wednesday published an interview with Gates in which he questioned whether NATO forces and advisers had the training to tackle Taliban and other insurgents behind rising bloodshed in southern Afghanistan.

"Most of the European forces, NATO forces, are not trained in counterinsurgency. They were trained for the Fulda Gap," he said, referring to the German region where a Soviet invasion of Western Europe was considered most likely during the Cold War.

His remarks appeared a day after Gates ordered an extra 3,200 U.S. Marines to Afghanistan and appeared to underscore tensions among allies over the conduct of the conflict, which began after the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan.

CONCERN AMONG ALLIES

NATO allies responded to the Times interview with concern.