Gates denies NATO discontent over Afghanistan

In an interview earlier on Thursday with National Public Radio, Gates said the United States did not plan to send more troops to Afghanistan beyond the additional Marines promised this week despite a lingering shortfall in trainers for the Afghan forces.

He said he had reluctantly asked President George W. Bush to approve the additional troops because it was clear European nations would not boost their force levels in Afghanistan.

The protracted military involvement in Afghanistan and in Iraq have led to strains in the U.S. armed forces.

(Additional reporting by Kristin Roberts; Editing by David Storey)