NATO

14 June 2007 -- NATO nations have accepted the controversial U.S. missile defense system, and decided to focus the alliances' own missile defense efforts on protecting its southern flank against short and medium-range missiles from the Middle East. The moves come amid continuing Russian criticism of the U.S. program, and concern in the Czech Republic about hosting a radar for the system that would further antagonize Russia. VOA's Al Pessin reports from Brussels, where NATO defense ministers are meeting.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2007 – Five U.S. soldiers were among those killed when a Chinook helicopter flying a NATO International Security Assistance Force mission went down in Helmand province near Kajaki last night, military officials reported.

The crash killed all seven people on board. The five U.S. soldiers were assigned to Combined Joint Task Force 82, and were the crewmembers of the helicopter.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.    » read more »

30 May 2007 -- NATO says seven of its soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed late Wednesday in southern Afghanistan.

Officials say the aircraft was a Chinook transport helicopter. There has been no official word on the cause of the crash.

A Taleban spokesman says militants with the extremist group shot the helicopter down. He says nobody on board survived the crash.

The spokesman offered no proof for his claim.

Meanwhile in Washington, a Pentagon spokesman said a seasonal offensive by U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan has set Taleban militants back for some time.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2007 – NATO needs to provide more forces to assist in ongoing security and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. Central Command said during his testimony at a Congressional hearing today.

Army Gen. Dan K. McNeill, commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, has asked NATO headquarters for more troops, Navy Adm. William J. Fallon told House Armed Services Committee members. McNeill took command of more than 30,000 NATO and U.S. troops in early February.    » read more »