NATO meeting Quebec City re Afghanistan

Gordon O'Connor is as everyone should know a former lobbyist for defence industries. Many of course point out he no longer has formal connections to the industry. Bravo there is no smoking gun direct conflict of interest.
How marvelous the transformation of NATO from the Cold War North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to a baby-sitter and proxy for US imperial foreign policy. Of course the Afghanistan kids are notoriously hard to manage. Of course the NATO operation sacntioned by the UN does not have a very sexy name. I guess the Americans werent involved in the choice. ISAF is the International Security Assistance Forces.
The meeting is held behind closed doors and in tight security. That is what is called accountability in foreign policy.


NATO allies in Quebec City to discuss Afghanistan
Last Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2007 | 9:07 AM ET
CBC News
Officials from countries with troops in southern Afghanistan are set to meet in Quebec City on Thursday to talk about ways to improve the mission.

Canadian Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor is expected to host the meeting, which will include military officials and defence ministers from countries that have contributed troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force regional command south.

ISAF is a coalition of 36,000 troops from 37 countries, working to improve security in Afghanistan so that reconstruction can occur. Canada has more than 2,000 soldiers deployed in Kandahar province as part of the force.

The countries at the meeting, in addition to Canada, are Australia, Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The meeting is set to take place behind closed doors at the Citadelle, one of Quebec City's largest tourist attractions. Security is tight at the site and officials are releasing very little information.

"The participants at the working meeting will share best practices and explore ways to enhance working relationships among Regional Command South countries under the guidance of ISAF," O'Connor said in a news release.

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U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates is expected to use the meeting to ask his counterparts to send more soldiers and equipment to Afghanistan.

Gates has said he hopes to find ways to improve reconstruction efforts and help the Afghans become better able to deliver needed services to their people.

In Afghanistan, ISAF has five regional commands: north, south, east, west and Kabul.

NATO has made repeated calls for additional troops from its members but some, including France and Germany, have expressed reluctance and questioned the plan to send more troops to Afghanistan.

With files from the Associated Press