Russia must prepare for NATO defeat in Afghanistan, ambassador says

[IndianaGreen]

Source: M&C

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
October 13, 2009

Russia must prepare for NATO defeat in Afghanistan, ambassador says

Brussels/Paris: NATO is facing defeat in Afghanistan, and Russia and the states of Central Asia must be ready to pick up the pieces, Russia's ambassador to NATO said Tuesday.

Discussions at a conference in Paris on the future of Afghanistan run by the East-West Institute think tank 'have only further enhanced the impression of NATO's looming capitulation in Afghanistan,' Dmitry Rogozin wrote in a Twitter feed from the meeting.

'Russia and its Central Asian partners should be ready for such a dramatic scenario,' Rogozin wrote.

NATO currently has some 67,700 troops in Afghanistan operating under United Nations mandate in a bid to stabilize the country.

Russia supports the mission by allowing some NATO supplies to pass through its territory and cooperates with NATO on fighting the Afghan drug trade. However, it has so far ruled out any military participation in the country.

NATO leaders insist that the alliance will stay in Afghanistan for as long as it takes to teach the country's government and army how to run their own country.

But the mission is locked in a bitter battle with Taliban-linked militants. Public support in NATO countries is waning, and doubts are growing over the democratic credentials of the Kabul government, given reports of mass vote-rigging in elections in August.

Rogozin, formerly the head of the nationalist Motherland party in Russia, was appointed ambassador to NATO in January 2008.


Read more: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1506783.php/Russia-must-prepare-for-NATO-defeat-in-Afghanistan-ambassador-says

[ixion]

1. Russia's done their time in the Afghan quagmire

I'm sure they'll be none-to-excited to rush on in.

[thunder rising]

2. Russia must be careful about laughter induced hernia

I swear the envoy is giving NATO and US an honorable walk-back.

[Downwinder]

3. Twit or Tweak n/t

[daleo]

4. Here, Russia, you take the baton

We will be back for it in ten years or so.