HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------
[Every single one of the eighteen NATO-led occupation/colonization forces are from NATO regimes or, as in the case of farflung New Zealand, of ANZUS; in Bulgaria's, an overeager Partnership for Peace and NATO candidate nation; and of previously neutral Finland's, Sweden's and Austria's, of a country daily dragged closer into the NATO web. So much for post-war, or even pre-War World II, military neutrality. The international 'war against terrorism' is or has become nothing other than the next phase of U.S.-dominated NATO global expansion.] Thursday January 10 9:26 AM ET UK Says Kabul Force to Total 5,000 From 18 Nations LONDON (Reuters) - An international peacekeeping force which will eventually total 5,000 troops from 18 countries is now operational in the Afghan capital, Britain said on Thursday. Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon also confirmed that Britain would relinquish ``lead nation status创 of the stabilization force after three months and hinted that Turkey may take charge. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will be at full strength by mid-February. ``Participation of these countries will be formalized this afternoon with the signing of a memorandum of understanding here in London,创 Hoon told parliament. Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Turkey are all contributing alongside Britain. ``The ISAF will operate in Kabul and Kabul alone,创 Hoon said. ``In total, the force will be around 5,000 strong.创 This figure is 500 more than previous estimates of the peacekeeping force磗 strength. Britain will provide the lion磗 share of soldiers -- about 1,800 personnel plus almost another 300 to repair and operate Bagram airport, which serves the capital. ``We shall hand over our lead nation status to one of our partners after three (months),创 Hoon said. ``I am delighted that Turkey has already expressed an interest in this.创 But a senior Foreign Office said some British forces would be there for considerably longer than that. ``Will there be some military presence there for some time? Yes,创 the source said. ``Will it be less than the current force? I think so.创 The Defense Secretary said British troops had been patrolling in Kabul for two weeks now and French soldiers had started doing the same on Wednesday. ``These patrols have been extremely well received by the people of Kabul,创 Hoon said. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
