Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


NATO Commander Expects Violence, to Work for Safe Afghan Elections

Carla Babb

   LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA - It's been a rocky week in Afghanistan peace
   talks, and NATO's operational commander said allies "anticipate
   increased violence" on the ground as Afghan presidential elections inch
   closer.

   U.S. Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe
   (SACEUR), told a small group of reporters that Afghan elections
   "probably won't be perfect," but the 29-member North Atlantic alliance
   will "plan and execute to the ends of the Earth" to try to make the
   September 28 vote as safe as possible.

   "There has been a lot of drama associated with Afghanistan, and at this
   very moment the signal we send to our NATO partners is the U.S. is
   committed, NATO is committed, and the mission still remains," Wolters
   said on the sidelines of the latest NATO Military Committee in Chiefs
   of Defense Session.

.