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Despite the public optimism of NATO's leadership about the progress of the war, the alliance is still struggling for the upper hand in crucial parts of Afghanistan. Some operations, such as the retaking of the town of Marjah in strategic Helmand province, have had mixed success. Neither do NATO leaders expect any easing of the violence, at least in the short term. Alliance casualties have nearly doubled in the first five months of this year, compared with the same period in 2009, while Gates and other leaders have predicted heavy casualties this summer. U.S. support for the Afghan war has declined since last year, when President Barack Obama committed 30,000 additional troops. The move was intended to seize momentum from the Taliban insurgents, who regrouped and took the offensive after being swept from power in 2001. The U.S. has given up asking European and other allies for more combat forces in Afghanistan, where the U.S. has more forces on the ground than the rest of the allies combined.
Britain is an exception, with 9,500 combat troops in place. Gates said he would not ask for anything more from the new government there. The training mission was supposed to be easier for European governments to swallow, since it is mostly away from the front lines and mirrors police training functions that have been a staple for NATO for decades. Despite the debt crisis that has sent the value of the Euro plummeting, no NATO nation has said it would cut its current level of commitment to Afghanistan.
[Associated
Press;
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