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US, NATO must fulfill UN mandate in Afghanistan
[Pak Daily Times] Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday said that US-led NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A collection of multinational and multilingual and multicultural armed forces, all of differing capabilities, working toward a common goal by pulling in different directions...
 troops must not withdraw from Afghanistan until local forces are able to ensure security for the country. Lavrov told a local television channel that it was a point of "international law" that the Afghan government must "possess the capabilities to maintain law and order" before international forces leave.
And there's no one more acquainted with law and order than a Russian foreign minister...
"The presence of the international stabilisation force in Afghanistan has been mandated by the UN Security Council. The mandate is clear. They must fulfill this mandate before they leave," he said.

After more than 10 years of war there are still about 130,000 NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops in fighting against an ongoing Taliban insurgency. Foreign combat troops are due to leave by the end of 2014 and increasing efforts have been made to train the Afghan army and police to take responsibility for their country's security. Meanwhile,
...back at the shattered spaceship, Fffflirgoll the Arcturan slithered stealthily toward the control room, where the humans had barricaded themselves...
 Washington is negotiating a strategic partnership agreement with Kabul, and looking at the issue of permanent US bases in Afghanistan post-2014. Lavrov said it was "strange" to insist on the withdrawal of troops while at the same time "Washington is discussing with Afghanistan very purposefully about establishing four or five military bases for the post 2014 period".
Posted by: Fred 2012-03-20
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=341273