Clinton Urges Allies to Contribute Troops, France May Too

ABC News' Kirit Radia reports: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Brussels today to push allies to contribute more troops to the fight in Afghanistan. She faces steep skepticism from many countries, particularly in Europe, but it appears that her outreach has already been met with some success. NATO's chief announced today that 25 countries would contribute troops to Afghanistan in 2010.In remarks to the North Atlantic Council, Clinton acknowledged that countries face a political climate that is reluctant to step up the effort after eight years of war, but said stability in Afghanistan was vital for security.

"Today, our people are weary of war. But we cannot ignore reality.  The extremists continue to target innocent people and sow destruction across continents.  From the remote mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan, they plot future attacks.  As (NATO) Secretary General Rasmussen said earlier this week, "This is our fight, together."  And we must finish it together," Clinton said, according to prepared remarks released by the State Department. Reporters were not allowed in the room to witness her speech, so it was impossible to verify whether it differed from the text provided.

Earlier this week President Obama announced the United States would send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan and US officials say they are hopeful NATO and other countries will be able to provide an additional 5,000 to 7,000, bringing the total closer to the 40,000 the top US and ISAF general in Afghanistan Stanley McChrystal requested earlier this year.

During a meeting with Clinton today, Poland's foreign minister pledged an additional 600 troops, plus 400 more on standby, for Afghanistan. He said there will also be four Polish "mentoring teams," two for Afghan police and two for the Afghan army. This comes after similar pledges by Italy and Great Britain earlier this week.

There are also signs today that France may be backing down from an initial refusal to contribute more in Afghanistan. Earlier this week French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in an interview that reinforcements were not needed where French troops are serving. But NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters during a meeting with Clinton today that he was "encouraged" by a recent change in the French position.

"Actually I have been encouraged by the latest signals from the French government, the French president Sarkozy and also today from the French Foreign Minister. They have indicated a willingness to look closer into the possibilities to adapt their contribution to our operation in Afghanistan. I think like Germany they will await the international conference on the 28th of January. Compared to what we have heard earlier I think its quite encouraging what we are right now hearing from Paris," he said.