US Sec Def Gates in Afghanistan

Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with the NATO Sec-Gen yesterday, where he reiterated the need for both a military and civilian response to growing instability, and today be gins meetings in Afghanistan. According to a defense official, Gates will ask military commanders today whether they have the troops and resources to counter Taliban offensives.

U.S. defense secretary in Afghanistan for talks on fear of Taliban gains
KABUL, Jan 16 (AP): U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan on Tuesday before planned meetings with NATO and U.S. military leaders and Afghan President Hamid Karzai to discuss the resurgent Taliban insurgency. It was Gates' first trip to Afghanistan since he took over for Donald H. Rumsfeld last month. Gates has said several times recently that he is worried that U.S. gains in stabilizing Afghanistan could be in jeopardy...