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Dr. Robert Gates United States Secretary of Defense Press Roundtable, Noordwijk, Netherlands.Secretary Gates: Just a few opening remarks and then I’ll be happy to take some questions. I’d like to start by thanking the Dutch government for hosting the conference. I’d also like to thank my fellow Defense Ministers for their willingness to discuss in a candid and open manner today the critical issues facing the alliance. The main topic of discussion today of course was Afghanistan. A litmus test for the effectiveness of the alliance in the 21st Century. Earlier this afternoon NATO Ministers heard from both General McNeill and General Craddock about the state of operations in Afghanistan. I would describe their briefings as informative, forward looking, and positive. There was unanimity among Ministers, I believe, that success in Afghanistan requires that we pursue a strategy that integrates economic and political development, security, counter-narcotics operations, and effective strategic communications. Last year there also has been a growing consensus that the successful training of the Afghan Security Forces will be central to any progress. To this end there has been a steady increase in contributions of training teams, and I was pleased that today more offers were put on the table. The mission still requires more maneuver elements and fewer restraints on how forces can be used. We discussed the shortfalls openly and honestly, and a number of Ministers spoke very strongly about the need for increased contributions so that the burden is shared more equally by all. No one doubts the justice or necessity of the alliance mission in Afghanistan. What we need now are actions, deeds, and a sense of urgency and commitment to back up our pledges and promises. I’m confident that NATO can rise to the occasion. I’d be happy to take some questions. Question: Mr. Secretary, a couple of days ago I think it was you used the phrase that you were not satisfied with the extent of contributions by the alliance in Afghanistan. As a result of today’s discussions are you satisfied? Secretary Gates: I wouldn’t say I’m satisfied, but I would say that today was a considerably more positive day than I anticipated. A number of Ministers indicated that their countries were either in the process of deciding or had decided on making some additional commitments. I’ll leave it to them to make the appropriate announcements at the time, but on the whole I think today was a very good day. Question: That doesn’t fill the gap completely that you were looking to -- Secretary Gates: Well, it remains to be seen. I think conversations are still ongoing. The meeting on committing forces is the first week in November, I believe, so we’ll know for sure more at that time, but just based on the comments that were made I was pleased. Question: Mr. Secretary, commitments are fine, but as you yourself have noted, NATO has not delivered on its past commitments. What does it say about the alliance that, as you pointed out, has two million forces and can’t come up with, as you put it, the modest additional resources that are needed? What does it say about the strength of NATO itself? Secretary Gates: I think where people have made specific commitments to troops and trainers and so on that they have fulfilled those commitments. The distinction that I tried to draw today in my remarks was that there were sort of five baskets of broad commitments that were made at Riga in terms of making the mission in Afghanistan successful. And while many of the individual commitments have been made, the overall commitment has not been great enough to fulfill those baskets of commitments that were made in Riga. So one of my approaches today was to say that we as an alliance have to look at those broader commitments that were made in Riga, not just for specific units or elements, but what does it take to be successful in Afghanistan. I also talked about some specific areas. A good example is the fact that by this summer, by next summer we will need in Afghanistan something on the order of 72 operational mentoring and liaison teams, non-U.S. teams, and there are commitments now for about 36 I believe. Some of the things that I heard today leads me to believe that we will be nearer to the requirement by next summer. But that’s a specific example. Question: Did you make it clear that you were not going to extend that U.S. aviation brigade again? Did that come up at all? Secretary Gates: I did. Question: Mr. Secretary, the German Minister of Defense after the meeting today came out and said the United States was too focused on increasing military presence in Afghanistan, that there’s not enough focus on economics and reconstruction. Do you think there’s too little focus on economics and reconstruction, and where is the balance there? Secretary Gates: I think that, as I said in my opening remarks, I think what’s required, and I think all of the Ministers agree, there is a need for an integrated strategy that includes economic development, building civic institutions, and also improving the security environment. I think all of these things are important and we need to do them all, and more is required in each of these areas. My view is that it’s not one or the other, it has to be a combination of all of the above. Question: Mr. Secretary, what confidence do you have that in this meeting of Defense Ministers that they will all take that home and follow through with all those extra assets that will be needed. Not just military assets, I’m talking the diplomatic, the economic, the reconstruction support. Secretary Gates: I suspect that the Ministers would not have come to this meeting and said anything about the possibility of additional commitments without having the approval of their governments, so I think if they actually follow through on what they’ve said, I just don’t think they were winging it. Question: Mr. Secretary, [inaudible] costs of their operations. Secretary Gates: Who is? I’m sorry. Question: The Dutch. Has there been any talk of financial burdensharing today? Secretary Gates: No, there hasn’t been. There’s been some conversation given the shortage of helicopter assets, whether there might be some pooling of resources for that purpose, for that specific purpose, but there was not any discussion of financial support along the lines that you suggest today. Question: Mr. Secretary, were there nay-sayers in the group? There was a report that at least one major country says enough of these demands for more forces. We need to go more with the softer side of it. Secretary Gates: No, I don’t recall anybody saying that today. Question: The German Minister was quoted as having said that. Secretary Gates: I do not recall him saying that in the meeting. Question: Is the leasing option still considered the best option on the table right now for that [inaudible]? Secretary Gates: My view is it’s not the best option. It may be the only option. Question: What would be the best option? Secretary Gates: The best option would be that other countries that have helicopter assets that could be used would be provided. That seems to be very difficult. And I do grant the fact that ordinary helicopters don’t work very well in Afghanistan just because of the altitude and so on, so it does require helicopters that have upgraded capabilities. But I support the lease option as opposed to not fulfilling the requirement at all. Question: Mr. Secretary, what will be the next step after these talks that you’ve had here? What will be the next step you take to make sure there is a follow through and this goes poorly? Secretary Gates: I’ll stay in touch with the other Ministers, but clearly the coordinating element in all of this is NATO’s Secretary General. We’re also interested in a greater UN and European Union role, particularly in the latter case in terms of economic development and police training. And one of the things that we’ve been discussing and I hope we can come to closure on is the appointment of a senior person who could coordinate all of these different elements apart from the security operations. I have been concerned since I made my first trip to Afghanistan that we have something like 42 countries and a dozen NGOs, non-governmental organizations, all engaged in institution building, economic development and so on, but there’s really no coordinating element to ensure that we’re learning best practices from one another and that maybe there is a sharing of responsibilities or cooperation and collaboration on certain projects, opportunities that we’re missing. So I think finding somebody like that is really important. I think it should not be an American. I hope that we can make some progress on that. Question: After today’s discussions do you think the Dutch will stay [inaudible]? Secretary Gates: I can’t speak for the Dutch. I certainly hope so and I guess I would say I expect them to do so. Question: While you talked about Afghanistan primarily, what was the outcome of the Kosovo talks? And were you satisfied -- Secretary Gates: There really was very little discussion about Kosovo. It was almost entirely focused on Afghanistan. Question: [Inaudible] anything [inaudible]? Secretary Gates: There really wasn’t much discussion about troop rotations. Question: What are your ideas about it? Secretary Gates: How do you mean? Question: [Inaudible] Secretary Jaap de Hoop Scheffer mentioned that he wanted [inaudible] long term base, troop rotation so [inaudible]. Question: That they would promise in advance troops so you would have a better view of -- Secretary Gates: Longer term? Question: Longer term. Secretary Gates: We really didn’t get into that today. Question: In addition to [inaudible] relations -- Secretary Gates: Not today. Question: Mr. Secretary, earlier you said something that confused me at least a little bit. You said it’s not so much that nations aren’t stepping up on specific commitments but it’s the broader requirements, the five baskets that you mentioned. What are you referring to as the broader requirements that aren’t being met if the specific requirements are you saying mostly are? Secretary Gates: I don’t have my notes with me from Riga, but there were five broad commitments that were made in Riga in terms of providing support and training for the Afghan National Police and the Afghan National Army, in terms of counter-narcotics and so on. So what I was trying to draw the contrast between was if a country says it’s going to provide a PRT or an OMLT or a battalion or a company, for the most part the nations have followed through on those commitments. The issue is that the alliance as a whole has not met these broader commitments in terms of what’s required for success in Afghanistan and that was the point that I was trying to make. Question: So you think maybe more specific battalions or PRTs or OMLTs are needed in order to meet those five -- Secretary Gates: We need to lift our sights, it seems to me, and see what is required long term for success beyond the specific commitments that have already been made. As I suggest, that includes efforts in the economic development and civic institution areas as well. As well as counter-narcotics. Question: Mr. Secretary, France is apparently willing to send more troops, I mean some people in Afghanistan. What is your reaction to that given that France wants to play a leader role in NATO? Secretary Gates: I have read the press accounts. I was impressed with Defense Minister Morin’s comments today. I don’t want to prejudge any decisions or announcements that the French want to make. About all I can say is any greater French involvement would be most welcome. Question: On Turkey. You mentioned in recent days the difficulty of getting actionable intelligence with regard to the PKK in Northern Iraq. In that context could you comment on the possibility of U.S. military action against the PKK in terms of airstrikes in the coming days and weeks? Secretary Gates: Again, without good intelligence, just sending large numbers of troops across the border or dropping bombs doesn’t seem to make much sense to me. Question: In the U.S. context as well? Secretary Gates: For anybody. Question: Mr. Secretary, two Members of Congress, two Members of the House Intelligence Committee who have been briefed on U.S. intelligence about the Israeli strike in Syria said that while they’re sworn to secrecy, they believe that information ought to be provided to the American public. What is your feeling, given your past experience in intelligence and your current role about whether more information about that situation should be provided? Secretary Gates: I’m not going to comment on that. Voice: Thank you all very much. I appreciate it. Secretary Gates: Thank you.
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