Biden warns of 'deteriorating' situation in Afghanistan

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Published: MARCH 10, 2009 12:51
US Vice President Joe Biden on Monday night urged NATO members to jointly confront al-Qaida and other extremist groups in Afghanistan where he said instability threatens all of the alliance's members equally. Appearing before NATO's top decision making body, Biden solicited ideas to reverse a losing military strategy in Afghanistan as part of US President Barack Obama's policy to bring more European allies on board to fight the Taliban-led insurgency. He warned the situation in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan was worsening, adding, "The deteriorating situation in the region poses a security threat from our respect not just to the United States, but to every single nation around this table." "It was from that remote area of the world that al-Qaida plotted 9/11 and subsequent attacks" in Europe and elsewhere.