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Hungary Sending 200 More Troops To Afghanistan
Vice President Joe Biden and Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai
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Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said after a meeting with Vice President Joe Biden that his country, a member of NATO, is sending 200 more troops to Afghanistan.
It's an increase of 60 percent that Biden deemed "significant" due to the country's relatively small population he estimated is about 10 million.
Bajnai said Hungary "made clear we agree with the strategy" President Obama laid out this week for the war in Afghanistan and that his country is "ready to participate" and will send "up to 200 new" troops.
Bajnai said the new troops are to help the situation "get done." He said Hungary has "a duty" to help. "We believe in the strategy," he said.
Biden said the U.S. is "grateful" for Hungary's support and said they discussed a stable Pakistan in addition to Afghanistan "as the president always does."
Biden said "most Americans" might say 200 troops seems like few, but "this is a significant commitment" since there will be a total of 500 troops in Afghanistan from a country he said has about 10 million people.
Biden said it is a "politically important and courageous decision."
They also spoke about the U.S.-Hungarian relationship and the economy.
Later today Bajnai will meet with National Security Adviser Gen. Jim Jones and Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner.
As press left, Biden turned to Bajnai and said "I hope Jim Jones is buying you lunch."
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tiowally
December 4, 2009 12:57 PM
And don't forget to try the Kool-Aid.
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rickeagle
December 4, 2009 1:12 PM
Good to see my favorite reporter is continuing to get access.
Hope to see a seat for you in the WH press pool!
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eric the red
December 4, 2009 2:34 PM
I wonder how much we had to pay to bribe them. Just more the the same Bush "coalition of the willing" type bullshit.
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Michael A
December 4, 2009 2:57 PM
Not even worth it. The increased grief and costs associated with 200 troops from a different country is an absolute joke. We'll have to have American troops protecting the 200 so they don't get hurt. Forgetaboutit. Instead, the Germans, English, and French should be sending 10k or more and take full responsibility for certain portions of the country. This PR crap is just crap. Thanks but no thanks.
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Overreach THIS!
December 4, 2009 5:05 PM
Stanley A. McChrystal asked for 40,000 more troops.
The right is pissing on our President, pissing all over him, that he only gave 30,000, since who TF is he, only the commander in chief and according to them, when his subordinates say jump, he must inquire, how high? Yet the allies have already supplied 7,000 more as of today, and that doesn't include Germany and our new friends France, and what they can do. So that's 37,000 plus probably quite a few.
Yes, including Hungary. Maybe not 40, but it will be pretty goddam close. Hungary's giving 500 troops total. You want to tell them to fuck off, we don't need their 500? Really?
And the best that you people can do is join right up with Karl Rove and Fox News and likewise piss upon our President about these numbers? Hardy-har-har.
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Mikael99
December 5, 2009 6:31 AM in reply to Overreach THIS!
Small countries contribution does matter. In Denmark we are only about 5 million people and we have 750 troops there.
Denmark is fighting in Helmand province with the brits (our closest friends) and 28 danes have been KIA in Afghanistan, more than any other country compared to population.
Denmark have tanks, fighting troops, and special forces (Hunter corps, Frog Men Corps) in Afghanistan killing Taleban.
Small countries matter.. Denmark and UK are fighting while the German have 5000 troops in northern Afghanistan sitting on their asses.
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Overreach THIS!
December 7, 2009 8:27 AM
"Small countries contribution does matter. In Denmark we are only about 5 million people and we have 750 troops there."
Absolutely right and everyone should very deeply appreciate the sacrifice that Danes are courageously making as well as other countries, big and small, to deal with an awful situation that has no easy answers.
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