NATO: Afghanistan is model for civil-military cooperation in handling future crises

NATO: Afghanistan is model for future crises

BRUSSELS — NATO’s chief says Afghanistan will serve as a prototype for future civil-military cooperation in handling crises in other weak or failing nations.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the military no longer provides “the complete answer” for complex conflicts such as Afghanistan. Instead, it needs the support of international development organizations and NGOs to provide the “soft power” needed to prevail in such crises.

Fogh Rasmussen complains in a video blog released Thursday that military and civilian aid groups currently “don’t plan together, don’t train together” and hardly share information.

To change that he says NATO plans to organize a conference for military planners, NGOs and other organizations.