NATO Chief Visits Bush in Texas

By Jim Rutenberg

President George W. Bush welcomed the NATO secretary general to his vacation home here Sunday for two days of a meetings focusing on holding together the fragile coalition fighting in Afghanistan and on new tensions with an assertive Moscow. The NATO secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, arrived at Bush’s ranch Saturday afternoon for what aides said would be a working dinner for De Hoop Scheffer and the president. Also at the ranch was Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was expected to arrive later Sunday.

Tony Fratto, a deputy White House spokesman, said the dinner might be preceded by an initial meeting and a tour of Bush’s property.

De Hoop Scheffer and Bush and their aides will hold more serious talks on Monday, with Afghanistan dominating the agenda, aides said. The NATO coalition in Afghanistan is facing new strains as civilian deaths have mounted during a spring offensive against the Taliban. The deaths, at least 130 since March, have angered the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, and created new domestic challenges for several of the European nations involved in the mission.

Fratto said the civilian casualties and the effect on public support inside and outside Afghanistan for the mission would be high on the agenda.

Julianne Smith, a European specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said pressure was rising on Bush to shore up the coalition fighting in Afghanistan and continue to press for greater contributions where he can.

“They’ll be keen to put their heads together to figure out what it will take to get other NATO nation states on board,” she said.

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