Bush says he'll press allies to do more in Afghanistan

CRAWFORD, Texas -- President Bush said Monday he will press U.S. allies to do more to share the burden and the risks in fighting in Afghanistan as casualties rise with a resurgent Taliban.

"In order for NATO to be effective it has to transform itself into an organization that actually meets the threats that free nations face," Bush said as he stood alongside NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

De Hoop agreed, saying, "Afghanistan is still one of the front lines in our fight against terrorism."

Bush is banking on NATO support to help quell the violence in Afghanistan. Afghanistan's surging violence, NATO's role in Kosovo and U.S. plans for a missile defense system in Europe all were on Monday's agenda.

"We also appreciate the fact that Afghanistan requires more than military action. We support a long-term comprehensive strategy to help strengthen Afghanistan's democratic institutions and help create the economic opportunity that will help this young democracy survive and thrive," he added.

In Afghanistan, more than 1,600 people have been killed in insurgency-related violence this year, according to U.S., NATO and Afghan figures. The mounting civilian death toll has fueled distrust of international forces and U.S.-backed President Hamid Karzai.

Bush said he and the NATO chief also talked about further NATO expansion and missile defense, particularly the importance of reassuring Russian President Vladimir Putin that his country has nothing to fear from a system to intercept and destroy incoming ballistic missiles.