Free Republic

The top U.S. general in Europe told lawmakers Thursday that Russia and the Taliban are growing increasingly close, suggesting that the Kremlin might even be supplying the insurgent group. Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, who is also the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, did not elaborate to the Senate Armed Services Committee on what type of equipment the Taliban might have received or when.

In an interview at the Aspen Security Forum, Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti said it's something he regularly discusses with other countries. "What I tell them typically is that look, we have a people and a Congress with a tough budget as well," Scaparrotti said Thursday night. "So as a leader of another country you have to put your share into this, you have to do that because when I go back to testify to Congress I get asked these questions." . . Scaparrotti, NATO's supreme commander, says as of now only five of the 28 NATO nations are meeting their...