NATO orders leak probe after Afghan drug report

By David Brunnstrom

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The NATO secretary-general has ordered an investigation after a German magazine published a purported classified document from the alliance's top commander calling for the targeting of all Afghan drug traffickers.

The online version of Der Spiegel magazine said it had obtained a classified document in which U.S. General John Craddock said all drug traffickers could be attacked, whether or not evidence connected them to the Taliban insurgency.

It said the "guidance" was sent to General Egon Ramms, head of the NATO command at Brunssum in the Netherlands, and the commander of the NATO-led foreign force in Afghanistan General David McKiernan, and neither wanted to follow it.

In the article, headlined "NATO High Commander Issues Illegitimate Order to Kill," Der Spiegel quoted a letter from McKiernan's Kabul official as saying the move would seriously undermine NATO attempts to reduce civilian casualties.

NATO spokesman James Appathurai confirmed Thursday a discussion was under way on how to implement a decision by NATO ministers in Budapest last year to launch direct attacks on the Afghan drugs trade, but said no final decision had been taken.

He declined to comment on the content of any communications between NATO generals, but added in reference to NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer:

"The secretary-general considers it unacceptable that confidential documents have been leaked; he has called for an immediate investigation, which will be pursued vigorously."

In Budapest, ministers agreed NATO forces, together with Afghan forces, could launch attacks on drug traffickers supporting the insurgency. But they left it up to individual allies whether to take part in such attacks.