At the NATO gathering Tuesday and Wednesday in Riga, Latvia, Bush will press for a heavier financial and military commitment from many of the alliance's 26 members and urge an easing of restrictions by individual countries on what their troops can and cannot do, according to administration officials.

Special coverage: Iraq After War
Related readings: Bush keeps plans to meet with Iraqi PM

The president also will call for inviting major non-NATO members Australia, Japan and South Korea to play a larger role in the alliance's activities.

Widespread public dismay over the war in Iraq helped sweep control of Congress away from Bush's Republicans this month and put Democrats in power. Democrats and some Republicans want Bush to begin withdrawing US troops.

Violence also has flared in Afghanistan as a result of a resurgent Taliban and difficulties by the central government to maintain control, especially in the turbulent south.

The NATO summit will focus heavily on Afghanistan "because NATO is now in charge of security throughout the country" and because the alliance has recently been challenged by the Taliban, said Judy Ansley, director of European affairs at the White House National Security Council.

"The main thing now is to make sure that the alliance remains committed to this mission, which is important not only to Afghanistan but to our security in the West," she said.

Retired Air Force Gen. Joseph Ralston, a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, said that "events in Afghanistan are reaching a critical juncture, and European politics and perceptions, as well as US commitments in Iraq may prevent NATO from getting the assets necessary to ensure victory."

"A military failure in Afghanistan would be catastrophic for the alliance," Ralston said.

There are currently just over 30,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan.

1

2

3