US Defense Secretary Robert Gates criticized NATO forces in Afghanistan, saying they do not know how to combat an insurgency.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times published Wednesday, Gates said the lack of combat ability could be contributing to the rising violence in the fight against the Taliban.

The sharp criticism came as the Bush administration has decided to send 3,200 US Marines to southern Afghanistan on a temporary mission to help quell the rising number of attacks.

It also comes amid growing friction among allied commanders over the Afghan security situation.

Earlier, NATO allies had blamed inadequate US troop numbers earlier in the war in part for a Taliban resurgence.

Responding to the latest chiding from Gates, the NATO allies were angered. The Dutch Defense Ministry summoned the US ambassador for an explanation. British Conservative lawmaker Patrick Mercer said Gates' comments were "outrageous."

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2008)