NATO: Euro Terror Threat Justifies Afghan War

A top NATO commander says an al Qaeda-linked plot that triggered the terror alert for Europe underlines the need for the alliance's mission in Afghanistan.

U.S. Adm. James Stavridis, NATO's top commander in Europe, said Friday that terrorists are still trying to target Europe and this justifies a war that has grown unpopular in many places.

The U.S. advised American citizens in Europe last weekend to take more precautions about their personal security. France and Britain have since issued similar warnings to their citizens.

The U.S. believes a cell of Germans and Britons are at the heart of a terror plot against European cities, a plan they link to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.