Europe adores our new president! Just not, you know: That much.
Barack Obama made an impassioned plea to America’s allies to send more troops to Afghanistan, warning that failure to do so would leave Europe vulnerable to more terrorist atrocities.
But though he continued to dazzle Europeans on his debut international tour, the Continent’s leaders turned their backs on the US President.
Gordon Brown was the only one to offer substantial help. He offered to send several hundred extra British soldiers to provide security during the August election, but even that fell short of the thousands of combat troops that the US was hoping to prise from the Prime Minister.
Just two other allies made firm offers of troops. Belgium offered to send 35 military trainers and Spain offered 12. Mr Obama’s host, Nicolas Sarkozy, refused his request
Feh.
Last I read, they agreed to 5000.
Here’s a link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/04/europe-troops-afghanistan-nato-obama
Not great, but better than the offer of 35 Belgians.
Liz,
The article says “up to 5000 troops and logistic support”
There was no number given for the number of troops who would actually be allowed to, you know, pull a trigger—i.e., “combat” troops.
The weasel is in the wording.
I have reached the conclusion that it is time for us to step away from NATO, a la de Gaulle. Let Europe fend for itself.
“…..Belgium offered to send 35 military trainers and Spain offered 12.”
Reminded of this excerpt from a column by Max Hastings last year;
“Mass matters. It is not enough for western powers to announce in a given crisis: “We are committing troops,” then to dispatch three men and a dog.”
RTWT at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/28/defence.military
My two cents worth, thusly…
Euro-Nato?
Meh.
It’s funny – Georgia alone is sending a company to Afghanistan.
Lessee, the Belgians can show the Taliban how to re-define socialism and call it democracy; the Spanish can show the Taliban how to roll over and play dead when some peep squeak threatens your country. Why don’t we export 35 hard core Al Qaeda to Belgium and turn them loose there? After 50 or so car bombings I am sure those dimwits might start getting some wattage to the brain bulb. Nah, they would blame it on GWB and his antagonistic policies toward the rest of the peace-loving world. Not until their embassies and their ships and their cultural icons are bombed will they see the light. But I don’t think the jihadis view Spanish or Belgian society as a threat to their Islam. Sigh.
Instead of asking Gordon Brown and the rest of the EU weenies for military help, we should ask FIFA to schedule Scottish soccer matches throughout Afghanistan. Then we could count on some fighters to show up.
Make that a series of matches with the Muslims vs Infidels. Ship in the hooligans along with all the free beer they want. The hooligans will clean out the Tals in short order, particularly if you tell them the Tals have hidden the beer.
Did he really think that all that adulation he was shown by the Europeans during the campaign actually meant something? What a fool.