NATO Agrees - Someone Else Needs To Send More Troops To Afghanistan

General McChrystal wowed 'em in Bratislavia:

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — NATO defense ministers gave their broad endorsement Friday to the counterinsurgency strategy for Afghanistan laid out by Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, increasing pressure on the Obama administration and on their own governments to commit more military and civilian resources to the mission.

...

“What we did today was to discuss General McChrystal’s overall assessment, his overall approach, and I have noted a broad support from all ministers of this overall counterinsurgency approach,” said NATO’s secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Although the broad acceptance by NATO defense ministers of General McChrystal’s strategic review included no decision on new troops, it was another in a series of judgments that success there cannot be achieved by a narrower effort that calls for not increasing troop levels substantially and focuses more on capturing and killing terrorists linked to Al Qaeda. That counterterrorism strategy is identified with Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

In contrast, General McChrystal’s review calls for implementing a full-scale counterinsurgency strategy that focuses on protecting population centers and accelerating the training of Afghan army and police units, both requiring significant numbers of fresh troops. NATO diplomats noted that it was difficult to see how an acceptance of this broad strategy could be viewed as anything but an endorsement of the need to increase both military and civilian contributions.

Great!  The Little Red Hen has convinced everyone that planting seeds to make bread would be a great idea!  Let's see where the Coalition of the Free-Riding takes this.

Comments

[bgates]

Like I pointed out earlier, the AP explains Gates has this covered:
At a meeting of 28 NATO defense ministers in Bratislava, Gates said he did not seek specific promises of military assistance, and none was given. He described, however, "a renewed determination to see this through."

"There were a number of allies who indicated they were thinking about, or were moving toward, increasing either their military or their civilian contributions, or both," Gates said at a news conference. "And I found that very heartening."

Our allies could not help but rally to us after hearing bold rhetoric from Obama's man:

Gates also sought to assure allies that the United States also will remain in the fight, despite the Obama administration's ongoing indecision over a war strategy.

"We're not pulling out," He said. "I think that any reduction is very unlikely."

Give the Secretary a harumph!

[Jack is Back!]

I know a little about NATO having served in Mons (SHAFE HQ) a young officer. The United States is NATO - no one else. If you want someone to coordinate the mail, deliver the oil, or cook the food - then you can get the Euros to help. Even the Brits have, since Thatcher, been under-armed, under manned and under trained compared to the US armed forces and command structure. Every time I read these glowing remarks from our allies, I smile. We promised them something and got their vote of confidence.

We probably promised them that the Once will make up his mind eventually and will only ask them for pots, pans and drivers.

[clarice]

TM'Let's see where the Coalition of the Free-Riding takes this." Love that..I'm stealing it for future use. Love the Little Red Hen analogy, too, but I'm afraid no one under 4o something will get it.

[Josef Goebbels]

Afghanistan Held Hostage! Day 54! LUN

[bad]

Are the seeds planted by the Little Red Hen going to grow into green shoots?

[hit and run]

clarice:
Love the Little Red Hen analogy, too, but I'm afraid no one under 4o something will get it.

Narciso's in his 40s.

Just like Obama.

I'm just saying.

[narciso]

Just turned and yes, I remember it from elementary school

[not_bubarooni]

Everyone is laughing now. Just wait until the 56th Panzer Corp shows up though.