Article

2009-12-02 Afghanistan

Sarkozy says no to more troops for Afghanistan

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Posted by Fred 2009-12-02 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top
File under: Taliban

#1 ...Remember also what I said about a year ago: With the highly qualified exception of the UK, NONE of the NATO allies have had anything resembling capable ground forces for years now. After the Soviets collapsed, they were sent home. The Allies - again, with the qualified exception of the UK - never actually expected us to invoke Article 5 of the NATO Treaty after 9/11. The Allies have kept just enough to maintain their obligations under NATO and keep the US bucks rolling in. They know it, and we know it too - but to admit it and admit how many billions have gone to Europe for nothing would result in a final and irresistible call to bring the troops home and shut down the gravy train.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2009-12-02 08:42|| 2009-12-02 08:42|| Front Page Top

#2 Mike - it may be worse than that. Consider that the Baltics and former Warsaw Pact countries, most now in NATO, were eager participants in Iraq (even under GHWB) to establish bona fides with the West generally. All that when they were arguably least capable (i.e. new to NATO, non-standard logistics/equipment, economies in ruins from communism, etc..).

Now consider what the POTUS has done in a year to "develop" those relationships? Poland/Czech - think they want to answer the call, Ukraine, Georgia? Even Rumania and Bulgaria?

He's really counting on Pakistan, and even W seemed to know better than that.

Posted by halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2009-12-02 13:23|| 2009-12-02 13:23|| Front Page Top

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