NATO considers beefing up Afghan war support

Saturday 24th October, 03:51 AM JST

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12 Comments

smithinjapan at 12:50 PM JST - 24th October

Regardless of whether or not you agree with Obama not casually making a decision about the next step in Afghanistan, this consideration by NATO is the result of Obama improving relationships with the countries (particularly in Europe) that the former US president completely destroyed relations with (bye-bye 'Freedom Fries'!). That's a fact. Now all the naysayers on the Cheney thread have to think of new excuses to be angry with Obama.
cooperstown at 12:56 PM JST - 24th October

"Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung of Germany said he does not expect his country to increase its troop numbers in Afghanistan when their soldiers’ orders come up for renewal in December. Germany’s existing policy allows the deployment of up to 4,500 soldiers, and just over 4,200 currently are in Afghanistan."

But didn't Obama woo all of Europe, and from Berlin?

Isn't Germany the heart of the new Europe that Rumsfeld scorned as being 'old' ?

Consideration by NATO is a far different thing than commitment from NATO.

But then, I wouldn't expect Obama supporters to think beyond pretty phrases, smiley sounbites and a history of empty feel-good promises.
WilliB at 02:19 PM JST - 24th October

The word "idiots" does no begin to describe this.

Has any of these Nato clowns actually defined what exactly they want to achieve in Afghanistan, and at what point they want to leave??
Sarge at 02:33 PM JST - 24th October

"Obama is still weeks away from deciding"

Lessee... defeat the Taliban... uphold my image as the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner...
smithinjapan at 03:15 PM JST - 24th October

sarge: what does your comment have to do with the fact that he was healed ties with Europe and now they are considering support for the war in Afghanistan? I mean... aside from deflecting, of course.

cooperstown: "But then, I wouldn't expect Obama supporters to think beyond pretty phrases, smiley sounbites and a history of empty feel-good promises."

Even if there are those as shallow as you claim, at least they DO think. If it's a bush loyalist, you have to stop at, "But I wouldn't expect bush supporters to think" period. And again, you've got consideration for support in Afghanistan, and Obama to thank for it. So go ahead and thank your elected president, instead of thanking the man who started the war and put your country in the toilet for a change.
cooperstown at 03:50 PM JST - 24th October

"Consideration" just means more words, a "message" for the already nauseatingly overexposed Obama to repeat in his next televised pitch - "I did this, I,I,I,me,me,my administration" blah and blah and blah.

Europe has much to answer for on this issue. The continent's heroin consumption (original material:Afghan opium) literally subsidizes the death and destruction the Taliban causes wherver they go and is why Europe also belongs in Afghanistan.

Our president has done nothing. Even Sarkozy - "L'Americaine" - no longer takes him seriously. Obama is a creampuff, or worse - exactly what his most virulent American critics accuse him of being:, a crypto-socialist with no interest in foreign policy unless it helps him weaken the America he and the fringe of his party loathe. Britain knows he is unlike any president they have counted on as an ally. Obama snubbed all of Brown's five requests for bilateral talks.But yeah, Bush was the "my way or the highway" cowboy... Merkel seems suspicious of Obama. Germany is not interested in helping him. Berlusconi cracks jokes about his 'suntan' and I suspect most of Italy laughs along.
Madverts at 05:32 PM JST - 24th October

But, old friend, wasn't opium production outlawed by the taliban when they were in power?
SuperLib at 05:38 PM JST - 24th October

The Europeans won't contribute. They have the US to fall back on.
tclh at 06:28 PM JST - 24th October

It appears that Joe Biden already has a solid strategy, but Obama is still thinking, thinking. He may wish a very good luck , for some reasons, just comes to him again... like Nobel Prize.
Sarge at 09:55 PM JST - 24th October

"President Barack Obama"

Please tell me this is just a bad dream...
Madverts at 11:28 PM JST - 24th October

"The Europeans won't contribute. They have the US to fall back on."

Uhm, last time I checked the Europeans are contributing.

But the flag-waving was noted ;)
USAFdude at 04:58 AM JST - 25th October

sarge:

"President Barack Obama" Please tell me this is just a bad dream...

Nope, it's a dream come true for America. This is why so overwhelmingly many Americans, particularly those of us who actually serve in the US military, elected Barack Hussein Obama President of the United States of America. President Obama's predecessor had eight years to bring America to the brink of death; President Obama will have eight years to bring us back to prosperity.

God continue to bless America!