It appears the continent still doesn’t quite trust the new guy: The Times of London reports that NATO leaders have almost uniformly rejected President Obama’s request that they send more troops to Afghanistan. The only countries to oblige it are Britain, of course, which the Guardian reports will commit up to 1,000 troops, as well as Belgium and Spain, which offered 35 and 12 military trainers respectively. Nicolas Sarkozy, who is hosting the NATO meeting, refused Obama’s request, while Germany, Italy, Poland, Canada, and Denmark are still mulling it over. The Times writes “The derisory response threatened to tarnish Mr. Obama’s European tour, which yesterday included a spellbinding performance in Strasbourg in which he offered the world a vision of a future free of nuclear weapons.”
Read it at The Times of London
I recall after 9/11 the leaders of these same countries delivering their condolences in the media. Much what was said was along the same lines. Besides the being shocked and disgusted part, there was this talk about how the USA always puts itself at the forefront for other countries benefit in handling the “bad” guys sacrificing itself etc, etc and getting such a result as 9/11 was certainly a very unjustifiable one.
When push comes to shove … France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Denmark etc … I’m not even American … but my feeling is … post 9/11 … their leaders should have just kept their gobs shut since they had no sincere empathy. In such situation, who needs diplomatic crocodile tears? Taking opportunity to make themselves look good via feigned empathy for political advantage, on the backs of the death of so many civillians is not an admirable thing.
Actions speak way louder than words. Now’s time for the action. Time to put up. Where is it? Why is it so lacking?
You might not be an American but you certainly are an ass. Next time get some facts about what the countries have been doing since 9/11. Maybe if the US hadn’t just left Afghanistan and gone to fight some other unnecessary war, more of the world leaders would be interested in extending their tours in Afghanistan. As it stands Canada has been there in some capacity since 2002. Perhaps these leaders are saying it is time for others to step up to plate since Canada and Great Britain have certainly done their fair share.
This is no surprise.Remember the genocide in the Balkans that occured right under the nose’s of the Euro folks. We had to leed them in by their hands.They talk a high and mighty game but they don’t want to get dirty.
Nato has agreed to boost troop numbers to cover the Afghan presidential election in August, outgoing alliance chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has said.
US President Barack Obama said his alliance partners would deploy about 5,000 troops and trainers “to advance new strategy”.
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White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that 900 new troops would come from Britain, 600 from Germany and 600 from Spain. Italy and France were fresh committing forces, too, he added.
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Gordon Brown said “I am pleased to say that a large number of countries have announced that they will provide additional support: Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Poland, Turkey and Croatia have joined Germany, who have already made similar announcements,” he said at the end of the summit.
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There are more than 70,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, mostly under Nato command. Mr Obama is to send 21,000 additional US troops, while considering a further deployment of 10,000.
Next time get some facts about what the countries have been doing since 9/11. Maybe if the US hadn’t just left Afghanistan and gone to fight some other unnecessary war, more of the world leaders would be interested in extending their tours in Afghanistan.
First up since when did the USA ever left Afghanistan? Secondly the unnecessary war did not impact the countries I am refering to because they never took part. So maybe you should take a leaf out of your own Verbal Diahrroea Dialogue and get some facts instead of bending them.
As it stands Canada has been there in some capacity since 2002. Perhaps these leaders are saying it is time for others to step up to plate since Canada and Great Britain have certainly done their fair share.
Don’t disagree with the contribution of these 2, especially when it comes to the UK … as this article has stated the British are still obliging. You should have read it properly before commenting here. Since the British are obliging with troops anyway, perhaps you are full of BS when you say, “Perhaps these leaders are saying it is time for others to step up to plate since Canada and Great Britain have certainly done their fair share.” Have you got any actual proof of either Britain or Canada saying that?
You might not be an American but you certainly are an ass.
If giving some comment on this topic makes me certainly an ass; based on your response whether you are American, Eskimo or from Timbaktu, that would make you an asshole … for sure.
Thanks for that report. Let’s hope it comes to fruition and let’s hope NATO will be doing a little more than just doing the peace keeping role thing.
Politics in Pakistan seem to be evolving in a way that’s not going to make the Al Qaeda extermination any easier. So all efforts need to be applied in concerted unison.
**It appears the continent still doesn’t quite trust the new guy: I wonder if you will post a correction for jumping to conclusions when you find out what really happened. I have a gut feeling you won’t.
Do you have a 6 pack or a beer belly? Either way your gut is not serving you well.
These things we discuss … much of it is dynamic and ever changing. I was commenting based on that report I saw and posted. It’s a current report published yesterday. But if things have changed since … and they can over night can’t they? … what use is it for me to stick to the same old song?
Who knows? Based on this BBC report from davet, Obama really is the man … able to charm the under pants off all these World Leaders and the panties off their wives. It’s looking good but I’ll believe it when I see these European Nations putting out. Let’s see which way the cookie crumbles.
It would be nice to get rid of Al Qaeda. About time. Hopefully Japan will shoot down Kim Jong Il’s rocket and someone will take care of Iran if it really wants to go nuke weapons capable without the liberalist humanitarian activist instigators getting their panties in a bunch.
Countries like Pakistan who like the honor killings and such so much etc should just keep their crap in house and so should Indonesia and their rise of Fanaticism. Just train the missiles on them to make sure they don’t start any nonsense that threatens others and forget about aid, investment support and economic partnership with such places. Let their people decide by getting in a governance that can actually get along otherwise if what they want is hostile religious fanaticism … just let them stew in it by themselves.
I am a great believer in free choice in it’s entirety. Don’t force democracy on people who don’t want it in the first place.
**It would be nice to get rid of Al Qaeda. About time. Hopefully Japan will shoot down Kim Jong Il’s rocket and someone will take care of Iran if it really wants to go nuke weapons capable without the liberalist humanitarian activist instigators getting their panties in a bunch. **
I think the hype over NK is a little over the top, they couldn’t even hit South Korea if they tried. They are just making noise and will be using the threat to try and get economic help. Japan can deal with them.
**Countries like Pakistan who like the honor killings and such so much etc should just keep their crap in house and so should Indonesia and their rise of Fanaticism. Just train the missiles on them to make sure they don’t start any nonsense that threatens others and forget about aid, investment support and economic partnership with such places. **
Not a bad idea.
Let their people decide by getting in a governance that can actually get along otherwise if what they want is hostile religious fanaticism … just let them stew in it by themselves. I am a great believer in free choice in it’s entirety. Don’t force democracy on people who don’t want it in the first place.
*I think the hype over NK is a little over the top, they couldn’t even hit South Korea if they tried. They are just making noise and will be using the threat to try and get economic help. Japan can deal with them. *
I disagree about NK’s ability to threaten S. Korea. Anyone who has been to SK knows just how close Seoul is to the border, and Incheon Airport is even closer. North Korea may not be able to lob a nuclear missile into Seoul, but it could certainly send a regular missile.
Allies Spurn Obama’s Troop Request