Nato is still struggling to find up to 2,500 extra troops for southern Afghanistan and it needs them urgently.
If they cannot be found then the success of Nato's mission could be called into question and this in turn could have a considerable impact upon future perceptions of the alliance itself. Nato leaders accept that Afghanistan represents a fundamental test for the alliance.
1.4 million active duty force. When I read that the other day I was just stunned.
In 1992 we took a marvelous instrument of war and simply threw it in the trash yet again as soon as we thought the war was over! So did all of Europe.
And we are paying the price for that stupidity now. It takes years and lots and lots of $$$ to build up a seriously professional volunteer force.
And it is going to be really a lot tougher this time. The Clintonites were really very clever. By pushing so much of the force into NG and Reserve status, they created a political clientele, outside the Military, who are NOT going to ever give up those fat federal dollars flowing into their states for NG troops while at the same time NEVER want those troops actually USED by the Feds! We are going to have to rebuild a large active duty force while fighting the political Establishment tooth and nail for every single body and dollar.
I saw Michael Scheurer on Fox News a little while ago...and was asked about this lack of NATO forces..AFTER being interviewed about the death of one of the Taliban leaders...
He said that for Prs. Bush to even think that a democratic Afghanistan will EVER happen, is “nonsense, and they should know from the history of when Russia tried to take out the Taliban, that with a smaller NATO fighing force, it is stupid, to think otherwise”....
So....I guess even that ex-CIA guy that the networks LOVE to put on for his knowledge....thinks that Afghanistan is a waste of time, like Iraq....
BTW...kabar, I was the “judge” last week, and I had to debate quite a while before giving you 1st Place...your posts were well thought out..and you didn’t back down from any and all other posters that had different opinions.
THAT was impressive...and I thought you should be recognized for that...
However, if/when I judge a thread again, I can’t/won’t do that for you or anyone else that chooses to get personal, and make snarky attacks...
I thought you mostly did NOT do that..and so that is why I didn’t let it affect my judgement last week....however, I sense that there is a “trigger temper”....and I know you can make great arguements for your position with out the snarky remarks..
AND, so can everyone else on this thread....IMHO.