Walter Russell Mead
This is one of the most unpopular headlines an American blogger can write, a guaranteed hit-suppressor. But it is true nevertheless, as President Obama is now finding out. The immediate problem is Afghanistan; the President wants 10,000 troops from our allies to match the 30,000 the President is putting in.
Britain already has 9,000 and has bravely committed to have more than 10,000 total within months. Poland, still worried enough about both Russia and Germany to want to keep close to the United States, is also putting in another 600; Italy today committed 1,000 more troops to the fight. Overall, NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says he can see where 5,000 new troops are coming from.