This editorial appeared in The Kansas City Star.
Only a few weeks ago, Obama administration officials expected NATO to strongly support plans to boost troop totals in Afghanistan.
But it was not to be. During their weekend summit, NATO allies pledged only 5,000 new troops for the war, a pale contrast to President Obama's recent decision to order a U.S. troop surge of 21,000. Of the European troops promised, most will be deployed just temporarily to provide security for Afghan elections set for August.
NATO's decision is a sad comment on the state of the Atlantic alliance on its 60th anniversary – and a reminder to the administration that glowing reviews of the president's style don't necessarily translate to concrete results.
After Sept. 11, NATO agreed to help with the war effort in Afghanistan. But from the beginning most of the real combat has fallen to the United States, backed by Britain, Canada, Australia and a few others.
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