Europe To Obama: "We'll Take a Free Ride"

The Times Online describes NATO’s response to Barack Obama’s impassioned plea to make a stand in Afghanistan. The Allies listened politely, left some small change on the table, then smiled and waved.

Barack Obama made an impassioned plea to America’s allies to send more troops to Afghanistan, warning that failure to do so would leave Europe vulnerable to more terrorist atrocities. But though he continued to dazzle Europeans on his debut international tour, the Continent’s leaders turned their backs on the US President.

Gordon Brown was the only one to offer substantial help. He offered to send several hundred extra British soldiers to provide security during the August election, but even that fell short of the thousands of combat troops that the US was hoping to prise from the Prime Minister.

Just two other allies made firm offers of troops. Belgium offered to send 35 military trainers and Spain offered 12. Mr Obama’s host, Nicolas Sarkozy, refused his request.

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.

Two effects may be observable here. Since Europe knows that America has to fight radical Islam to defend Washington, New York and Los Angeles — even if America were alone in the world — then they know that Obama will pick up the slack if he is determined to defeat the Taliban. They can “free ride” secure in the knowledge that in so doing, America will secure Europe as a byproduct. Maybe they’ll make a token contribution, but no more. But on the other hand, if European politicians feel that Obama isn’t determined to defeat the Taliban after all, then there’s no sense coming along for the abortive ride. Either way the incentives are to leave the US twisting in the wind.