PrintApril 4, 2009
President Obama Brings Home A United Raspberry
Barack Obama went to Europe to unite the world and to bring the focus of the war on terrorism (or whatever it is called nowadays) to Afghanistan. Well … it didn’t happen.
Here is how the UK Times described his request for more military assistance for Afghanistan:
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.
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.
Obama said he needed more than 21,000 troops. US generals want at least 10,000 more.
The pledge, so far, from his European admirers is less than 1,000.
How’s that for a response from the "dazzled" Western allies to the so-called leader of the free world?
