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A post by Pat

Obama tells us it was an unprecedented accomplishment at the NATO summit to receive a pledge for 5,000 more NATO troops to Afghanistan. Golly, he hadn’t even asked for them and this really wasn’t a pledging session. Baloney. His administration has been pressing for more combat troops for some time now. The amazing NATO pledges are not for combat troops. Some of those troops will be there only for temporary security duty during the Afghan elections. Some troops included in the promised new total are actually part of a contingent already in Afghanistan. NATO countries did pledge $100 million to fund the Afghan army, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

Obama is attempting to inflate the significance of getting a commitment to, dare I say it, distract from its meager content. I respect every member of the NATO military who serves in Afghanistan in any capacity and thank them for their service. The painful reality is NATO effectively tossed some coins at Obama as much as to say, “Here, that’s all you’re going to get now stop bothering me.” The much vaunted agreement to the strategy is an acknowledgment that it’s important not to lose in Afghanistan. Europe wishes us well in accomplishing that, but holds back on helping.

NATO pledges more troops for Afghanistan, but not combat forces

The American leader had hoped to parlay his immense popularity in Europe into stronger promises of military support for the Afghan war, which has drawn increasing criticism on the continent. Throughout Obama’s visit, which started in London, European leaders have jockeyed for position next to him and screaming crowds have gathered for a glimpse of the president and the first lady.

But even as European leaders emphasized the importance of the Afghanistan mission, the boost announced Saturday pales in size next to the 21,000 additional U.S. troops that Obama has pledged to send to help fight the resurgent Taliban.

The new NATO troops will include 3,000 soldiers on temporary assignment to assist in securing national elections scheduled for August. The remainder will provide training for the Afghan army, to encourage its transformation from a ragtag band into a professional, well-equipped military.

Conspicuously absent are the extra combat troops that the U.S. had requested, an indication of how deeply divided many NATO countries remain about the war effort and their role in it.

The war is increasingly unpopular with many Europeans, making their leaders leery of sending more soldiers. Yet participants at the NATO summit agreed that the mission in Afghanistan was vital even as they brushed aside American requests to significantly beef up their forces.

Obama also repeated a denial that he ever asked Europe to commit to more stimulus spending. Larry Summers and Timothy Geither were sent to Europe to ask for precisely that. We’ve all heard some of the European responses, the “road to hell” being the most pointed. He was rebuffed on this again at the G-20 conference.

Jake Tapper and others are making a big deal out of Obama’s superman abilities at negotiating a compromise over petty spats. The real news is Obama failed miserably at achieving his two major goals at the G-20 conference and NATO summit. While knee deep in those failures, he failed to convince North Korea not to launch its rocket.

My arrogant observation is that Europe smiles, has tea and crumpets with the President and a rollicking time exchanging criticisms of America, but offers the minimum possible help as usual. North Korea glowers and launches a rocket in the face of the smiling American President’s warnings.

Obama’s super negotiating skills are nothing more than unctuous flattery aimed to win favor from those who are pleased by craven displays. Our friends will give us nothing for it. Our enemies will give us plenty.