Europe praises Obama, but pledges few Afghan troops

Unfortunately it's understandable. Cry terrorism all you want; but they're tired of fighting America's wars. They hope like hell Obama has real plans with real vision, unlike the last administration. Not this stay the course B/S. < :-)

Europe should not have pledged any troops. Afghanistan is an American problem, not a European problems. The Americans started this senseless war under Bush let them finish it. Obama is generally a likable guy, except for his desire to escalate the Afghan war. If there is anything that will ruin his presidency this is it.

Afghanistan is an American problem, not a European problems.

The dead Europeans from Al Queda attacks on European soil would beg to differ.

As someone who was quite vocal about the stupidity of the Bush administration and the senselessness of invading Iraq, I am dismayed at those who think that the NATO allies should not share the burden in Afghanistan. It is as if these people are as ignorant as those who thought that Iraq had anything to do with 9/11. It is a fact that the Taliban are allies of Al Queda and provides refuge and support of Al Queda. While I do think that Bush flubbed in leadership in response to 9-11, it does not mean that the war in Afghanistan is pointless or unprovoked. The more I hear comments like the ones above from America's schadenfreuden, the more I wonder if G.W. Bush might have been right. God help us all! The ball is now in Europe's court and it looks like they are failing.

I agree with superlib. Besides, unlike the war in Iraq, the war in Afghanistan is completely justified. It would have been over by now had that been our primary focus to began with. The senseless war is the one that is almost over and should have never happened to began with. But, that blunder is in the past. Oddly enough, the only European power I actually see doing something worth while is Russia.

Bbbbut Europe now has an American president they can embrace. The EU should kow-tow to Obama's tough love policy on Afghanistan without any qualms. Unless, of course, their Muslim masters tell them to think otherwise.

Well, they're not going to be offered simply, and little is better than none. Given time, and proof that Obama is genuine, they'll offer more and it'll become a more overall international involvement. For the time being, he's just got to keep on working on winning them over and fulfilling his promises.

"they're tired of fighting America's wars"

Oh for cryin' out loud, it's more like, America's tired of taking up the slack.

Smith, I'm surprised you don't see the connection between Canadians getting killed in Afghanistan and the weak commitment given by Europe. Perhaps if they had pulled their weight instead of putting the burden on us then we'd have more American and Canadian soldiers alive today. Saying, "Well, they won't help now when it's difficult, but they'll probably help in the future when things are easier" is an illogical assumption in my opinion, and it doesn't take into account the fact that their help is an important piece of the puzzle to making things better.

Personally, I think the problem lies with Europe's inability to come to terms with radical Islam both domestically and internationally. It's the 500 lb. gorilla sitting in the room that they just don't want to deal with so they invent mechanisms to prevent that kind of self analysis. Al Queda has either killed civilians or had plans that were uncovered to kill civilians in just about every country in Europe. Yet when a bomb goes off or an arrest is made they still walk around talking about "America's War." They just don't see the connection between Al Queda, The Taliban, Afghanistan, and their own security as you and I do, despite the fact that the threat has been much, much greater there since 9/11.

You're able to make a distinction between Iraq and Afghanistan so you can support one war and not the other, but for most Europeans they seem to project their feelings of Iraq onto Afghanistan and tell themselves it better to just not get involved. That's a mindset that's been solidified by European politicians to the point where going against it is political suicide. They have to educate their people more about the threat and how it relates to them, but so far politicians in Europe haven't been up to the task.

Domestically, the integration of Muslims in their societies and the existence of radical Islam in their societies is like night and day compared to the US or Canada. They have Muslim riots in their cities, politicians murdered by radical Islamists, mosques that promote radical Islam, etc. Again, they've been unwilling to tackle the problem domestically so I'm not surprised they're taking the same approach internationally.

Any way you slice it, as the threat of radical Islam grows either at home or abroad the European response has been to just hope that it goes away on it's own, or they blame the US for it, or they pretend it just doesn't exist. Meanwhile their Muslim ghettos grow and more plots are discovered by Al Queda. At some point Europe is going to have to come to terms with this....but it looks like it won't be anytime soon.

SuperLib:

" The dead Europeans from Al Queda attacks on European soil would beg to differ. "

And there will be more dead Europeans from Al Quaeda attack, regardless of how many more troops Obama sends on this idiotic mission impossible to Afghanistan. Whatever he does there, it does not help reduce islamist terrorism one bit. I wish Europe would finally pull out of that misadventure completely.

willi,

"Whatever he does there, it does not help reduce islamist terrorism one bit. I wish Europe would finally pull out of that misadventure completely."

OK - on a serious note, here's your chance - what do you suggest Europe does?

Super,

"the European response has been to just hope that it goes away on it's own, or they blame the US for it, or they pretend it just doesn't exist."

I'm surprised to see you talking like this. I doubt without Europe's contributions to the so-called war on terror, there could actually be a war on terror. From someone who supported the un-necassary invasion of Iraq which toppled a secular nutcase and opened the door to the fundies - al Qaida included - which further fanned the flames of islamic extremism to a frightening extent, well buddy....I don't think you have a leg to stand on pulling the blame Europe card.

Madverts:

" OK - on a serious note, here's your chance - what do you suggest Europe does? "

Address the root problem of the islamic jihad --- islamic teaching. Or was that a trick question?

These pointless military exercises in the mountains of Afghanistan do not change the problem one bit -- other than draining Western resources.

Madverts: From someone who supported the un-necassary invasion of Iraq which toppled a secular nutcase and opened the door to the fundies - al Qaida included - which further fanned the flames of islamic extremism to a frightening extent, well buddy....I don't think you have a leg to stand on pulling the blame Europe card.

I don't see how this counters anything I've said.

Violent anti-war protests

Interesting.

Fateful irony - for Europe - is that the UK has citizens fighting on both sides in Afghanistan.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/exclusive-army-is-fighting-british-jihadists-in-afghanistan-1631347.html

I can't believe that the European's don't want to help President Obama! I thought they just didn't want to help because Bush used to be president. It turns out that they don't want to cooperate with America - no matter how weak the American President. I guess the worst president in American history is already failing to bring the world together as he promised - wow, what a surprise for those naive lefty's. The Euros likely decided not to help out after BO told them all about how terrible a country the United States is.

Superlib,

You should. You're compaining Europe is ignoring your 500lb beast in the corner. I'm complaining the US has fattened the beast.

...and made it angry.

" It turns out that they don't want to cooperate with America "

They already are/have been cooperating. What happened to you since Obama's election, Wolfpack? You used to be a reasonable bloke.