Writing in the Financial Times, Charles Grant observes:

Nato should develop a new military role, to provide a European strike force that could fight alongside US troops in a high-intensity conflict such as that in Afghanistan. The point would be to encourage US commanders to take up European offers of assistance: they would probably be more willing to do so if such forces — including, for example, bombers and elite troops — were packaged and vetted by Nato rather than offered directly by governments. In practice, only some European countries could contribute to such a strike force, and it would not be feasible unless some defence budgets rose substantially. But if Nato could help the US not only with peacekeeping but also with fighting in distant places, American respect for Nato would grow.

Not to be outdone, protein wisdom responds:

Dear Mr. Grant.

Hmm. Ya think...?

Yours,

protein wisdom

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