Today, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced that 25 NATO countries are expected to contribute at least 7,000 additional troops - perhaps more - to Afghanistan in the coming months.
Although this announcement comes as a huge diplomatic victory for the Obama administration, there hasn't been much (if any) discussion about it here at Daily Kos. Are most Kossacks too uncomfortable with the Afghanistan war to recognize or acknowledge a piece of great news when they read it? What do Kossacks really think about the President's handling of Afghanistan?
Commentary and a poll coming after the jump.
Regardless of what we progressives may think of President Obama's decision to send an additional 30,000 American troops into Afghanistan, today's NATO announcement is good news. At the very least, it validates President Obama's diplomatic engagement with Europe, and silences the cynics who thought the President's international popularity wouldn't translate into any material gains. This kind of news is only possible with a President who doesn't alienate the rest of the world.
Looking beyond the domestic political ramifications, this NATO announcement also increases the likelihood that the President's surge against the Taliban insurgency will actually succeed. On Wednesday, General McChrystal announced that he had "exceptional confidence" in President Obama's plan for Afghanistan, a curious statement considering that he was given 10,000 fewer troops than he earlier stated would be necessary to succeed. Perhaps Gen. McChyrstal knew on Wednesday that he would ultimately receive 40,000 troops after all.
Additionally, this NATO announcement brings hope to many progressives, including yours truly, who have long envisioned a liberal international community with the political will to combat serious problems like international terrorism. The kind of a shared commitment and shared responsibility affirmed in today's NATO announcement lends legitimacy to the American mission in Afghanistan, and may serve as a useful precedent for future cooperation on tough global issues like climate change and poverty.
Of course, many brilliant progressives - here at Daily Kos and elsewhere - have grave doubts about the war in Afghanistan. To them, this NATO announcement must be akin to putting lipstick on a deadly pig.
Fellow Kossacks, where do you stand on the President's handling of Afghanistan? If you disagree with his decision to escalate the war, do you nonetheless welcome this contribution from our NATO allies?