NEW NATO BOSS

by RAY FLEMING
NATO, one of the principal guarantors of Western freedom during the Cold War with the Soviet Union, has rather lost its way since Communism in Europe collapsed twenty years ago. Currently its biggest commitment is to Afghanistan but in American eyes its contribution there is insufficient both in numbers and in quality. Yesterday, on his first day in office NATO's new Secretary General, the former Danish prime minister Andes Fogh Rasmussen, set out his priorities. First and foremost, he said, is Afghanistan: “Nato will remain there for as long as it takes - let me repeat that, for as long as it takes.” Mr Rasmussen did not spell out what “it” involves but it can be assumed that he wants a peaceful and stable country with a degree of democracy and a flourishing economy rather than what he called “a Grand Central Station of international terrorism”. To this end he said that Europan NATO countries should increase their presence in Afghanistan to create a “proper balance with US forces to avoid the perception that Afghanistan is a US operation”. Mr Rasmussen is over-optimistic. President Obama's appeal for more help in Afghanistan from Europe has produced nothing but token gestures. The truth is that most European NATO members (excluding Britain which is in a different category) are not convinced of the possibility of success in Afghanistan regardless of how many troops are involved or how long they stay there.