American military stretched to the limit, now the pressure is on NATO
/US demands on the Nato alliance are growing more onerous as the
American military struggles to meet global commitments. And Nato, which
lost an evil empire and failed to find a role, is feeling the strain.
This week's US proposal to integrate Nato's peacekeepers in Afghanistan
with US combat troops fighting the "war on terror" there is a case in
point. Germany and France, which jointly lead the 9,000-strong
International Security and Assistance Force in Kabul, rejected the
idea. They do not want their soldiers under US command. And they
suspect the US would use a merger as cover for troop withdrawals. But
as usual with its Nato initiatives, the US expects to get its way.
Undaunted, US ambassador Nicholas Burns said he wants a blueprint on
the table by next February. [more 
]
]- Kerry Says President May Bring Back Draft [more ]
