Afghanistan and NATO: Forging the 21st Century Alliance

Transcript

SECRETARY GENERAL SCHEFFER:   Anyone who has followed the international news, even from a distance these last few weeks, couldn’t have missed what these pressing questions are: Are we failing in Afghanistan? Is allied solidarity breaking down? Are we witnessing the emergence of a two-tier alliance? Clearly, there is a perception on the part of some NATO allies that others are not pulling their weight. Notably here in the United States, there is a palpable feeling that some European allies are underperforming in Afghanistan and that they are either unable or unwilling to make a greater effort. Needless to say, those allies who have been criticized feel that their own efforts and sacrifices are undervalues and complain about being treated unfairly.

You won’t be surprised to hear me say that as the Secretary General of NATO, it is my job to calm the waves no matter who might have caused the storm, but if I plead here today for a greater dose of moderation and realism, it is not just because I see it as my professional duty to promote transatlantic harmony. In my view, we simply cannot afford to play the blame game, and we can even less afford to play it publicly.What we should be doing instead is focusing all our efforts on building on the successes we have already achieved and identifying how to best move forward together.

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