Defensive Behavior

Alarm bells are sounding anew for NATO. the allies rallied around after Sept. 11 but soon discovered the U.S. needed no help to smite its enemies in Afghanistan. Although British special forces joined the fray, "Thanks, but no thanks" was the message from U.S. commanders who, truth be told, didn't want a bunch of Europeans second-guessing them. Besides, what could Europe bring to the shooting party? Where was Europe's Rapid Reaction Force, its strategic airlift, its carrier battle groups?

As the world becomes a vastly more dangerous place, some worrisome trends first exposed in the Balkans are being confirmed. Post-cold...

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