U.S. Asks Allies/Euros to Pay for Their Defense

In a move that I've long advocated here the U.S. is asking allies such as Japan and NATO allies who have not sent troops to Afghanistan to pony up with the estimated $17 billion needed to build up the Afghan army.

This request may be a two-tiered NATO alliance that U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned against early this year but there is no alternative. The Europeans are going to be hit harder, and most likely before the U.S. next gets attacked by terrorists trained in Afpak camps so they should be willing to pay for their own defense. Gates has been on the frontlines asking U.S. allies to pay for their defense, especially if they are not willing to send troops.

The U.S. has 33,000 troops in Afghanistan. About 22,000 are part of NATO's force of nearly 48,000 troops. The United States contributes the most troops by far among allies, followed by Britain with about 8,000.

The Afghan army plans to double in size to 134,000 soldiers over five years at a cost of $17 billion to $20 billion, according to estimates.