Ed Koch of Real Clear Politics gives a summary of recent comments by Western leaders [1] that seem to indicate a weakening of resolve to stand up to the Islamist threat that every one is subject to. Then, Koch proposes we give our fair weather friends an ultimatum:
President Bush has to feel a little like Commander-in-Chief George Washington at Valley Forge. Our allies -- NATO and regional -- turned into summer soldiers. I again urge the President to say to those allies that the day of the free lunch is over. He should put them on notice that unless they come in now and help in Iraq with boots on the ground, we are getting out, perhaps adding, because our army is "about broken."
Let's convey to them our intention to pull our troops out of Europe, out of South Korea, out of Japan and wherever else they are stationed overseas. Let our allies contemplate what life will be without us at their side.
That's it. Let 'em have it with both barrels. Sounds good. But, we better have a backup plan, because we may discover our weaker allies are perfectly willing to stick their collective head in the sand and leave us standing alone.
