Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
International Herald Tribune
April 3, 2009
By Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
The global economic crisis has, quite rightly, been front page news. Governments are working to coordinate their actions, including through the G-20 meetings in London, because it is crystal clear that this is a transnational problem that needs multilateral solutions.
Many of those same G-20 leaders are coming to the NATO summit in Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, Germany, to talk about security. But this is not a total change of subject. Imagine what would happen to the international financial system if there were another major terrorist attack. What would happen to investment and growth if the free flow of energy were seriously threatened? Could struggling economies keep the wheels turning if they came under the same kind of cyber attacks that Estonia suffered two years ago?
Security is not a discretionary item, something you can live without when money is tight. It is the foundation on which our prosperity is built. And, like the economy, security can only be built through multinational cooperation. This is why the NATO summit is more than a celebration; it is a meeting where alliance leaders need to get things done.
First and foremost, they will have to chart a common way forward on Afghanistan. It has been eight years since the Taliban was driven from power and a number of terrorist groups, most prominently Al Qaeda, lost their safe havens. Much progress has been made since then: Normal life is returning to many troubled areas, women now have freedom and a place in public life, and terrorists in the country know no peace.
But an honest assessment must conclude that we are not yet where we want to be. The insurgency continues in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Corruption and narcotics are endemic and the international aid effort is far too fragmented. We must do better, before the endurance of the international community and the patience of the Afghan people begin to wane.
President Obama has consulted extensively with America’s allies as the U.S. reviews its overall approach to this challenge. The NATO summit will be an opportunity to exchange views, and, I hope, find agreement on a common way forward, taking into account the new U.S. effort — including more support for Pakistan, a greater effort to strengthen the police, more coordinated aid and visible steps by Kabul to fight corruption.
NATO leaders will also discuss another critical element of 21st century security: building a true partnership with Russia. There is more than enough for Russia and the alliance to do together — on Afghanistan, missile defense and terrorism.
There is plenty of room for improvement on both sides. It is no secret that when it comes to Russia there are a wide range of views within NATO, from the very cautious to the forward-leaning. Until we narrow that range it will be difficult to engage Russia effectively.
Russia also needs to decide whether it recognizes NATO’s desire for partnership, or whether it will continue to look at NATO through the prism of a Cold War that is long behind us.
At the summit, NATO leaders will adopt a Declaration on Alliance Security that will not only reaffirm NATO’s core business but also set out, in general terms, what it should do in future. I hope that the alliance also will launch a fundamental review of NATO’s Strategic Concept — one of the alliance’s most important guiding documents — to get agreement among allies on what NATO should be doing in the 21st century, including on cyber defense and energy security — areas where I believe NATO should do more to add its unique value.
There will clearly be plenty of work to do for the 28 NATO members. But that will not distract from some important celebrations. Allies will warmly welcome President Nicolas Sarkozy’s decision to have France take its full place again in NATO. Albania and Croatia will take their seats as the 27th and 28th members of the NATO family.
The summit will also be a celebration of NATO’s 60th anniversary. It has been said that “when alliances win, they die.” But NATO is alive and kicking because it still has a unique job to do: to be the place where Europe and North America stand together, consult together and act together to ensure their common security. That role will be reaffirmed and strengthened at this weekend’s summit.
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is secretary general of NATO.
April 3, 2009
By Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
The global economic crisis has, quite rightly, been front page news. Governments are working to coordinate their actions, including through the G-20 meetings in London, because it is crystal clear that this is a transnational problem that needs multilateral solutions.
Many of those same G-20 leaders are coming to the NATO summit in Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, Germany, to talk about security. But this is not a total change of subject. Imagine what would happen to the international financial system if there were another major terrorist attack. What would happen to investment and growth if the free flow of energy were seriously threatened? Could struggling economies keep the wheels turning if they came under the same kind of cyber attacks that Estonia suffered two years ago?
Security is not a discretionary item, something you can live without when money is tight. It is the foundation on which our prosperity is built. And, like the economy, security can only be built through multinational cooperation. This is why the NATO summit is more than a celebration; it is a meeting where alliance leaders need to get things done.
First and foremost, they will have to chart a common way forward on Afghanistan. It has been eight years since the Taliban was driven from power and a number of terrorist groups, most prominently Al Qaeda, lost their safe havens. Much progress has been made since then: Normal life is returning to many troubled areas, women now have freedom and a place in public life, and terrorists in the country know no peace.
But an honest assessment must conclude that we are not yet where we want to be. The insurgency continues in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Corruption and narcotics are endemic and the international aid effort is far too fragmented. We must do better, before the endurance of the international community and the patience of the Afghan people begin to wane.
President Obama has consulted extensively with America’s allies as the U.S. reviews its overall approach to this challenge. The NATO summit will be an opportunity to exchange views, and, I hope, find agreement on a common way forward, taking into account the new U.S. effort — including more support for Pakistan, a greater effort to strengthen the police, more coordinated aid and visible steps by Kabul to fight corruption.
NATO leaders will also discuss another critical element of 21st century security: building a true partnership with Russia. There is more than enough for Russia and the alliance to do together — on Afghanistan, missile defense and terrorism.
There is plenty of room for improvement on both sides. It is no secret that when it comes to Russia there are a wide range of views within NATO, from the very cautious to the forward-leaning. Until we narrow that range it will be difficult to engage Russia effectively.
Russia also needs to decide whether it recognizes NATO’s desire for partnership, or whether it will continue to look at NATO through the prism of a Cold War that is long behind us.
At the summit, NATO leaders will adopt a Declaration on Alliance Security that will not only reaffirm NATO’s core business but also set out, in general terms, what it should do in future. I hope that the alliance also will launch a fundamental review of NATO’s Strategic Concept — one of the alliance’s most important guiding documents — to get agreement among allies on what NATO should be doing in the 21st century, including on cyber defense and energy security — areas where I believe NATO should do more to add its unique value.
There will clearly be plenty of work to do for the 28 NATO members. But that will not distract from some important celebrations. Allies will warmly welcome President Nicolas Sarkozy’s decision to have France take its full place again in NATO. Albania and Croatia will take their seats as the 27th and 28th members of the NATO family.
The summit will also be a celebration of NATO’s 60th anniversary. It has been said that “when alliances win, they die.” But NATO is alive and kicking because it still has a unique job to do: to be the place where Europe and North America stand together, consult together and act together to ensure their common security. That role will be reaffirmed and strengthened at this weekend’s summit.
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is secretary general of NATO.