From the Washington Post: For decades, Europeans have heard an enduring message from the United States: Do more. Carry your weight. Don’t make America do all the heavy lifting. And this message has been delivered, loud and clear, once again, on Afghanistan.

An honest assessment would conclude that over the years these complaints have occasionally had some foundation. The United States has played a central role in defending the values and the security of the Euro-Atlantic community — something for which Europeans are grateful.

But that honest assessment would also conclude that Europe can pull its weight. That Europe can deliver and can be a real partner for the United States. That is what is happening now in the global mission in Afghanistan. It is important that America recognize its partners’ actions at this critical time, because if it becomes the conventional wisdom in the United States to talk down the European contribution, no matter what Europe does, then it will become impossible to sustain our commitment.

Excerpt from OpEd by Carl Bildt, Foreign Minister of Sweden, and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary General of NATO. (graphic: MARRI)