Barack Obama is at least as revered in Europe as he is at home. Scared and disappointed by an America they no longer recognized, most Europeans are happy to see GWB go, with his war of choice, his torture and his renditions. In Barack Obama, they see the America they always admired and and needed. A generous, powerful and well intentioned ally. What they do not expect, is that Prrsident Obama is going to pay them a visit asking for more forces in Afghanistan. They will not take it well for many reasons. First, WWII is still present in European memories. Wars are anathema. Second, this entail a constant choice of butter over guns: military budgets over all are small and shrinking in Europe. They are also highly unpopular among voters. All the more in times of recession, if not pre-depression.
Finally a country like France, already contributes thousands of troops in Africa (Chad, Central African Republic, of the coast of Somalia, Djibouti, Ivory Coast Senegal, Mali, etc) in the pacific area and both with Euofor in Darfur and with the UN in Lebanon. This list does not take into account the troops deployed in Afghanistan nor the Air wing deployed in Kazhakstan.
It is unlikely that the Europeans will accede to president Obama wishes, in spite of their admiration for him.
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