Reply #2: This is an area where Obama might be able to do some good.

[amandabeech]

Perhaps he could encourage our military to better use all available resources, particularly those on offer by our allies.

The Brits are reliable, they speak our language after a fashion, and they have a long institutional memory in just about every place on the planet, including ours.

Sure, we pulled them out of the fire twice, and although I'm sure they don't like being reminded of it, they haven't forgotten. They would undoubtedly like to pay down that debt. They probably cannot do it in men and equipment (although they did pay the money back), but they can surely make huge payments in perspective and advice if we put the right sorts--patient, respectful and with a good sense of history--with them to hear them out. Let those folks put whatever the Brits say into power points for those who insist that the presentation is the whole message.

After all, they put the grandson of their head of state on the front lines in Afghanistan. Beau Biden is a jag officer--very honorable, to be sure, but a far cry from Prince Harry with a gun and a tank facing the Taliban.

That they still wish to be our friends and allies is all to the good.