MacKay pins future of NATO on Afghanistan

Speaking in London, Eng., Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Afghanistan presents NATO with a test of its purpose and capacity. European commitment to the mission has long been a source of discussion and controversy, and calls for more troops from some allies persist as the U.S. prepares to refocus its efforts in the region. But MacKay, who is said to be pursuing the secretary general position at NATO, may have over-stepped with these latest comments. "The alliance does a lot of different things and plays a lot of different roles, and to hinge it all on the future of an operation in Afghanistan is an unfortunate linkage," says Allen Sens, a professor at the University of British Columbia.

Ottawa Citizen