Fun with consistency; or, maybe it’s not NATO that Afghanistan is testing

Peter MacKay, yesterday:

Peter MacKay, yesterday:

“Afghanistan tests the ability of the alliance to execute its most basic mission in the 21st century and in a global context. If NATO cannot deter or defeat the real physical threat facing alliance members, and indeed contribute to the building of security for the larger international community, then we have to ask ourselves, what is NATO for?”

Peter MacKay, Feb. 8:

“In spite of the challenges, I would suggest that, if Afghanistan was a litmus test for NATO, the Alliance has already passed.”