"We have no right to lose the conflict."

When I think about the conflict in Afghanistan, and in my darker moods, I resent Europe. They do little to defend themselves, their wonderful men and women in uniform are shackled with ridiculous rule-of-engagment policies, etc.

Reports like this do a lot to bring some sunshine to my day.

French Defence Minister Herve Morin said Sept. 17 that years of under-investment in defense by European countries was to blame for a critical shortage of international forces in Afghanistan.

Amen, brother, amen.

"Most European countries have decided to leave their defense up to NATO," he said when asked whether he agreed with Australia's view that some nations in the continent were not pulling their weight in the escalating Afghan conflict.

If we can bring a dedicated and unified European fighting force to bear on the Taliban and sundry thuglords, there's a new distant bright light on the horizon to encourage us through the darkness. The men we are fighting are enemies of the entire West, not just the United States.