Disclosure reveals inexperience

Walter F. Johnson Albemarle County
Published: August 3, 2008

We have recently witnessed some rather naive diplomatic discourse.

Before an audience of some 200,000 in Germany, a request was made that more NATO troops be deployed in Afghanistan. The next day this statement was followed with the official comment, from the same source, that with the increased NATO troops, fewer of ours would be required and our resulting economic savings would be available for our own domestic programs.

These disclosures were immediately picked up by a representative of the German government announcing that it would not provide additional troops in order to support our domestic programs.
This exchange does not reflect professional experience with diplomatic negotiations.

In the words of President Reagan: “Trust, but verify.”