Just to remind people, but in the aftermath of 911, the other NATO nations, including France, invoked Article 5 of the NATO Treaty and offered America help.
And America said, "No, we don't want your help".
In this ATL, it might be a little harder for America to either decline or insist europe stay out of its way. If Afganistan did go ahead as a NATO operation, albeit one lead and dominated by America, then you're going to have a lot more soldiers on the ground. The invasion of Iraq will also be much more problamatic for Bush et all, because instead of only Britain advising caution, all the other (saner) members of NATO will be advising the same thing. Hans Blix will probably be given time to complete his inspection (with frantic Iraqi cooperation) and Iraq might not even happen. At least until the Arab Spring takes care of the problem 10 years later.
With a larger military in Afghanistan, no second war in Iraq, and 5 nuclear nations breathing down Pakistan's neck (including Russia - even if the last is comitted elsewhere) the war in Afghanistan might have gone very differently. Likely more squabbling, but also likely more success.
And we might have finally learned how the Leclerc tank functions in a modern combat enviroment. :
And America said, "No, we don't want your help".
In this ATL, it might be a little harder for America to either decline or insist europe stay out of its way. If Afganistan did go ahead as a NATO operation, albeit one lead and dominated by America, then you're going to have a lot more soldiers on the ground. The invasion of Iraq will also be much more problamatic for Bush et all, because instead of only Britain advising caution, all the other (saner) members of NATO will be advising the same thing. Hans Blix will probably be given time to complete his inspection (with frantic Iraqi cooperation) and Iraq might not even happen. At least until the Arab Spring takes care of the problem 10 years later.
With a larger military in Afghanistan, no second war in Iraq, and 5 nuclear nations breathing down Pakistan's neck (including Russia - even if the last is comitted elsewhere) the war in Afghanistan might have gone very differently. Likely more squabbling, but also likely more success.
And we might have finally learned how the Leclerc tank functions in a modern combat enviroment. :
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