NATO retreats from establishment of rapid-reaction force - International Herald Tribune

After months of telegraphing the difficulties of having non-troop contributing nations to shoulder the costs of deployments in Afghanistan, it is perhaps little surprising that NATO member-states have sunk the dream of a NATO Response Force.

"NATO has a problem that affects the EU as well. There are simply not enough troops. NATO is asking member states to sign up to the Response Force at a time when more troops are needed for Afghanistan. NATO has hit a ceiling. The Response Force is a luxury member states cannot afford."

Politics aside, it seems a sad ending that undermines efforts to bolster the Responsibility to Protect and support sustainable peacebuilding and peace support operations. If NATO member-states can't afford this 'luxury', who can?