CONCERN IN BRITAIN - AT 8:28 A.M. ET:  More and more reports pour in describing concern, even on the sane European left, about Obama's wobbly, vague, inconsistent, and wimpish foreign policy.  Right now the president, in between trips to Copenhagen and golf outings here, is presumably considering his next move in Afghanistan.  The British foreign secretary has some advice for Mr. Obama, and it is blunt:

David Miliband urged President Obama to embrace a renewed “hearts and minds” strategy in Afghanistan as ministers indicated that they would not send more British troops unless the US adopted such an approach.

That is part of the crisis we face.  Other countries are not going to stick their necks out unless we lead.  And this president isn't much of a leader.

The Foreign Secretary did not mention America by name but called on every government in the coalition to back troops, aid workers and diplomats in support of a clear plan. “We came into this together. We see it through — together,” he told the Labour conference in Brighton.

His words reflect a growing concern in the Government over Mr Obama’s apparent reluctance to garner political consent for a troop “surge”, which commanders say is needed to build up the Afghan Army and defeat the Taleban insurgency. General Stanley McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, wants a revamped counter-insurgency — more forces on the ground engaging civilians and persuading the Taleban to switch sides — as opposed to a counter-terrorism strategy focused on al-Qaeda — reducing troop numbers and attacking militants mostly with drone missile strikes.

French President Sarkozy essentially laughed at President Obama last week.  Now the British foreign secretary in a leftist Labour government is laying it on the line.  And, from the other side in British politics, get this:

Last night, David Cameron said that that the first thing he would do if elected prime minister would be to form a war cabinet. He said that it would comprise his Foreign Secretary, Chancellor, Defence Secretary, Home Secretary and the heads of the Armed Forces, MI6 and MI5.

COMMENT:  Britain is serious, France is serious.  British conservatives talk of a war cabinet. 

And Barack Hussein Obama Jr.?  He's in Copenhagen boosting Chicago's affinity for pole vaulting.  Or is it poll vaulting.

October 2, 2009