Airstrip One

Rapid Reaction NATO - 18th November 2002, 22.02

UPI are concentrating on the forthcoming NATO conference with their analyses and provide some insight into the role that the US/UK envisage for the alliance. Britain is supporting a rapid reaction force, formed of NATO's special forces that can act globally, with a command of 20,000 men under US leadership. This comes at the expense of the European Rapid Reaction Force which will be confined to latrine duties.

The US believes that NATO could "become another indecisive, bloated U.N." and are unsure whether Britain's kite will fly in the face of European apathy.