Between the economic crisis and the turn of events in the U.S., a new era is dawning. We can no longer be satisfied with a half-baked Europe waging half-baked politics with half-baked institutions. The election of Barack Obama has left us facing a stark choice: to take up our proper role, or leave the stage of History.
Obama’s hesitation between an exit strategy and a greater engagement of troops will above all convince the Afghans and Pakistanis that he, too, will one day abandon them.