NATO members will face hard choices about what is possible within the next half decade. Two proposals could be helpful. The Alliance-wide strategic concept needs to more fully factor in means. Should Smart Defence prove effective, it could merit a place in the published concept rather than leaving the document vague on how things are to be paid for. The other proposal is reigning in Alliance ambitions as articulated, for instance, in the Lisbon summit. Decisions must be made on how to fund expanded reach beyond NATO borders and additional missions. Economic realities must be considered and the Secretary General should include his more clearly defined Smart Defence concepts in the published NATO strategy. |