American commanders had found the process of waging war by consensus in the Balkans in the 1990s thoroughly exasperating and were in no mood to repeat that frustrating experience as they prepared a military strike against the Taliban.

Only the British were allowed to take part in the bombing campaign that eventually led to the overthrow of the Taliban and their al-Qaida allies.

Six years on, the shortcomings of trying to fight an effective campaign through a coalition of almost 40 countries are all too evident.

The Dutch are threatening to pull out their 1,600 troops when their mandate ends next August, unless other countries pull their weight. It is a familiar complaint from other countries whose troops are bearing the brunt of the fighting - the US, Britain and Canada.

Nato diplomats fear a Dutch pullout could influence others, starting with the Canadians, who must decide by 2009 whether to extend the mandate of their 1,700 troops in the south of the country. The Canadians have taken particularly heavy casualties in clashes with the Taliban. Continued...