Coalition of the Willing

I've mentioned in the past that although I can and do get annoyed with allies who won't help us in Iraq, I can't just condemn them. We should not force allies to fight with us--that just builds resentment in the ally for being compelled to fight and contempt in us for their grudging help.

I've said, let our allies determine where and by how much they will help us willingly.

Well, Spain, which famously skedaddled from Iraq after the 11-M attack on Madrid's trains, will send troops to Lebanon:

Spain's Cabinet on Friday approved sending 1,100 troops to the expanded U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon, calling it a "legitimate" mission to help maintain peace in the region.

Ok, I could have done without the dig at Iraq with that "legitimate" crack, but I'm willing to look the other way as long as Spain is contributing somewhere. And yes, Spain does help in Afghanistan, so I haven't forgotten that help.

But it just seems really preposterous to insist that the fight against jihadis around the globe is legitimate in some places but not in others. Really, Spain, the threat from Islamists is greater than just to your Parsley Islands. Remember, Osama and his ilk want Spain itself "back." You all are just reverts living on lost territories as far as the jihadis are concerned.

So welcome back into the coalition of the little more willing, Spain. Nice to have you aboard on another front. The Parsley Islands, Melilla, Afghanistan, Spain itself, and now Lebanon are all legitimate fronts in the war as far as Madrid is concerned. That is progress, at least.