Thanks to Peter, a thoughtful reader, a true newhound who sent me a story about a very important development over the weekend on the other side of the pond. The British Army confirmed that its top Afghanistan commander for its 8,000 troops serving there, Maj. Gen. Andrew Mackay, resigned for “personal” reasons.  But according to some reports, he resigned because he felt his troops were not getting the kind of support, both in terms of equipment and strategy, that they need and deserve.

The Independent reported that he was disturbed by a “lack of clear policy.” And the Times piece says that he felt his repeated warnings of the state of the war went unanswered.

(As an aside, Britain’s Sun newspaper reports that Mackay was Prince Harry’s commander during his brief stint of service in Helmand province.)

Mackay presided over the deadliest year for British troops since the war began more than eight years ago, including the death of seven British troops in one week. That deadly July week sparked a nationwide protest over the British involvement in the Afghanistan war.

Mackay is the fifth British commander in Afghanistan in two years.

What does this portend for the rest of the coalition? Many countries – including Germany, Canada and Italy – are facing growing opposition within their populace about the war in Afghanistan. I fear that as the United States contemplates the way ahead in Afghanistan, it may also increasingly have to consider going at it largely on its own.