Why France needs NATO to succed in Afghanistan

The Financial Times on Britain, France, and NATO:

Transatlantic tensions 

...So the prospect of a Prime Minister Cameron in Britain and a President Sarkozy in France holds out the possibility of some European convergence on policy towards the US and a steadier transatlantic relationship, particularly with a post-Bush White House. Yet this could be entirely upset if a resurgent Taliban were to force Nato to retreat from Afghanistan. For Nato's credibility rides on success there. Should the alliance fail, the US is likely to turn instead to coalitions of the willing for future endeavours. Any French gloating at the US abandoning Nato would also be misplaced. For failure in Afghanistan would largely stem from Nato's European members not pulling together equally to provide sufficient troops. This is causing rising tension, not just between Europe and the US, but between Europeans themselves.

That would be a lousy foundation even for the sort of post-Nato security organisation in Europe that Paris long advocated.