Is Nato working ? ??

Will the reluctance of some members to fight combat missions in Afghanistan lead to a two speed alliance? How strong is Nato if it can't share the burden? Is a Cold War alliance relevant to the modern world?

The US, UK and Canada are critical of some Nato allies like France and Germany for not having combat troops in Afghanistan.

The Nato Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and President Bush have met at the White House. They reaffirmed their long-term commitment to the Nato mission.

The two men also spoke about US plans for a missile shield, Kosovo and the training of security forces in the Balkans and Iraq.

Is the Nato alliance united enough? How can collective security work if the fighting is not done by all members? Is there a need for Nato? Should it be disbanded and replaced by something else?