Leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization expected their two-day summit in Istanbul to highlight a renewed sense of unity. Coming on the heels of one of the most bitter splits in the alliance's history, anything less would raise serious doubts about the organization's future. And yet they failed. Rather than demonstrating resolve and a sense of shared purpose, this week's meeting will be remembered for the failure of NATO members to agree on Iraq's future or to make a real commitment to aid Afghanistan, despite pleas from that country's leadership. NATO's credibility, if not its survival, could be at stake.

The Istanbul meeting was supposed to be another step in a healing process. It was held during the same month as D-Day celebrations, which commemorated historic sacrifices made on Europe's behalf 60 years ago; a United Nations Security Council vote that facilitated the handover of power in Iraq (the handover itself occurred during the NATO meeting); and a G8 summit that showed NATO leaders understood the need for reconciliation. The NATO summit was designed to provide tangible proof that the alliance was ready to contribute to solving international problems. Instead, it appeared to exacerbate them.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai addressed the meeting, pleading for more troops to help stabilize his country before elections in September. Currently, international troops operate primarily around Kabul, the capital. Security in other regions is deteriorating, and it is increasingly unclear whether Mr. Karzai's government can be said to control most of the country.