This introductory chapter demonstrates that operating in a multilateral military effort is challenging. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) would be more effective if every contingent had no politically imposed restrictions, but that is not to say that the alliance or any multilateral effort is utterly ineffective and doomed to fail. Caveats, red cards, intrusive oversight, selection of officers, and incentives all matter in shaping how the contingents operate. These are political impediments to countries operating together on the battlefield. Countries will vary systematically in how much they can contribute to the fight, wherever the fight happens to be. These dynamics will become increasingly problematic over the next several years, as most NATO countries (and many others) will be cutting defense spending due to various fiscal crises and associated budget constraints.