Kerry specifically has stated that he would not need "permission" from anyone else to defend us, what the statement means is quite simple: If we follow international law and act reasonably, (like we did going into Afghanistan), our allies will back us all the way. When we illegally and unilaterally invade someone, it obviously isn't going to pass the "smell test" w/ the rest of the world. Or the majority of Americans.
That is not the same as "asking foreign countries' permission" before acting, but then you already knew that.
