PrintJanuary 13, 2007
Why has Europe abandoned America, as well?
Richard Baehr writes a very thoughtful piece today, entitled "Why Europe Abandoned Israel." It is an important read, and I would only suggestion a second question: Why, after America protected Europe since the beginning of NATO in 1948, has Europe simply walked away from the War on Terror? (With the exception of Tony Blair's UK, for which Blair has paid a huge political price in his own party). On paper, NATO is a mutual defense treaty - if any member is attacked, all will respond in a unified fashion.
The Euroresponse when America was attacked on 9/11 was beyond pathetic. Not just in Iraq, which European media famously claim is an overreach in response to 9/11. But even in Afghanistan, which Europe acknowledges to be the home of the 9/11 attackers, the Taliban and Al Qaida. German soldiers were sent to Afghanistan at one point with explicit instructions not to fight anybody. The Dutch are pretending to have a separate peace with the enemy, to show us how to be loved. The French... but I repeat myself, as Mark Twain once wrote. So much for NATO's mutual defense treaty.
Of course the Soviet danger to Europe has receded. Of course Europe is governed by Socialists, who didn't like to see the USSR crumble and are taking psychic revenge on America. Of course Europe suffers from international penis envy. Of course, of course, of course. But none of it means more than fly poop on the windscreen of history.
So why doesn't America walk away from Europe? Why is is the American Navy in the Persian Gulf to protect Europe's oil supply? There is a good and sufficient strategic reason. First, all world wars, including the Cold War, started there. Second, we don't believe we can trust them on their own. Europe dependent on us is a pain in the rear, but it is marginally better than Europe actively supporting our enemies, which they would happily do if we didn't buy their support with our defense dollars. And so the myth of the unified West remains --- we subsidize their EuroDisney welfare state, and everybody is happy. More or less.
But let's not pretend they are allies. Even Britain is pervaded with America-hating socialists (and envy-ridden Tories), and are increasingly being sucked into the neo-imperial EU, run by France with German revanchist backing.
Never forget: People can be friends. Nations only have allies of convenience. When circumstances change, so do alliances. Europe will allow us to defend it, and abuse us loudly in the process, perhaps because deep down they understand why the world doesn't trust them --- including other Europeans. The British have more of a senses of kinship with the United States and the Anglosphere, but it is rapidly trying to become more like the Continent.
When Mark Steyn wrote America Alone, he meant that title. Get used to it.
