Timid EU must reckon with US forevermore

[LarreeMP3]

Timid EU must reckon with US forevermore

By William Shawcross

April 14, 2003

Body Politic



IRAQ is only part of the crisis between Europe and the US. Europe's problem with the US is to do with power: the US has power and is, not surprisingly, inclined to use it. European states now have very little power. Their inability to act seems to have led many of them to an abhorrence of action.



During the Cold War, the US and Europe had a common project – the containment of the USSR. It was a long and exhausting war but it succeeded and the Soviet Union collapsed. The US instantly emerged as infinitely the strongest power in the world, no longer constrained by the USSR, and benefiting from huge technological advances.



European countries have spent the past two decades deliberately shedding sovereignty. This is an idea that is completely alien to the US, particularly since the September 11 terror attacks. Many European politicians now prefer a system of internationally agreed rules that treat all nations as more or less equal.



That is understandable enough. Europeans have no alternative. We are weak and we do not wish to make the sacrifices to be stronger. And, in truth, whatever sacrifices we made, we could never, even united, match the power of the US. By contrast, US President George W. Bush's foreign policy after September 11 is now proactive.



It is fashionable not just on the Left, but generally among the European intelligentsia, to decry Bush as an idiot. This is not wise. Bush is a formidable politician who constantly defies the predictions of those who think they are smarter than he is; formidable and radical.



The Bush administration is strongly influenced by a small group of neo-conservatives – neo-cons for short – whose intellectual origins were in the Democratic Party, on the Left. One of the most subtle of them is Paul Wolfowitz, the Deputy Secretary of Defence, who has argued quite rightly for more than a decade for the removal of Saddam Hussein.



They tend to believe that we live in a special moment of history, one that is characterised above all by the US's unparalleled military power and the opportunity to expand the boundaries of democracy around the world. This is the time for a grand strategy to assert Pax Americana. This is the decisive decade in human liberty.



They are wary of permanent alliances and are attracted to bold geopolitical moves for the expansion of American values. They are not wedded to stability; they are not afraid of challenging the status quo. Shockingly, in my view, French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder made clear that they much preferred the status quo in Iraq, horrific and dangerous though it was.



A few weeks ago I talked in Washington with one of the leading neo-cons. He argued rather persuasively that it is the EU, not the US, that is isolationist. He thought that Europeans do not care about the rest of the world as long as they win the contracts and get some respite from threats of terrorist attack. Mr Chirac's disgraceful policy on Iraq is governed by two rationales – cupidity and the desire to hobble the US.



But beyond Iraq, perhaps this has been a disaster waiting to happen since the end of the Cold War. In the early 1990s, the EU and the US split and dithered over how to deal with the fall of Yugoslavia and the consequent conflicts in the Balkans. At one time this seemed to threaten NATO. One EU dignitary declared that the hour of Europe had come but it went – without Europe distinguishing itself. In the Rwanda genocide of 1994, the Clinton administration turned away, and Europe was unable to act: 800,000 people were murdered.



In the Balkans, all Europe did was to dump the crisis on the UN, whose peacekeepers did indeed save many lives. But the member states refused to give the UN secretariat adequate resources, and the UN's deployment reached its nadir in the (northern) summer of 1995 when Dutch peacekeepers watched as the Serbs murdered 7000 Muslim men in Srebrenica.



At that point the US acted, as only the US could. The conflicts were ended when finally the Clinton administration did come in and apply force.



Then came Kosovo. As in the case of Iraq, the fighting was done without a Security Council resolution, because the Russians made clear that they would veto it. But on that occasion France and Germany did not complain that the venture was illegal.



NATO's successful action exposed serious tensions in the alliance, because the commitment of US power was so much greater than that of its partners. There was just no other way – the Europeans had none of those resources. In all, about 200,000 people may have died in the Balkans on Europe's watch. It was the US that stopped this bloodshed.



In 2001, it was only the US that could liberate Afghanistan from the Taliban. The results in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan today are not perfect. But all those countries are better off than they were, and only the US could make those changes. American participation is essential to the world. American power is often the only thing that stands between civility and genocide, order and mayhem.



I do not want to pretend that everything the US has done has been right. The manner and methods of this administration sometimes are counterproductive. But that is not grounds for the shameless attack on the US and its dilemmas launched by Chirac and Schroder.



You don't have to love Bush but, I repeat, do not make the mistake of underestimating him. You do not have to accept the neo-conservative doctrine in toto, although much of it is very optimistic and attractive – particularly to the Iraqi people at this moment. The point is that the US is the only country that has the capability to defend and expand the liberal democratic world. It is a vital force for progress, in the Islamic world as much as anywhere else. Europe can never replace the US. And if it tries to hobble it, Europe will undermine, if not destroy, its own security.



This is based on the 2003 Harkness Lecture, delivered at Kings College, London. The full text is available at www.cps.org.uk

[MIKE BURN]

(Today in Athens/Greece)

[RonOnGuitar]

Interesting article, Larree - reminded me of this thoughtful op-ed writing:





The World's American Hypocrisy

Apr 11, 2003



In the midst of all the world’s turmoil – September 11, the subsequent war on terror, the standoff with North Korea, and the operation in Iraq – there are undercurrents, feelings, and behaviors, which lay beneath the surface of world events. Stories that are playing themselves out on our television screens today had their start decades ago, and relationships between countries are either helped or hindered by the deep-seated prejudices, biases, and preconceptions that each country holds for another.



The world’s perception of America has always been good conversation material, but never more so than now. Many countries see us as an international bully, as a big brother, or as an international policeman. They constantly second-guess America’s motives for everything we do. They see us this way no matter who our leaders may be or what events we are currently engaged in on the world’s stage.



Is that the truth?



America isn’t perfect. Although we will never stop striving for it, there is no war that we will engage in that will be perfectly free of errors and mistakes. There is no election that we will hold (and there has never been an election yet) that will be completely free of voter error and fraud. It may be on the smallest scale; still, there will always be mistakes.



On the other hand, America is not the great Satan. We really do have the best intentions for the world. We feel that the country that we live in is the greatest in the world, and that the rest of the world could benefit from democracy as much as we have. We know that there are evil people in the world; we also realize that there are evil people in our own country.



However, just because we aren’t perfect doesn’t mean that the world is correct in their assumptions about us. Although they accuse us of being arrogant, they encourage our arrogance by begging for our approval. If they really don’t like us, and they really want us to go away and leave them alone, there are a few things that they could do to show us their feelings.



First, don’t expect America to wash the world free of every evil dictator in the world. Most countries want, need, and beg for our help when confronted with any sort of problem; yet, invariably, when we do so, we are stabbed in the back or bashed behind closed doors by the other governments involved. So, it would be easier on everyone involved if you would just take care of your own problems, your own self-defense, and your own people.



Second, stop asking for and expecting our money. You want our funds for every possible use, yet when we offer it to you with the expectation of something in return, you act as though we have offended you, as though because we are the richest nation in the world means that we should just give you our money without a second glance. You think that we owe you something because we are so rich – when in reality, you owe us more than you could ever repay.



As a matter of fact, you owe us more than we would ever ask you to repay.



Third, stop expecting us to support everything that you do and then throwing a fit if we don’t. We don’t happen to like the Kyoto protocol, so we aren’t going to sign it. We didn’t tell you not to, we just said that we weren’t. We don’t like the International Criminal Court; therefore, we aren’t going to take part in it. We didn’t tell you not to, we just said that we will not. If you really think that we’re so evil, then stop craving and expecting our stamp of approval on everything that you do.



Now, all these things are just suggestions, and they are absolutely and completely impossible to actually implement, as everyone who is reading this knows. I write these things only to make a point, to show the truth.



The truth is this:



The rest of the world can’t live without us, because they need our economy, our exports, our money, our military, and, ultimately, our approval. We lend legitimacy to European endeavors – thus, when we do not join in their actions we are labeled as isolationists. They need us, much more than we need them.



It may sound horribly arrogant, and arrogant it may be, but it is the truth.



To deny it is hypocrisy.



www.washingtondispatch.co...5052.shtml



Ron

[LarreeMP3]

Right on!

[Seismic Anamoly]

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The rest of the world can’t live without us, because they need our economy, our exports, our money, our military, and, ultimately, our approval.

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[LarreeMP3]

All of those stupid Athenians are gonna be hating us Americans even more when they don't have all of us American tourists spending our money at their upcoming olympic games. I won't even watch it on TV!

[Seismic Anamoly]

What follows is a rough draft of a section of the planned Presidential Address

to be given by President Bush on July 4, 2003.



"My fellow Americans:



As you all know, the defeat of Iraq's regime has been completed.

A new Iraqi government has been established and appears to be stable.

Her people have been liberated from Fascism.



Our mission in Iraq is complete.



This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American

forces from Iraq. This action will be complete within 30 days.



It is now time to begin restructuring of policy.



Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries

which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is

short. The United Kingdom, Australia, Spain, Bulgaria, and Poland are some of the

countries listed there.



The other list contains everyone not on the first list. Many of the

world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be

distributing copies of both lists later this evening.



Let me start by saying that effective immediately, with Congress' help, foreign aid to those

nations on List Two ceases here and now. The money

saved during the first year alone will pay for the costs of

the war against Fascism.



The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world

hell-holes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.



Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France.



In the out years, together with Congress, I will work to re-direct this

money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home.



I am ordering the immediate withdrawal of all US forces from Kuwait,

Saudi Arabia, and all other Middle Eastern nations. Solve your own problems.

Need help? Call Germany or China.



On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we

will hunt you down and eliminate you from the

face of the earth. Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try

France or Russia.



Regarding the nation of Israel, I have this to say. It seems like

everybody has forgotten what happened to European Jewry during the 1930s

and World War II. Our nation will never permit the destruction of

Israel. No way. Never.



Oh, yes; by the way, we are retiring from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes amis.



I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN

diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid

tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and

crushed. I don't give a damn about whatever treaty pertains to this.

Pay your tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers, and

limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I

love New York.



A special note to our neighbors. Canada is on List Two. Since we are

going to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to

try not pissing us off for a change. Mexico is also on List Two.

Both of these governments need a little attitude

adjustment. So, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty---starting now.



It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens.

Some will accuse us of xenophobia. My response is simple and direct:

if you can play that word in Scrabble, do it as soon as your turn

comes round.



Some will accuse us of isolationism.

I answer them be saying 'right you are'. Nearly a century of trying to

help people live a decent life around the world has only earned us the

undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. Who needs it? WE don't.



It is time to eliminate hunger in America. It is time to eliminate

homelessness in America. We will take care of our own and our friends from now on.



We will develop energy independence. We will restructure our nation for

its' isolationist destiny. We will succeed. Bank on it.



I will be sending legislation to Congress tomorrow proposing the first

actions which that august body should take as we move in a new direction.



To the nations on List One, a final thought; Thank you. We owe you one.



To the nations on List Two, a final thought; Don't call us; we'll call you.





Thank you, good night, and God bless America."

[LarreeMP3]

We should put this on our money!

[Phil Frazier]

"We really do have the best intentions for the world. We feel that the country that we live in is the greatest in the world, and that the rest of the world could benefit from democracy as much as we have. We know that there are evil people in the world; we also realize that there are evil people in our own country."



Yes, America-Good Anyone don't believe that is EVIL.



"The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."



America has been on that road for many years. Now America is within a few steps closer.

[NRKofOver]

Out of our nearly $2 trillion budget, $25 billion goes to foreign aid and $3 billion of that goes to Israel in the form of direct charity. And even more interestingly is that the majority of 'foreign aid' goes to US companies to work in other nations and those companies are profitable, they profit from their 'aid'.



Read sometimes, it's good for you.

Read all about ME!

[Seismic Anamoly]

Quote:

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Read sometimes, it's good for you.

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May be; may be.

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In raw dollars the United States is now the world’s top donor of economic aid, although for more than a decade it was second to Japan, which is far smaller and has been beset by economic woes.

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Hmmmm...closing that faucet should prove to be extremely entertaining. Care for a Cold One?