It's time for allies to shoulder more of defense burden

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | Februari 15 2003 | THOMAS ROESER

[knighthawk]

More than 50 years ago, the United States hosted a great internal debate about our responsibilities to deter world aggression. The issue was NATO, which pledged all member nations to come to the aid of one who was attacked. Republican Sen. Robert Taft said it would be an incitement to future wars. He was wrong. We joined NATO and became the point of its spear to ward off aggression. It proved a solid bulwark against the possibility of Red tanks pushing through Germany on the way to France. NATO proved indispensable for warding off aggression. But that was then.

Now NATO member Turkey has agreed to allow U.S. troops to be based within its borders for the possible war against Iraq. But Turkey, which borders Iraq, may well be vulnerable to Iraqi Scud missiles and other weapons of mass destruction. Turkey called on its fellow member nations for defense. It was turned down by France and Germany. Thus the United States will have to round up a coalition of nations to defend Turkey--in short, to do NATO's job.

This calls into question why the United States should support NATO at all. Secretary of State Colin Powell has condemned its reluctance and has asked it to reconsider. The Baghdad newspaper Babil is ecstatic that the United States has been rebuffed. It justifies Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's critique that France, Germany and Belgium represent the ''old Europe,'' a Europe that is no longer willing to face up to the threat of aggression.

Gratitude is in short supply from some of the original partners. We saved France and Belgium in two bloody world wars and overthrew one of the worst dictators to give Germany a democratic future. We have a right to expect support against another threat to world peace, but we have been shoddily treated by our so-called allies.

It goes without saying that we would be better off building a new coalition of partners who see the Iraqi threat as we do. If France, Germany and Belgium hold fast to their position, we should terminate our agreement and build a new vital group of military partners.

Already within Germany, critics of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder are assailing him for having gained his re-election victory at too great a cost. He ran on a shoddy, anti-U.S. platform, vowing no help in meeting Iraq's threat. One opponent, Edmund Stoiber, has charged that Schroeder has caused a widespread disillusionment of Germany for flying the flag of neutralism in an effort that will become a great moral cause. And Angela Merkel, who leads the Christian Democrats, has said that were she in power, Germany would be in support of the United States.

So by all means, if there is no change of heart from France and Germany, we should withdraw from NATO. And we should fully consider the recommendation of Marine Gen. James Jones. He has called for a phasing out of the huge army garrisons now in Germany, replacing them with lighter units that can be shifted more easily throughout Europe. There are 100,000 U.S. troops in Germany who should be sent to other regions of the continent--to Poland, Hungary or Turkey--where they would stabilize areas of the Balkans and Middle East. There are 75,000 military dependents who shore up the German economy. Some say they should be sent home. Lighter, more flexible army units would cut the costs to our taxpayers.

By sending troops to other areas of Europe, we would allow the Germans and French to take greater steps to defend themselves, a new experience for them. Mutual security still stands as a concept. It's just that changing times require new methods and more vigorous allies.

After all, 50-plus years defending the French and Germans is long enough. It's time they did their own policing.

[knighthawk]

Europe-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[Wphile]

After all, 50-plus years defending the French and Germans is long enough. It's time they did their own policing.

No kidding. Move our troops to Poland, Turkey and Italy. Let the French and Germans defend themselves.

[americanbychoice]

What Allies?

[demlosers]

Gee, I wonder if the United States returns to isolationist policies were would the world be then? I'd predict much of the world would return to wars after the U.S. pulls their defenses umbrella away. What would happen to the European socialist utopia? It would all disappear after few short years after reality pop it in the face. Socialism can not exist without protection. They would have to face reality or die.

[conservativecorner]

BUMP!!!

[mr.pink]

What Allies?

The Brits.

[HEY4QDEMS]

I would have to say that we don't need any allies to shoulder any of the burden physically, I think it would be better to charge for our services as we are the ultimate defence presence and they know it.

I can't remember who said it but he said "If the entire world united against the US, you would be a fool to bet against America" and to that I agree 100%.
I do think we should charge the French at least ten times as much as anyone else.

[HEY4QDEMS]

What would happen to the European socialist utopia?

Based on what I am seeing developing in Europe, with Germany and France jockeying for power, I give the great experiment of the "EU" less than ten years before it colapses. There are countries like Poland and Holland that cringe at the thought of German leadership in the EU, and the threat of this happening is fueling a conservative movement not seen in fifty years in these countries.

[glockmeister40]

I'd take our troops out of the old, sclerotic, decaying europe (france, germany, belgum) amd move them to the new, vibrant, free-market, anti-socialist europe (poland, slovakia, hungary, romania, etc). They would welcome our troops and it would be cheaper to garrison them there.

[AndyJackson]

I agree to putting the French, Germans, Belgians, NATO-crats and the UN on a short schedule to military freedom measured in a time frame of about 1 year with the first obvious, significant, deliberate steps towards American demobilization from those zones to occur tomorrow. I say one year, just in case they decide to change their minds about some things - you know, like the rebelious teenager being shown where to get a job and presented with a bill for room and board.

But if our "allies shouldering more of the defense burden" is just another way of saying this isn't our job unless France and Germany join in, then I ain't swallowing that hook.

[cwb]

What I despise about these two countries (France/Germany) is the way they tout the superiority of their social democracies. They think they're so much more enlightened because of their "social" systems. Do they have any idea that the only reason they have the ability to provide such social securities to their people is because the US people have provied for their self-defense for the last 50 years. Let's see what happens to their precious social systems once they have to provide and allocate new revenue for their own national security.

These two countries have suffered from high unemployment (10%) for years...even during the economic boom. It certainly isn't going to get any better if we decide to remove 100,000+ consumers from within their borders. I don't think they appreciate how good they've had it over the years

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

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[Dog Gone]

There's no need to have troops in Germany at all. Nobody is going to attack Germany.

It's handy to have some troops in Europe, but the location isn't critical. There are plenty of countries where they would be welcome.

[Joe Hadenuf]

No kidding. Move our troops to Poland, Turkey and Italy. Let the French and Germans defend themselves.

Why, it's probably only a matter of time until they hate us too.

I say bring ALL of our troops home and tell the communist at the UN and Europe and the rest to go to hell. It's about time we put America and our own people first and protect our own borders.

Fortress America? I am all for it!

[dfwgator]

I give the great experiment of the "EU" less than ten years before it colapses.

I agree. The current EU consists of a bunch of anti-semitic slavophobes. The Germans only want Poland in the EU because then Germans can buy up all the land in Silesia and Pomerania and regain the land they lost in 1945 without firing a shot. The Poles will NEVER allow that to happen.