Victor Davis Hanson Ping !
Posted on 06/18/2004 6:10:03 AM PDT by Tolik
Let Europe be Europe
You won’t be our friends? Fine, protect yourselves and at least be neutral.
The man is a true treasure, like Peggy Noonan and Mark Steyn. I eagerly anticipate each column...
Unfortunately for us, Europe can't protect itself, and if they go too far under, it hurts our interests, too. They also won't stay neutral because some of those countries (especially France) are too arrogant to admit that they have ceased to be relevant and have not been anything approaching a superpower for a really long time.
If, for example France falls to muslim terrorists, what happens to their nuclear weapons, Mr. Hansen?
He's really found his voice these last few months...writing is crisper, sharper..he's like a Steyn with far less humor..( that's meant as a compliment)
I think in this statement VDH makes the case for leaving our garrisons in place. European culture has an innate desire to rule the world. They simply think it is their right. That is the true source of their hatred of us. We have put down the Spanish, German, and Russian empires.
In some ways I like our boys their. It keeps a knife at their throats.
MDP
Heck, I'm still taking French lessons (don't ask why, I like my teacher, he's a friend) but now I'm starting to hope that some Islamofascists hijack an Air France 747 and fly it into the Eiffel Tower and drop the sucker over the Seine.
THAT would wake up the Euro chickens.
So what's your point?
There's precious little we could do about that if it were to happen today. American troops are not based on French soil, and those in Germany are not numerous enough to forcibly enter France to secure those weapons.
The blade at the throat is way to dull and fragile. The few combat troops we have there are hampered by many factors in their host country communities, such as: supply lines dependent on Euro ports, airstrips and roads, 2/3's of the U.S. forces are support personnel, military families are trapped in the communities, and the forces' original commitment was to merely be a detaining mission for the Soviet juggernaut (some called them canon fodder).
In short, Mr. Hanson is more correct than he lets on in the loss of political practicality of keeping our troops in old Europe.
You're right, and I think European governments are fully aware of this. And, it frees them to placate their ever growing Muslim populations; a useless effort to avoid being a terrorist target.
Magnificent analysis. Right now we are supporting their socialist pipe dreams by picking up their tab for defense. They would like us better if they were on their own--and needed our help in a pinch.
Nonsense. The French are plenty capable of dealing with potential terrorists.
You make a good point. Our presence in Europe is largely symbolic. It makes Europeans feel secure. Take away that sense of security and they would begin sucking up to us the way they usually do when they want something bad. Right now we are getting nothing in return for our protection. Let them pay for it--with more amicable relations.
They're having enough trouble over head scarves lately that I question your apparent confidence.
That there is a difference between pulling out our troops (which I support) and wilfully letting Europe fall.
I don't think that VDH was suggesting that we let "Europe fall". I think that he is merely suggesting that we recognize that European & US interests are diverging and we need to accept that new reality.
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