Posted on 08/14/2004 10:17:04 AM PDT by UnklGene
Dusting off tagline for appropriate application.........
I think this is another perfect example of how much GWB is misunderestimated. This is a master stroke on multiple fronts. It wins political points, raises morale in the military, and I think most importantly keeps us from being spread too thin.
IMHO, we need to remain a legitimate threat to Iran to keep them under control. But I think even more important than that is to free up forces to keep USSR and China from taking advantage of us. I know the cold war is technically over, but Putin is inching closer & closer to being an ex-ally, and China is just waiting for us to be spread too thin to help Taiwan out.
Everything we would need to do to North Korea can be done from the sea. The Navy is how the United States projects its power. Ground troops in South Korea are sacrificial lambs.
Bring em home Dubya.
Sniff, sniff...
Its fun over here in Germany.
I have a view across a meadow up to a small castle sitting on top of a hill when I look out my kitchen, living room and bedroom windows.
And to think, geopolitical concerns come before my personal happiness....
It is time to read the writing on the wall: The EU means to rival us as a strategic power in time. It is best that we realize that now, cease our wishful thinking that we can cajole them into remaining a "junior partner," or for that matter a partner in any true sense of the word, and prepare for the conflicts that must surely come. Certainly we must not subsidize them by undertaking the defense of their homeland whilst they earnestly and ferociously compete with us in the economic, scientific and technological realms. It would clear the air - or at least the rhetoric - if they too clearly saw the true cost of a strategic rivalry with the USA. They seem to think that they can have it both ways.
Both internally and in the world at large, the peoples of the EU are in for a mild shock or two should they actually try to realize their designs for world power. They think that it is easy - really just a matter of more monies, more central control, of just more taxes. Why if those crude, stupid Americicans can do it well just wait until we superior, sophisicated, nuanced Europeans get a crack at it again. We will show those Yanks whatfore!
Brother, are the Europeans in for a surprise! They think that they are still the same Europeans that created the great, golden Europe that we all admire. They think that they can recreate and indeed surpass the great Europe of the 18th and 19th centuries. But that Europe is gone, gone from history as a active, living, vital and creative force. They killed if off themselves almost a hundred years ago. It is not coming back. They shall have to start from scratch. The European does not yet see that.
Four things that could fall out of this could richly amuse Americans:
First, the Euros will find that when the cease to merely nip at the heels of the USA and actually try to act on the world stage that the other peoples of the world will not be all that happy with them. The smug self assuredness and the pompous self importance will quickly melt away once the put armies in the field and they start hearing the cries of "EUro Go Home."
Second, when the do face the real struggle of becoming a true world power we American might actually get some real respect out of the Euros: they may discover that it is not so easy after all.
Third, they think that we are competing as hard with them as they are with us. They will have another thought when we stop pulling punches and go at them full bore as a potential adversary. Other have made this mistake before much to their later regret. Forth, there is real possibility is that they will get themselves in a conflict where the either grossly miscalculate ir outright lose and then find themselves having to ask us to yet again bail them out. Imagine the pleasure we shall have in refusing them?
In line all of this we next need to revisit our strategic policies toward "Old Europe" do we really want to place Germany under our nuclear umbrella? Do we really want to ransom Berlin with New York? Certainly they will not do that for us.
Things should get interesting for the EU if we were to withdraw that guarantee. Would Russia allow a nuclear Germany? Would Eastern Europe? If not then would all of the EU allow France (and perhaps the UK) to provide the nuclear shield? What would our response be to a strategic buildup in the EU?
Interesting times...
We must turn from Europe and build our own unique civilization, build a truly American one. Learn from the past, certainly; preserve what is best in our European heritage and lineage, absolutely. All of this is well and good - we should now realize, however, that Europe has little left to teach us or the broader world at large and that what is does teach is more of an cautionary example than anything otherwise.
We must make our own way. It will be a chalange. It will be wonderful. It will change history.
BRAVO to President Bush and his Cabinet!
United we stand. Divided we Fall.
As far as Europe, as one French nuance goes, Let Them Eat Cake!
My thoughts, exactly!
As well as cheap cigarettes and liquor.
Too bad we don't have a larger military presence in France; I'd love to watch the newsclips of US dollars marching out of Frogland.
Buh-bye, Europe. Let's see how much you hate the U.S., now that bazillions of dollars won't be poured into your economies through stationed U.S. military and the family and friends who visit them.
Those 37,000 troops are hostage to a North Korea with nukes. Getting them out of there should be a priority. If South Korea with its industrial and financial strength cannot defend itself from a North Korean conventional attack then our 37,000 troopers will not add much to their effort and their presence will be an impetus for the irrational North Korean leader(s) to go nuclear.Besides I am certain that we could find very useful assignments for 2ID and its supporting units.
That is long overdue, and appropriate. I also believe that after being elected another 4 yrs, President Bush, and his cabinet will create a NEW NATO, with our allies in Iraq. Since many of those supported our troops, France has made life misrable for them. D. Rumsfeld has mentioned about 1 yrs ago, that we 'Could' create a NEW Nato Headquarters, with members other than the OLD EUROPE. I think, the time has come - restructering our Military, etc
On the surface, this is really, really hot...
I'm not fond of the Iraqi leadership and it's Islamicist Constitution, especially in light of yet *ANOTHER* catastrohic US/Iraqi military blunder in Najaf, emboldening, yet again, the enemy.
It has been going around from different sources for a few days now...And I say GOOD...just wish we would pull out of Old Europe all together
Gerhard Schroeder, go f@%# yourself...
Sincerely,
Dubya
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