Pajamas Media

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I think I need a refresher course on why we Americans should be OK with our time, effort, and money being spent on NATO.

Europe is increasingly hostile to individual liberty, freedom of speech, and religion. Its governments seem to be waging war on its own culture and people with insane immigration policies and deference to overtly hostile and contradictory ideologies (islam). It is squelching the democracy by imposing the EU on its people, forfeiting national sovereignties to the Orwellian nightmare that is Brussels. It doesn’t carry its weight anywhere where the military is involved. Indeed, it doesn’t even seem interested in defending itself. It offloads responsibility for that to America, never missing an opportunity to poke America in the eye in the process.

I served in the military during the Cold War and was proud to support NATO. But that was then. It’d a different world now. Why should I want to make it safe for the European political class to wage its suicidal war on Western civilization and values?

Just what are we Americans ‘defending’ anyway?

Since the late 40’s the US has spent 25% or so of our defense budget on behalf of the Europeans, keeping the Russians out and the Germans down, so to speak. If the Europeans don’t need us to do that anymore let’s stop. The freeway near my house needs a lot of work.

Have to say, I agree. The countries of Europe have been acting like a bunch of spoiled teenagers. I actually find myself in agreement with them on one point however. They resent us interfering in their affairs by exerting military influence over them. I resent having to pay for it.

It seems there is an obvious solution to this.

France and Germany bear immense guilt from the past, greatly straining face-to-face relations with the U.S. on defense-related issues. France desperately desires to free itself from it’s cowardly image, but contradicts that desire by its failure to accept leadership roles to resolve Balkan, Iranian and Israeli-Palistinian flashpoints. After starting two world wars, the second of which left her in ruins, Germany offers nothing to defend herself or assist in containing/defusing unrest in the world’s troubled regions. Both nations owe their very existence to America, who shed its blood to free them. But instead of support, France and Germany offer little but arrogance and distain. And these are nations our mainstream media refer to as our allies?

Yeah, me too! Let’s get the hell out of the rest of the world and let it take care of itself. Boy would be have tons of money for the Socialist America Obama and Shillary are going to turn us into.

Don’t blame you for a moment, guys, just hope you don’t pull out yet awhile. Unless we could work out some way of hauling the UK across the pond, Big Moves style. Somewhere just east of Martha’s Vineyard would do fine. The BBC-Guardianistas would sulk a bit, but who cares?
Loved the snap of Zapatero in the naughty chair…

What is missing here, as in most American discussions of her European Allies, is any mention of the Suez Crisis of 1956, and how the U.S. sold France, the UK, and Israel down the river to advance the interests of an Egyptian dictator and his Soviet masters. This was not the first, ( see Eisenhower’s refusal to launch Operation Vulture in support of Dien Bien Phu) nor the last, time that the U.S. showed that, push come to shove, it was willing to push its’ French “Ally” over the side if doing so served the interests of the U.S. State Department.

Americans love to talk big about what we did for the French in 1944 and 1945; but most are unaware of what we did TO the French in 1956 (or 1954). As someone who was fortunate enough to have a good history teacher, and who did learn about the American role at Suez, I can totally understand why the European branch of NATO looks out for themseleves more often than the U.S. would like.

Who needs Europe? Go ahead and merge NATO with the UN. Once the US walks out, it will be just as feeble as the current UN forces.

Nato has long since outlived its usefulness. During the Cold War most European countries at least made some showing that they were serious about providing for their own defense. Now most of them don’t even bother pretending anymore. Europe contributes nothing to the security of the American people. That’s not an alliance, that’s freeloading and charity. Its time to offer the few real allies we actually do have in that part of the world (ie. Britian, Poland and a few others) mutual defense pacts, withdraw America’s security guarantee, withdraw from Nato and bring the boys home.

This is a really good piece.

AMEN! to all of you, except Larry Rasczak. Larry’s problem [like France, Germany & UK's] is that he wants to be able to sit back in his living room and direct American Forces and Resources at his whim. Suez [thank God for Eisenhower] is a lesson that Americans need to learn.

The reason France, Germany [and our dear Brit "cousins" who are cowering at the Basra Airport, while Americans die to take back "Britain's Area of Responsibility" in S. Iraq from Iran] hate GW Bush so much, is that he has refused to let them, EU or UN run American Forces [remember Gallipoli]. Any American President who allows Americans to be “commanded” by anyone else, should be hanged.

The rampant, apparently institutionalized anti-Semitism in Europe really worries me; and the only thing our Old Europe “Allies” have learnt after two world wars, is that they can extort America’s protection while leading their countrymen in virulent anti-Americanism. It’s long past time they either put up or shut up and behave like good, dependent children and deficient, addlebrained adults should. mariana

This is such a narrow analysis. Start crossing the Atlantic and start joining the global debate. This “you are either for us or against us” type of argument just doesn’t hold. You can use almost every single line in your piece and replace it with another name and come up with the same answer. The issue you have to face is that America is not seen as the “leading light” in the world anymore. We would love America to play that role, but Bush has pushed us too far away right now. Analyse the politics of Europe from the perspectives of Europeans and not what you want them to be – rather what they have to be for their own good. They are not there to clean your boots. They are partners not slaves or workers. Treat them as such. Don’t do the bit where you tell them it is your way or the highway.

Before you think I am anti-American. Think again. I am pro-America. I want that America we can look up to so we can point to you and say – see that’s how the world should be. Then we can tackle the oppressors and warlords of the world and give hope to those who don’t have those freedoms. But we just don’t see it right now. Read my piece on the importance of America to the world before you judge me. Ignore the last paragraph as that is about who I would like to be the next President. But it goes for any candidate really. http://angryafrican.net/2008/04/12/note-to-america-the-world-is-watching/

In case no one noticed, Spain just asked the US and NATO to get back their fishing ship hijacked by Somali pirates.

What would they say if the US said: Huh?

The US with others has been patroling this area for over a year, with some success.

The French had a similar incident last week, gave ransom, and then caught the pirates with ransom fleeing back to port.

Im British/English, Germany and france continue to take the road of Anti-America so do most of Europe.
But remember America comes over to Europe Expecting European nations to worship them and we dont like it you talk as if we cant even defend our self (eg Britian is the second most powerful nation on earth and the USA dosent even acknolage that)European nations know how to defend them self and if they dont what to go to Iraq or afgan then let them, why should they Fight USA and UK wars?
Britian (UK) is neather pro or Anti America, the UK just sees the USA as our brethren or family, the UK and USA forigen policy is exactly the same both our goverments have the same priorities thats why the UK is currenty in Iraq and Afgan, not because the UK is the USA’s puppet.

But Even the UK hates it when the USA come to Europe and try to walk all over us because you think you have the right because you ’say’ you saved us,, NO usa saved a few nations eg Poland and france. But you didnt save them by your self Britian and Russia took the Brunt of the war and we saved Europe too! 3 ,3 nations saved Europe. Russia, Britian and USA.

lol german troops never even landed in Britian, and hitler lost his first battle against Britian in the battle of britian, and after He lost to us Hitler never tryed to invade us again.

Any way lets get back to the Subject at hand, USA causes Ant -American emotians in Europe, because you put us down and walk all over us.

But UK is still your ally and you can trust us, heck no other military on earth could deafeat britian apart from the USA, top 2 most powerful nations and we are family nice yes?