Europeans Are Not Cowards. It's That We Know War.

The International Herald Tribune ^ | January 28, 2004 | Fletcher Crossman

[quidnunc]

Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina – Listening to Richard Perle on the radio recently was a little hard for a European like me. Perle, a former chairman of the Defense Policy Board, stated that European nations "do not have the most courageous of instincts," with the implication that America has to intervene in international affairs because Europeans are afraid to. Perle's comments take place against a chorus of similar sentiments to be heard on America's airwaves in recent months.

An average listener would be forgiven for believing that Europeans are a cowardly bunch of ungrateful wimps, whose anti-American bombast is a merely a cover for their complicity with evil regimes.

It may be true. But as a European myself — I'm from Britain — it doesn't feel true. And I wonder if our cultural disconnect comes from two very different experiences of war.

-snip-

[.cnI redruM]

Quid, we know you and love you, but these non-barf alert posts are getting really hard on my esophagus, Bro.

[Joe Marine 76]

ERRATUM: "...lined with trees?..."

[wizardoz]

I believe it. Europeans are closed-minded, parochial, and defensive... they'd rather be dead than wrong.

[Joe 6-pack]

[Wonder Warthog]

"And stop trying to lump Britain in with Europeans."/"Brits have balls."

Uh, the guy who wrote this Euro-weenie piece "is" a Brit.

[cripplecreek]

if they continue to allow the muslim extremists overrun thier countries they may end up being dead and wrong....again.

[VaBthang4]

I posted this prior to the War.

______________________________________

I am aware of the news today about the French and Germans continuing to test the limits of American resolve where Iraqi disarmament is concerned. When we as Americans see our one time allies making an obvious, desperate almost vicious stand against what to us is a principled purpose, it can be uncomfortable and a motivation to examine ourselves. It can be difficult for us to accept the notion that our European neighbors [and in many respects, lineage] could possibly be so completely incorrect. I mean they are Europeans, right? They have been around quite a few centuries more than we have and are therefore much wiser, correct? They must know something we don’t know. They must see something we don’t see.

Point blank: They don’t.

Their stand against us stems purely from a position of self-protection and an unwillingness to humbly admit their past dealings with Saddam Hussein's Iraq were wrong...and quite possibly...illegal. As to the United Nations. I think we all with open face comprehend their motives. I doubt there is a reasonable Man alive today or in times past that would label the UN a reserve of resolve for freedom and liberty. Theirs is a repository of effeminate confusions and vicious slander intent on defiling truth and sincerity. They are to be dismissed outright and not worthy of consideration when confronting the difficult paths of Mankind.
We have chosen the difficult path against Iraq. The decision is that Iraq must be fully disarmed. If we do not do this now, millions possibly tens of millions will pay for our lack of resolve in the future. That is not vainglory meant to dismay the feeble minded. It is brutal reality meant to shock Men to their senses.

We are all legitimately afraid of War. Courage is doing what has to be done...in the face of legitimate fear. Even with our overwhelming superiority...we still fear the destruction it causes. We fear the innocence it destroys, the youth it steals...but as Americans we must deal with the reality that War....is the way of Man. If the righteous do not wield the sword then the unrighteous will. It is default and no amount of shallow, perfumed discussion can change that.
If we [US and England] do not call the shots...then lesser beings will. If our motives do not determine the outcome...then impure motives will. This is our responsibility. History stands by for our decision...that decision will echo for eternity in one of two places...the halls of righteousness or the depths of treason and wickedness.

We may not walk on water but neither do our enemies and at some point in the course of freedom you draw the line and hold it.
The complete disarmament of Iraq is that line.
We must hold it, right here, right now. In the face of all the rage from our opponents, in the face of all the dissent of our Benedicts, in spite of the whispering lies of Men of false nobility….

…Iraq must be disarmed, completely…

Or else.


______________________________________


Today's revelations of Iraqis beginning to uncover an "Oil for Support" Conspiracy only serves to further emphasize the point.

[Loyal Buckeye]

The writer neglected to write about the part where the Europeans acquiesced to Hitler as he was building his war machine and taking the first steps toward WWII

A little backbone would have prevented that war.

[wizardoz]

The fact that Marxism has led to more corruption, destruction, and death than patriotism and courage eludes them completely.

[clintonh8r]

But as a European myself-I'm from Britain....

I know many Brits who don't consider themselves Europeans. They consider themselves Brits.

[X-FID]

Yes, we win most of ours.

And all of theirs.

[jpsb]

It is really sad what has happened to the French, at one time they were a great people. They propably still are but man oh man do they need to replace thier elite rulers. The French elite realy realy suck. Hmmm, maybe I should get a french girl friend, hmmmm.

[Alberta's Child]

Remarkable arrogance once again from one of the world's foremost warmongers.

You beat me to it. I'll go one step further, too -- I think the odds are pretty good that nobody who is closer to Perle than a fourth cousin has ever served in the U.S. military, either.

[Lucky Dog]

You are correct. The amazing thing that "idiots" both in Europe and here, in America, continue spout this garbage with apparent sincerity.

[VaBthang4]

LOL

[desertcry]

How true!

[jpsb]

Yea, so what? Was the British Army with us in Iraq? And Kosovo, and just about every other damn place we have been forced to go? A nations actions speak far louders then some discontents words.

[Mr. Mojo]

Perle.......stated that European nations "do not have the most courageous of instincts," with the implication that America has to intervene in international affairs because Europeans are afraid to. ....as a European myself — I'm from Britain — it doesn't feel true.

Relax, Fletcher. He's talking about continental Europe, not you Brits.

[Joe 6-pack]

I think the vast majority of the good French blood lines moved to the New World centuries ago. Consider the fact that their most effective fighting units consist entirely of foreigners...

[caisson71]

We win ALL that we don't quit.