Still hope in Iraq

Scripps Howard News Service ^ | 11/1/04 | JAMES K. GLASSMAN

[Parsiphal]

PARIS -- At the end of one of Europe's many holiday weekends, the irony is so thick here you can layer it on with a trowel.

Europeans, with a few laudable exceptions, detest what the American cowboys have done in Afghanistan and Iraq and are happy to tell you so.

The irony, of course, is that 60 years ago, American troops liberated Paris, marched on to Berlin and saved Britain and the rest of Western Europe. Our interest in defeating the Nazis was the same as our interest in defeating the Taliban and Saddam Hussein: in the short term, to free oppressed people; in the medium term, to build democracy; in the long term, to make America safer.

[Yardstick]

*Bump*

[macbee]

The irony, of course, is that 60 years ago, American troops liberated Paris, marched on to Berlin and saved Britain and the rest of Western Europe.

And if you read news magazines from around that time, you'll find copious complaints about and criticisms of the actions of "the Yanks". It's like a fireman saving a family's life and getting screamed at because he didn't get there sooner, save the entire house, or rescue a family pet.

[Ginifer]

"Europeans, with a few laudable exceptions, detest what the American cowboys have done in Afghanistan and Iraq and are happy to tell you so."

It was perfectly fine for us to sacrifice hundreds of thousand soldiers for their freedom while they enslave others. Bunch of hypocrites. Don't call us when you need us to save your bacon because we need our "Cowboys" here.

[patriot911]

I'd say it's more like the fireman getting yelled at because he *did* get there on time, he *did* save the house, and he *did* rescue the dog.

[baseball_fan]

great piece by Glassman, thanks for posting

[Parsiphal]

I only wish we had more like this to post. By rights there should be a chorus of such sentiment from the Old World.

[hershey]

Europe needn't worry about America coming to their aid again in the future, because we won't. That should ease their tiny minds.

[Edgerunner]

Yes the euros have older civilizations the America, and this may be their problem.
The current crop long for the good old days BEFORE the USA, cause THEY were the big cheeses.
Now they NEED to suppress the USA because our GDP is GREATER than the other 9 countries in the top 10 COMBINED!
Maybe what they need to do is FACE REALITY!
As long as they insist on socialist governments, they will NEVER be able to COMPETE the the USA!

[Edgerunner]

Yes the euros have older civilizations the America, and this may be their problem.
The current crop long for the good old days BEFORE the USA, cause THEY were the big cheeses.
Now they NEED to suppress the USA because our GDP is GREATER than the other 9 countries in the top 10 COMBINED!
Maybe what they need to do is FACE REALITY!
As long as they insist on socialist governments, they will NEVER be able to COMPETE the the USA!

[Parsiphal]

If I owe the Bank $10,000.00: I have a problem. If I owe the Bank $10,000,000.00... THE BANK has the problem. France owes us too much to be grateful. If we hadn't been there- they wouldn't be here.