Allies and Allies. America has important friends outside of Europe.

The Weekly Standard ^ | February 23, 2005 | by Tom Donnelly

[aculeus]

LET US TALK OF ALLIES, but not, at least for once this week, of Europeans.

After all, the United States is human history's one and only superpower. Our security concerns are genuinely global; our political principles are universal. So why should we obsess primarily about how we are regarded only in Paris or Berlin?

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is an irritating man, to be sure, but all the more so for being intermittently insightful. One of Rumsfeld's rules is that the mission determines the coalition. In the early 21st century, the United States has two important missions if it is to achieve its strategic goal of preserving today's Pax Americana: (1) Transform the politics of the greater Middle East; (2) Contain the growing military power of the People's Republic of China.

Who else is interested in tackling those tasks?

Very few other nations have much hankering to sign up for both missions. But several might. To begin with, Japan appears to be undergoing a true strategic renaissance, even to the point now of pushing the Bush administration to take its responsibilities in East Asia seriously and not sublimate the problem of China entirely to concerns in the Middle East. Indeed, there's an instructive study to be done comparing Japan's recent revitalization with Germany's continuing geostrategic decline. How much war guilt is too much war guilt? In the brief pause between the Eurolove-fests of the past two weeks, it was leaked that Japan has essentially agreed to conduct a joint defense of Taiwan with the United States. This is a huge development and an act of real courage by the Japanese government.

Japan's embrace of U.S. primacy in East Asia also makes its contributions to American adventures in the Middle East far more significant than they would first appear. Even after the first Gulf War, Japan contributed a tremendous amount to offset the costs of U.S. military operations; it continues to be a reliable contributor--despite the slowing of economic growth in Japan--but now is participating directly in military and reconstruction operations. It's not simply that the Japanese regard this as the price of a firm alliance with the United States--they also see the grand strategic connections of global politics. Tokyo well understands how unrest in the Middle East creates potential unrest in East Asia.

What can Japan bring to the table?

Like the United States, Japan has developed a fully modern economy without succumbing to post-modern politics. With the North Koreans popping missiles above the home islands and a rising China just across the sea, Japanese strategists are focused, and are animated by a sense of urgency hard to find even in London. Lately it seems like the Japanese take the military balance across the Taiwan Strait even more seriously than the Taiwanese do themselves.

Militarily, the Japanese also have a lot to offer. Not the least of these qualities is location--airfields and other facilities in Japan are absolutely essential to the conduct of any significant U.S. military operations in the region. Without access to these airfields, a defense of Taiwan would be close to impossible. Further, the Japanese "Self-Defense Force"--the euphemism which identifies the Japanese military--is a very capable force, especially the navy and air force, with a relatively high degree of interoperability with U.S. forces. The Japanese have been taking steps to improve upon both their own capabilities and their compatibility with U.S. forces, including in controversial areas such as missile defense. Again, this is in contrast to most European forces, which are falling farther behind American technological and tactical standards.

But perhaps the most important aspect of the improving U.S.-Japanese alliance is its demonstration effect. While Europeans--well, French, Germans, and Belgians--are so self-referential that it's likely that the Japanese lesson will be lost on them, others will be paying close attention not only to the Japanese embrace of Pax Americana but to the reasoning behind it. In simplest terms, that reasoning is as follows: The spread of free and representative governments occasioned by the Pax Americana is not only morally good, but tends toward peace and prosperity; China and radical Islamists, by their own assertions, take issue with the current international order; and the use of military force is occasionally and lamentably necessary to preserve and protect that order. Ergo, a military alliance with the United States makes sense.

What is sensible to Japan may well appeal to others who, unlike most Europeans, feel the world is still a dangerous place and for whom the practices of political liberty seem more under threat. India might well come to similar conclusions. One of the more misguided--not to say myopic--beliefs of European statesmen is that the United States needs its European partners. Even President Bush says the Euro-American relationship is the prime pillar of U.S. strategy. But Europeans think themselves more attractive than they really are. Yes, it would be preferable to maintain the transatlantic alliance of shared interests and more-or-less shared values. But these days there are allies whom we may need more.

Tom Donnelly is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a contributing writer to The Daily Standard.

© Copyright 2005, News Corporation, Weekly Standard, All Rights Reserved.

[bill1952]

Somebody should send a copy of this to every EU type in Europe.

The EU will be selling arms to what side, in the coming Asian storm?

[henkster]

A more active Japan is a start. I am dismayed by the "it's China's problem" approach to dealing with the North Korean whack job leader. (I must confess this is basically the MSM spin, as if that were a surprise). No, Psycho Kim's threat to peace is a threat to OUR peace, and we need to build, and lead, the coalition that will resolve the issue.

So, who else wants to step up? India? I'd think they'd want to contain China, and we can play India and China against each other in SE Asia.

And more importantly, who can we get to step up in the Middle East? At least, to be more visible. For one, I think we need to keep the former soviet-dominated nations engaged. They bring the fervor of the newly converted to the job of converting the region to democratic forms of government.

Can we get rapproachment with India here, too? They have axes to grind with the Islamo-terrorists.

[lotusblos]

"Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is an irritating man..."

Personally, I like him a lot. He's intelligent and says it like it is. If that's irritating to some, good. Those people should be irritated, their opinion doesn't mean anything anyway.

[Sam the Sham]

I question China's viability as a revisionist power.

China would have the same problem imperial Japan did. The inability to build a navy large enough to secure the sea lanes. After all, it is an oil importer now.

[Personal Responsibility]

Europe...Europe....nope, the name does not ring a bell.

[trisham]

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is an irritating man, to be sure, but all the more so for being intermittently insightful.

*****************

Huh? Irritating to whom? I think he's charming. Not to mention, brilliant.

[Owl558]

"But Europeans think themselves more attractive than they really are."

This is a notion that seems to be slowly sinking in. Even if the Europeans were 100% on-board with us, their actual ability to contribute in more than a token way is questionable. Remember the Balkins. This may be a function of Europe's continued decline and exhaustion as world power(s). EU pretenses simply extend the inevitable.

Japan and Australia, on the other hand, recognize that the 21st century will be a Pacific century and are taking steps to secure not only their security, but economic viability in the new age. Thinkers in both countries recognize that security in the Middle East will enhance their economic situations as well as their security.

Both Australia and Japan have been steadfast allies and have my deepest appreciation. I would proudly send my children to stand by them in a crisis (I'm too old now!). Remember, the same types of critics who want Iraq to fail, said the same thing about Japan.

[bill1952]

Well said, sir.

[Owl558]

The UK is an exception, of course. That nation is capable of projecting substantial military force up to a point.

We are proud to have the Brits on our side as we are for the other European nations that are standing by us, however, their support does nothing to change the European dynamic vis-a-vis my point.

Too often these days, when we say Europe, we mean the France / Germany axis. These are governments that cannot be trusted and are set-up for an astounding decline in the next 10-15 years.

It will be sad to watch.

[snowsislander]

While Europeans--well, French, Germans, and Belgians--are so self-referential that it's likely that the Japanese lesson will be lost on them, others will be paying close attention not only to the Japanese embrace of Pax Americana but to the reasoning behind it. In simplest terms, that reasoning is as follows: The spread of free and representative governments occasioned by the Pax Americana is not only morally good, but tends toward peace and prosperity; China and radical Islamists, by their own assertions, take issue with the current international order; and the use of military force is occasionally and lamentably necessary to preserve and protect that order. Ergo, a military alliance with the United States makes sense.

The above quote sounds good, that's for sure. Perhaps some or much of it is accurate. But I believe that a lot of progress is simply due to Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi, who I think is the best of the post-war prime ministers.

[geedee]

Both Australia and Japan have been steadfast allies and have my deepest appreciation. I would proudly send my children to stand by them in a crisis (I'm too old now!). Remember, the same types of critics who want Iraq to fail, said the same thing about Japan.

GREAT analysis!

I will never forget the tribute our Aussie Allies gave us on September 11, 2002. While many, many Europeans were already starting to forget 9-11-2001 . . . forget, hell, they were already trumpeting the pro-Saddam bugles because Iraq was now in our sights . . . 5,000 Aussies dressed in red, white, and blue paid homage on an Australian beach to the 9-11 victims in a way that still brings tears to my old, cynical eyes . . .

Our Aussie friends, I think I can speak for millions of my countrymen and say . . . WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR SUPPORT!!!!!

[Owl558]

Wow, that picture is pretty moving. I know where I want to spend my next vacation!

[BushisTheMan]

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is an irritating man, to be sure, but all the more so for being intermittently insightful.

Yep, I like how Rumsfeld irriates OLD Europe by saying they are not relevent, how he irritated that stupid congresswoman from California who had old troops numbers in the budget hearing, and especially how he irritates the far LEFT by strengthening the military.

Go Rummy!

[BushisTheMan]

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is an irritating man, to be sure, but all the more so for being intermittently insightful.

Yep, I like how Rumsfeld irritates OLD Europe by saying they are not relevent, how he irritated that stupid congresswoman from California who had old troops numbers in the budget hearing, and especially how he irritates the far LEFT by strengthening the military.

Go Rummy!

[geedee]

Wow, that picture is pretty moving.

I try to post it every time Australians are mentioned. I must've looked at it and posted it at least a hundred times . . . but it still makes me as emotional today as it did when I first saw it on 9-11-2002.

Most Australians GET IT and this is one Texan who will never forget the courage and respect the Australian people and the Australian military have shown us. They've marched every step with us in this War on Terror . . . even when it wasn't popular at home to do so.

Sadly, even Australia has their Tom Daschles and Ted Kennedys . . . but John Howard hasn't blinked yet. Even now he's planning to send 450 more Australian troops to Iraq . . . and the lefties in Australia are roasting him for it. But Howard, like the majority of the Aussies, have cojones the size of beachballs and their dedication to an ally is UNMATCHED by any other country in the world.

My ultimate dream is to move to Australia one day . . . or at least visit for a year or so. I'm old and disabled so it's probably a pipe dream . . . but when one dreams one might as well dream high.