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-

[Kirkwood]

Bogus.

[Joe Marine 76]

I was watching either the Discovery Channel or History International the other night about "barbarians". The segment described the "Viking Era" (800-900 AD) and related the fact that Vikings actually sailed their long ships up the Seine River to attack the city of Paris. The King, "Charles the Bald", thinking he could buy-off the invaders with thousands of pounds of gold, found that the invaders reported the "easy touch" to other viking marauders who came for their own booty sometime later! Seems to me, truly, a "leopard does not change his spots"!

[mr.pink]

What he found most intriguing was that there wasn't a single photo of George W. Bush in them -- they were all photos of Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Richard Perle, and Paul Wolfowitz.

That is funny....but it also shows they are paying attention.

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

And I wonder if our cultural disconnect comes from two very different experiences of war.

Yes, we win most of ours.>>

Yep. And all of theirs.

[noutopia]

We need Ramstein AB in Germany and Lakenheath in the UK,get rid of the rest.

[KC_Conspirator]

That is exactly right. Most of these young Europeans have no idea of what war is and in fact, America has a much better idea of what war is due to are expereinces. I would also add that they have not learned anything over the years because they have allowed a war in Yugoslavia erupt and did nothing and have had a new wave of anti-semitism.

[11B3]

In other words, you've got ZERO military experience, which makes you a real expert on all things military. Yeah, right.

I'm sure glad that the Minutemen of the Revolutionary War weren't so concerned about whose hands they put their lives in, or the soldiers of WWII, the soldiers of the Cold War (which wasn't always "cold"), or those serving today.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Q: What's the term for one who enjoys the freedoms that were paid for by the sacrifices of others?

A: Parasite. If the shoe fits........

[Wonder Warthog]

"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."

The only problem with your perspective is that the average "Brit-in-the-street" agrees with the Euro-weenie position. The only reason there are Brits in Iraq is because of Tony Blair---not majority support by the British citizenry.

[Lucky Dog]

You would have been happier to serve under the likes of Les Aspin (Clinton) or Cap Weinberger (Johnson)?

[Alberta's Child]

Oh, really? Were you there?

[OldFriend]

Europe knows wars because they are appeasers and lack any moral convictions at all.

[bulldogs]

The problem is that European's don't know how to finish wars.
That's what we're here for.


Quote of the day nomination

[noutopia]

I concur!

[Sci Fi Guy]

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

Going straight to a personal attack. I guess that means that you've given up on trying to debate the issues.

[11B3]

Weinberger was excellent to serve under as SecDef, as of course President Reagan was the best.

[Alberta's Child]

I've got news for you -- if you're interested in preserving the freedoms and liberties that we enjoy in this country, a military uniform these days has a become a liability, not an asset. I'll be the first one to dig a trench in front of my home (or yours) and fend off attackers if need be, but I will never, ever put myself at the disposal of some @sshole in the U.S. government whose got his own agenda to pursue.

I'm going to ping you on an article I'll be posting here on FreeRepublic over the next few days -- I'll think you'll find it interesting.

[jpsb]

Nice story, and how true. I am a third generation Scot. I derive a great pride in my Scotish blood.

Maybe Napoleon was the aberration, but under Napoleon the French fought with great courage and they won. In world war 1, the French fought foolishly but with great courage. My mother maintains that the best of the French youth died in World War 1 and France never recovered. Maybe she is right, cause today the French suck. And the Germans are starting to look pretty bad too. But before we call Europe a continent of cowards, remember the Russian are there too and they like the Brits ain't no cowards.

[Alberta's Child]

They're all @ssholes -- and I wouldn't have been too happy serving under any of them.

[OldFriend]

Not exactly true at all. The Soviets were a threat long after 1945. Germany was divided, the wall a reminder of what dangers were on the other side. A failed revolution in Hungary was further reminder of the Red menace.

There were terror attacks from the Bader Meinhoff gang, Japan had terror attacks from leftists too.

Europe suffered for a long long time after 1945 and I don't minimize that at all.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

Euro appeaser, victim ping)))))))