Andrew Sullivan: Memo to Europe- Grow up on Iraq

andrewsullivan.com ^ | 08/12/2002 | Andrew Sullivan

[paul51]

I wonder what the French would do if the Eiffel tower had a plane rammed into it...

Surrender

[thucydides]

It is a mistake to conclude from sources like BBC, Le Monde, Corriere della Sera, etc. that Europeans are opposed to what we must do. In fact, the European media follows the NY Times/Washington Post line on international matters involving the US as slavishly as newspapers in Des Moines or Kansas City do. I have talked to intelligent professional Europeans who are in complete agreement with us. One of them told me that the US was magnificent: no superpower in the history of the world has ever exercised its power with such responsibility and magnanimity. So what we are talking about is the same problem there as here: "liberal" elitists who turn their noses up at the idea of US success, a worse outcome for them, given their worldview, than further terrorism.

[fiftymegaton]

Surrender??

[fiftymegaton]

LOL...You beat me to it.

[Hugin]

At times, it even seems that Europeans believe that America's self-defense is more of a problem for world order than terrorist groups, aided by local tyrants like Saddam, coming close to acquiring weapons of mass destruction. On this score, many Americans don't just differ with many Europeans, they are repulsed by their inverted logic and moral delinquency.

I think the Euros have taken us for granted so long they just assume they can take sides against us out of habit and we will always be there when they need us. What I see is real hostility among the American people towards the Euros where before they were simply annoying. A lot of Euros are saying they won't let us use bases in their country in the fight against Iraq. We should tell them if they don't we leave NATO and they are on their own.

[Long Cut]

An excellent, and sadly truthful piece. I would like to add something of interest here, if I might: I have deployed to Europe on three separate occaisions, and continue to train amongst European(and Australian) military personnel to this day. I can truthfully say that the grunt-level Soldiers and Sailors of the Continent would like nothing better than to be unleashed upon the terrs to fight with us. THEY "get it", and very well. They were just as shocked and enraged by the atrocities of 9-11 as we, and most were solidly dissapointed in their governments' fecklessness.

Heap scorn and derision to the heights of the Twin Towers themselves on the quisling Euro Left and the worthless socialist governments it has spawned, but remember that their best men (be they French Foriegn Legion, Bundeswehr, Italian Army/Navy, or Her Majesty's Troops) are with us in spirit, at least until their bosses strap on a set.

[tictoc]

Excellent article by Sullivan.

If I may contribute one minor point re Germany:

Chancellor Schroeder (separated from Clinton at birth) has indeed fired up his craven pandering to overdrive, hoping to score points with his electorate at U.S. expense.

"Germany," he says, "will not join any U.S. action against Iraq because there is no UN security council mandate."

(I'm sure Rumsfeld is crestfallen, he had so been hoping the Panzergrenadiere would carry the burden of the war.)

Ironically, however, the German association of Bundeswehr officers has slapped Schroeder in the face with a polite reminder that the security council has not even been asked yet for a resolution. By not waiting for such a vote, the association said, Schroeder is shoowing disrespect for the United Nations and the principle of international law that he supposedly holds dear.

Heheh. Schroeder and his minions are beside themselves with rage (Who's in charge here! etc.), but they can't help looking more and more pathetic every day.

[DB]

Go on strike or surrender (probably both...).

[Cacique]

Brilliant Sullivan piece.

After we are through nuking Iraq and Saudi Arabia it might be to our benefit to include Europe. Then we can repopulate the empty expanse with an American colonization.

[Cacique]

To Americans, democracy means majority rule,

What constituion are you reading? Last time I looked we were a representative republic. A system of government designed by our founders to prevent a tyranny of the majority as well as a minority. Staggered Senatorial and congressional elections and a president elected not by popular majority but by an electoral college.

I think you should dig up a copy of the "Federalist Papers" and read it.

We are a Republic NOT a democracy.

[jwalsh07]

Andrew, on his game, takes the Euroweenies to the woodshed and locks then in.

[okie01]

"I wonder what the French would do if the Eiffel tower had a plane rammed into it..."

Surrender?

[hinckley buzzard]

They would stub out their Gaulloise's, utter a curse (under their breath of course), and order another absinthe.

[hinckley buzzard]

"...repopulate the empty expanse..."

My-o-my. The euro-monica's chastise me for merely telling the truth about them. I can't wait to see what they do to you!

[Cacique]

The issue is majority rule, something the founders of our republic did everything in their power to prevent as they saw it as much of a threat as a tyranny by a majority. By moderating the actual distribution of power they hoped to moderate the passions of the people so they could be more reflective of things such as legislation and not lead to acts of rashness.

[Torie]

Sullivan is a bit uncharitable when it comes to Europe. America has the power and self confidence to be of a more generous spirit, animated by a moral vision, than does Europe. Moreover, America has gone farther than most in exorcising the poison of anti-semitism, because so many of us have Jews as friends with whom we work, live near, and like, and know well. Europe does not have that experience alas these days in large part due to Hitler. It is not so much that Europe these days is evil, as that America is simply an exceptional place.

Sullivan oddly focuses on terrorism when it comes to Iraq, rather than nukes (granted I scaned the article and may have missed it). It is the latter on which the case rest to take Saddam out. And on that Tony Blair is quite splendid. That is what he focuses on (I just heard him this last Sunday on C-SPAN), and he and Britain will be with us not matter how much heat in generates for Blair internally. The guy has guts. I am a big fan of Blair, and would have voted for him in the last election, and probably the next, if I were eligible, and of course I'm not. He is a very impressive guy.

[Rocko]

Bump.

[Cacique]

SKRUEM, been there already. Fatc is that the world would have been better off without a Europe in the twentieth century. They were the source of two world wars, all the isms (nazism, fascism,. socialism, communism) that prevail today originated there. Nobody can outdo the Euros for Genocide and mass murder. They have no defence and they can't deny the truth. they are unworthy to be residents of this planet. We would all be better off without them.