Is Europe really worth America's trouble?

Americans are finally beginning to wonder whether all these ungrateful folks are worth the toil and treasure. In response, critics abroad are beginning to sense that their cheap rhetoric may have real consequences, that maybe the U.S. was a good deal for the world, after all.

George W. Bush did not cause this new round of anti-Americanism. But he may well have done more than anyone to end it.

An entire industry has arisen to account for the recent anti-Americanism. In the case of the Europeans, the end of the Cold War lessened the need for subsidized American protection, emboldening them to caricature Americans as fat and materialistic.

Did envy arise because the world's sole superpower ignored weaker Europeans' efforts to tie up the U.S. with multilateral strings? Did the Cold War make us forget that we were always different peoples--Americans the freer, richer, more religious, fertile, and optimistic? Perhaps George W. Bush--drawling, Christian, and Texan--earned us their fury, so unlike French-speaking John Kerry or obsequious Bill Clinton?

The Middle East was spoon-fed this European anti-Americanism. Twenty-one autocratic governments also deflected popular outrage onto us through state-run media. The bogeymen Israel and America were responsible for everything from stealing oil, even when it was sold to us at sky-high prices, to killing a few hundred Palestinian terrorists, when hundreds of thousands of Arab civilians were butchered by the Husseins and Assads.

But mostly anti-Americanism was a boutique enterprise, revealed as such when the U.S. was the most desirable destination of the world's migrating poor and its popular culture had swept the globe. It is always surreal to read Mexico City elites slurring the United States as millions of illegal aliens risk their lives to cross our borders and escape the corruption and racism of their home country.

Things are changing, however, both here and abroad. Thousands of American troops have left Europe. Its denizens now sense that the American people no longer wish to subsidize their defense only to earn ingratitude. The E.U. dream of heaven on earth may be mired in high taxes, low growth, high unemployment, and demographic and entitlement time bombs--not the sort of platform from which to hector a supposedly sinking U.S.

Things are even more evolutionary in the Middle East. Dissidents in Egypt or Beirut are not singing the praises of the E.U. or U.N. Nor are the new democrats in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is still too early to appreciate much of this shifting, but historical forces are now in play which are not conducive to vaunted European "soft power," so often a mask for crass profiteering.

Soon, freed Middle Easterners are going to make a few simple deductions: France profited mightily from Saddam; America removed him. The E.U. wanted nothing to do with the new democracy in Baghdad; Americans from places like San Antonio and Tulsa died to preserve it. An Iranian knows that the U.S., not Germany or Belgium, wishes him to be free and is more likely to take the risks to see it happen. An Afghan could assure him of that.

The muscle-flexing of China has given Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan second thoughts. They worry not that the United States invites them into partnerships, but that we might not. The Americans allow outsourcing to India, buy thousands of Hondas, and send young men to the Korean DMZ. Europe sells China new bombs, the French fleet goes on maneuvers with the communists, and the E.U. keeps it tariffs and subsidies high. A once-caricatured America starts to look very good again.

There is another wild card at play that explains the decrease in anti-Americanism. After September 11, the American people are in a much less apologetic mood--more likely to pull troops or cut off aid than to ask forgiveness for imaginary grievances. No one here laments that we left the Philippines or are departing Germany. We took out Saddam without Belgians and Frenchmen, without bases in Turkey, and despite, not because of, the U.N. or Arab league.

America runs high trade deficits with Asia and Europe. It lets 20 million illegal aliens cross our borders. It spends liberally on defense, patrolling sea-lanes and protecting commerce rather than setting up autocracies and stealing oil.

Americans are finally beginning to wonder whether all these ungrateful folks are worth the toil and treasure. In response, critics abroad are beginning to sense that their cheap rhetoric may have real consequences, that maybe the U.S. was a good deal for the world, after all.

George W. Bush did not cause this new round of anti-Americanism. But he may well have done more than anyone to end it.

www.taemag.com . . .

Europe will like America again the next time they need our military to clean up a mess.

But the next time Europe needs to turn the beaches of Normandy red with American blood we may well stay home.

The Euroweenies bitch and moan about America "interfering" all over the world.

Okay, fine.

Be careful what you wish for, Europe, because you just might get it.

That's a nonsense piece. It flies in the face of verifiable observations that Europeans do not like George W. Bush. Neither do Canadians for that matter. It has a lot to do with the US's unilateralist policies and disdain for multilateral organizations -- that's perceived as arrogance. Also, like Candians, Europeans don't trust religious wingnuts. They prefer appeals to common sense to appeals to the Creator.

The above piece reminds of the great line by the defence team represetning Rodney King's abusers: "And if you play ythe tape backwards, your honour, you can see that the officers are trying o help Mr. King up."

[quote="PeterFinn"]Europe will like America again the next time they need our military to clean up a mess.

But the next time Europe needs to turn the beaches of Normandy red with American blood we may well stay home.

The Euroweenies bitch and moan about America "interfering" all over the world.

Okay, fine.

Im sure they can clean up their "own" mess without more Americans sticking their dicks where they dont belong. Please, get over the WWII analogies please, its not helping your arguement if their is one.

[quote]The Euroweenies bitch and moan about America "interfering" all over the world.

Okay, fine.

Be careful what you wish for, Europe, because you just might get it.

Now you just sound like another gung-ho military American waving his guns around trying to sound important. Trust me, your not.

Europe dont make me laugh have you looked at their economies lately? They suck except for England and we are chums anyway. I know some one will say the Euro is stornger than the Dollar, big deal The pound has been for years.

So if the USA isolates itself again and instead of acting unilaterally or multilaterally we just won't act at all. We close our bases in all foreign countries and tell everyone to have fun sorting out the power vacuum.

Well, they seem to be doing a pretty damn good job of it as it is. Whats happening in Iraq right now.... Thats what happens with U.S intervention. You think you are doing the right thing but your not. You seem to think nobody else can solve their own problems without the U.S... pretty arrogant.

And the Canadian Navy will do what when Denmark seizes your northern islands? The same thing they did when Denmark seized your northern islands recently?

The Canadian Navy will do all that it can in contexts with INTERNATIONAL LAW. How much can you say the U.S followed International law? But maybe your right, maybe the Gov will not do anything, who knows so dont claim you do.

I'm not taunting here, I'm pointing out that Europe and Canada depend on the US yet both keep causing us no small set of problems.

Your right, we do depend on you, for TRADE, nothing else.

And if the shit hits the fan I'm saying don't come asking for help because it might not be there for you.

Oh well too bad.

Before you tell the USA to go away you'd best, you'd BETTER make sure Canada has no enemies on the horizon that Canada can't handle herself.

Ok Uncle Sam

So you're okay with Denmark seizing everything along Baffin Bay and you're okay with China seizing Vancouver? You talk about 'international law' when these countries could care less.

And Saddam Hussein is still alive. If it'll make you feel better we can always put him back in charge of raping and murdering Iraqis.

The French would like that because even though he was a despotic killer he bought their weapons.

It would be nice if it were simply good versus evil. But the driving forces behind intervention in much of the world today is protecting American corporate interests. They hate our democracy Bush says. maybe he can expect Americans to swallow this pithy nonsense but the rest of the world sees the US indenturing Third World countries so their economies cannot compete with the US companies. People die if they try to oppose the US.

"From 1945 to 2003, the United States attempted to overthrow more than 40 foreign governments, and to crush more than 30 populist-nationalist movements fighting against intolerable regimes. In the process, the US bombed some 25 countries, caused the end of life for several million people, and condemned many millions more to a life of agony and despair."
William Blum

"I believe that if we had and would keep our dirty, bloody, dollar-soaked fingers out of the business of these [Third World] nations so full of depressed, exploited people, they will arrive at a solution of their own.... And if unfortunately their revolution must be of the violent type because the "haves" refuse to share with the "have-nots" by any peaceful method, at least what they get will be their own, and not the American style, which they don't want and above all don't want crammed down their throats by Americans."
General David Sharp, former US Marine Commandant,1966

So it doesn't do any good to pretend the US is the saviour of mankind when they do as much damage for their own interests.

1) The civilians dying in Iraq are dying because of Syrian and Palestinian jihadis. 80% of the combat deaths in Iraq right now are IRAQIS fighting side-by-side with Americans and Brits to secure their country.

2) Why should the US care about Saddam raping and murdering Iraqis? What the hell kind of question is that? Why don't you rephrase that and pretend you live sixty years ago:

"Why should the US care about Hitler killing Jews?"

"Never Again" means you aren't supposed to sit on your ass when it happens again.

3) http://www.heritage.org/Research/MiddleEast/wm217.cfm

The US ranked #11 supplying arms to Iraq and most of that was during the Iranian War when the US supported Iraq for the sole reason that we opposed Iran.

1) The civilians dying in Iraq are dying because of Syrian and Palestinian jihadis. 80% of the combat deaths in Iraq right now are IRAQIS fighting side-by-side with Americans and Brits to secure their country.

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/04/02/ir ... ians030402
Syrian and Palestinian jihadis have nothing whatsoever to do with IRAQI casualties, if you have links for this I would appreaciate them. Yes, why do you think the Iraqis are dying, because the Americans are meddling in their affairs.

2) Why should the US care about Saddam raping and murdering Iraqis? What the hell kind of question is that? Why don't you rephrase that and pretend you live sixty years ago:

Its a legit question and dont go on a fucking guilt trip on the Holocaust. How bout in Africa, Asia, how about all those people being raped and killed????? Hmmm doesnt really interest America there does it, just Iraq.

"
3) http://www.heritage.org/Research/MiddleEast/wm217.cfm

The US ranked #11 supplying arms to Iraq and most of that was during the Iranian War when the US supported Iraq for the sole reason that we opposed Iran.[/quote]

Well #11 or not you still supplied them with arms.