On one side there were the Allies, on the other side the Axis powers. It was World War II and America along with her European friends fought in Europe and in the Pacific. After the defeat of Nazi Germany and Japan, and during the cold war the sides changed a little. Now it was the West against the Communists. Russia, which was a chief ally of the US in WW2, was now the enemy along with our old friend China.
After the defeat of communism, Russia is now our friend and a supporter of our war on terrorism. However, when it comes to America’s determination to expand the war that was brought on us by terrorists, our cold war “friends” seem less friendly.
For the last 100 years, America’s priorities have always remained the same. America does not seek to gain territory through the exercise of its military might, and most importantly, the US seeks to live in a world that poses as little a threat to our sovereignty and well-being as possible. US forces remained in Germany and Japan following their defeat, not to gain territory but to ensure the end of the mindset that would do us and the world harm. Not a single square inch of territory was claimed by the US as a result of our victory in 1945.
America fought wars in Korea and Vietnam with the intention of stopping the spread of communism; and not to add territory to our nation. The US helped the Afghan rebels in their fight against Russia’s occupation of their country, and America warred against those that threatened the annihilation of citizens living in Bosnia and Kosovo. These hot wars fought after 1945 were not initiated because of some dire threat to America’s sovereignty or danger to her citizens. Rather, they were fought for the benefit of inhabitants in lands far from our shores. To be sure, America sought benefits from them, but immediate safety from harm to our homeland was not one of them.
We in America now find ourselves confronting a hostile world. The latest Pew poll taken in a number of foreign countries shows that a large majority of our fellow inhabitants hate our guts. The overriding theme appears to be that America deserved what it got on 9-11. If the poll had been restricted to just the third world, while still being absurd, might be written off as the opinions of ill-informed people who if given the right education would realize they were wrong. However, the poll was also taken in Western Europe and Canada. The overriding theme was the same. America is not viewed as a liberator of the oppressed, a champion of the wronged; rather we are seen by a substantial percentage of West Europeans as dreadful.
In our quest for a peaceful planet and our understanding that tyrannical regimes with weapons of mass destruction stand as a roadblock to achieving that goal, our old tried and true friends are with the exception of a few, not with us. If anything, it appears they would be none too sad to see us once again the victim of an attack.
As allies have shifted in the past, so too they must shift now. If America is threatened with weapons of mass destruction and sees as its only recourse military means to prevent an even worse “9-11” attack; depending on permission from France, Germany or China among others before we act, is absurd even under the best of international relations. To depend on a nod from countries that are none too fond of us to begin with when it comes to our national defense, is insane.
If America believes the safety of its citizens face a grave and impending threat from abroad, why do we need agreement from France or Germany? If we are right and they are wrong, the result would be another disaster for America, while the Europeans at best may say, “Oops.” However, more likely they will accuse our desire to remain free as arrogance. Arrogance that left little choice in our enemies’ minds, but to attack us.
America needs to ally itself with nations and peoples around the world that share our desire to strive for a peaceful world and factually understand our history and vision. Eastern Europe may just be the place to look. While France, Belgium, Denmark, and the like have forgotten what it is to be subjugated by tyrants, Eastern Europeans have it fresh in their memories. The peoples of Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Poland have consistently viewed the US as a force for good in the world. For us to remain a beacon for the oppressed and to remain such a force, we need to reevaluate who we see as friends, and maintain our priorities.
“Published originally at EtherZone.com : republication allowed with this notice and hyperlink intact.”