From: Dehede011@aol.com
Date: Sun Nov 24 2002 - 14:10:51 MST
Robert Bradbury asks in an earlier post: And so I am forced to ask -- *where*
is Europe in all of this? How bad would it have to get before Europe would
bring itself to the table as a really active participant? [It seems like all
the recent NATO activity has been simply having pleasant conferences and more
form rather than substance.
Spudboy,
It was your email that got me thinking. You included the Robert
Bradbury comment above.
I won't attempt to analyze European motives -- obviously at this
distance I have no idea what is in their hearts and minds. But trying to
devise a possible strategy to explain their conduct is easy.
I imagine some are honestly motivated to take a pacifist stance or
strategy due to concerns over their past conduct. But for others I think
they possibly have hit on a great strategy.
They make noises that will sound conciliatory to the terrorists hoping
they will not be hit. They let the Americans take the lead hoping that we
will do the dying required to remove the terrorists. If we take out the Al
Qaeda all is well and good -- they will be rid of the terrorists at no cost
in lives or money to themselves. As to having the Europeans dislike us they
will be our good buddies as soon as they see an economic advantage. If we
don't remove the Al Qaeda then hopefully we will have bled the Al Qaeda to
the point that they will be an easy target by the time the Europeans are
forced to take action.
So I can't see any reason to regard European strategy as unimaginable.
As how bad it will have to get? A possible scenario is obvious. They will
probably stay on the sidelines so long as the terrorists aren't actually
hitting them and we are doing the bleeding. As soon as they are getting hit
they will probably be willing to help.
You also commented, "I wonder if the Aussies now feel any aggression
toward the Islamic Jihadis now or will they wait till Sidney is hit with
sarin?" Doesn't it seem that the majority of countries are following the
German strategy?
England and a few other countries seem to see the danger to themselves
in this situation and therefore are willing to contribute to the common
defense.
Perhaps I am being unduly harsh in my estimate of European strategy and
I am certainly willing to listen but from here that is how it looks.
Ron h.
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