“The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of ‘liberalism’ they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.”

Socialist Party presidential candidate Norman Thomas


Monday, March 21, 2011

We want Europe to play a leading role, now let them do it


Every time there's a dust-up around the world and the US rides, Lone Ranger style, to the rescue once again, every body whines that the Europeans don't pitch in and do their part. Or better yet, they rightly point out that the Europeans never handle trouble in their own back yard and the Americans have to come handle what should be Europe's business.

Over the weekend, France and Great Britain, both with very capable, modern militaries, pounced on the chance to take the fight to Qaddafi in Libya. Now, Obama is being criticized for the US's intentions to take a back seat in the fighting. Obama deserves criticism for a lot of things, but letting Europe handle Qaddafi while we play a supporting role is not one of them.

Just because there's some shooting and killing to be done, doesn't meant the US has to be the king-daddy deliverer of it all the time.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Just because there's some shooting and killing to be done…."

Out of curiosity, Ed, is there any unconstitutional, illegal, national sovereignty-meddling, counter-productive, enemy-producing shooting and killing that you would not goad on and cheer? Any at all?

Ed said...

Glen, you know me by now. I was half-way joking by being absurdly cavaleir about shooting and killing.....half way joking.

I believe that some people, objectively need killing. Qaddafi is one of those, which makes it silly that we are not trying to kill him. Our government made a law against it, but I don't think Britain or France have such silly laws.

To answer your question, if our military is shooting at somebody and the chain of command sanctioned it, they must have had it coming. In that situation, I always cheer for our guys to win.

Anonymous said...

"...if our military is shooting at somebody and the chain of command sanctioned it, they must have had it coming. In that situation, I always cheer...."

What is it like, Ed, being a lickspittle for the hegemonists whose goal it is for our children and grandchildren to live a life of quiet desperation, an existence in which they either lick the boots of their "betters" or they don't eat?

What kind of man cheers that?

Ed said...

Are you saying there's never a reason to fight? I'm on record as being opposed to this Libya adventure and in favor of ending our Iraq and Afghanistan outings at the earliest possible date. What qualifies me as a lickspittle?