Sunday, January 22, 2012
Why Europe Fades
Countries that can't fight can't survive (forever). Whatever high rhetoric we may ascribe to calling for world peace, the end of wars, and one global nation, da facts, ladies and gents, haven't changed: as long as people are people they will be fighting. Because of this, individuals and states must have defenses in place to protect themselves. For women, this consists of mace. For states, it consists of armies. And states must not only have armies but must be willing to use them when the need arises. Loss of life is terrible but it is a fact of war. Enter France. France today halted all military action in Afghanistan (where they had been maintaining a presence because of the war) because four of their personnel had been killed. Yes, it is terrible that they got killed. But that is what happens when you fight. France is acting like a petulant little child, pouting because someone would dare to (!) actually kill one of their soldiers in a war-zone. Hence, Europe's slow decline. Or at least France's.
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Well, such is the effect of democracy. Public opinion matters because elections matter. If we were China we could station our men and women where we’d see fit and not worry what their relatives, friends and the community think about it. It would make for a more effective mode of fighting a war, but it would make for a poorly performing democracy; one which wouldn’t get much done.
ReplyDeleteI suppose I should be a little offended that you’d chose to name your post “Why Europe Fades” and then referring singularly to France. France is a big country, but it is not Europe. Many European countries continue to contribute in Afghanistan. And what do you base “Europe is fading” on?
That said. I agree with you. France should not have withdrawn its troops. The war in Afghanistan is important and the international coalition has not achieved what it must. However, that France won’t fight in Afghanistan does not mean that it will fade.
In fact, if you recall the brief “war” (which we can’t call it, I know) in Libya, who were the ones carrying the heavy load? France, Britain, Italy and a small handful of small European countries. That doesn’t mean the American effort will either see America fade, or make it less of an ally. Does it? That public opinion proved to be too much for America when a dozen soldiers died in Somalia, or that public opinion prevented American and European interference in Rwanda doesn’t mean we’ll fade, does it? I think it means that we live in a democracy – a flaw in the system, sure – but I’d prefer to live in a country where the population decides their fate, even if that means making the wrong choice here and there.