Posted by Dan Ewert : 8/29/2002 02:03:00 AM (Archive Link)
I’ve come to the realization recently that there’s a new form of cold war starting. It’s much more benign in a way and far more nebulous than the old U.S. vs. U.S.S.R. version, but it’s brewing. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the U.S. stood astride the world as the lone superpower and it still holds that distinction. What this has done, however, is make the rest of the world awfully wary of us. The EU, especially, is giving the impression that they fear America will use its economic and military power to have its way wherever it pleases just because it can. They therefore feel it’s their duty to oppose such actions… even it’s for the good. Take Iraq, for example. Hussein needs to go. He’s a dangerous man with dangerous weapons who has proved both of these in the past. He mocks U.N. resolutions, aids suicide bombers, and harbors terrorists (more on that in the next post). Bush would love to remove him from power. Many Americans would love to remove him from power. The EU, the UN, and a host of others, however, have vigorously opposed the idea. They say there’s no proof of weapons or terrorists or any wrongdoing. They all know better but they still oppose it. The real reason? Because America wants to do it and it involves force. When those aspects come together, then America must be opposed. My favorite opposition tactic is when leaders say that no action should be taken unless the UN blesses it. Of course, they know very well that the UN will not bless it and that’s why they say it. At the same time, it allows them to not directly oppose action. They sidestep the issue. So yes, I think we’ll see an increasing number of disagreements between America and the world on a number of issues and this will be the new cold war. Hopefully, it won’t lead to any conflicts.

What really irks me about these countries' behavior, however, is how almost all of the now disagreeable countries benefited from America’s involvement and use of force. When it was America against the Soviets, they couldn’t line up fast enough to be our friends. Now they’re filling the Soviet power vacuum. And in the process, they will blithely ignore the dangers in their midst and the dangers just a block down from their neighborhood. They did it with Yugoslavia and they’re doing it now with Iraq. As I’ve said before, it never ceases to astonish me at how Europe has an utter inability to learn from their historic mistakes, especially where dictators are concerned. They choose appeasement every time and every time their inaction results in terrific suffering.