Just a thought,but I wonder how many people thing Europe should start taking care of Europe. They depend on us to pull their fat out of the fire,but are not very supportive of the US. In fact, they are critical at the drop of a hat. Not just about Iraq,but for years now.

Dictionary def. of NATO:

NATO: (n.) a joke based in Europe; a former military alliance made of jokes that barely pass for armies.

My personal opinion is that we need to tell Europe to get lost politically.

What Europe wants or what Europe needs is Europe's business.

I live in A-M-E-R-I-C-A, not "The World, sponsored by Europe".

Mike

Yes, Europe should take care of themselves. We have our own interests to look after. They take our help and aren't even appreciative.

Europe thinks it's right every day of the week, but it rarely does anything ANY day of the week.

I believe that europe should STAY in europe. If they go to war we will still be allies and i believe that if a war come we can buldge our nose into it but just let NATO stay with NATO and let the UN stay with the UN

[COLOR=red] YES! What are we doing listening to Europe?!? Sometimes France and the rest of Europe are more annoying than Torricelli! Also the U.N! The UN and Nato are something we could be able to do without. The UN is just scratching their collective heads, while Bush is there pleading his case! Frankly, we saved Europe in WWI and WWII. They should show us some respect!!

Since the end of the Cold War, it was only a matter of time before our erstwhile NATO allies and us had confrontations. We are competitors in the global marketplace. If they suck up to the Arab thugs enough, they think their businesses can get the business which Americans currently get. Anyone who believes any dispute between France and the US has to do with anything other than commerce is living in a fantasy world. If Israel had the oil and the Arabs did not, the French, Germans, etc. would be so far up Sharon's derriere he couldn't get them out without dynamite and ice tongs.

Thus, we need to treat our relations with Europe on the basis of what is good for commercially. There is no pressing conventional military threat that confronts us both. The attempt to keep NATO relevant by supporting Muslims in anti-Serb genocide is criminal.

Europe has envisioned itself as a natural bridge between the US and Russia, with a healthy commission taken. However, both the Russians and the Americans understand that Vladivostok is closer to Alaska than NYC is to London. So, we deal across the table with each other in an intelligent, businesslike manner and have no need for Euroweenies from France or Germany to intercede.

In essence, our NATO allies are mostly sclerotic socialist nanny states worthless in war and willing to undercut us in commerce in dishonest ways. In other words they are not allies. There are exceptions, most notably, the newly freed nations of Eastern Europe, Italy, Spain and Turkey. However, France, Germany, Greece, Belgium, Norway and Denmark aint' worth a bucket of warm spit.

NATO is a horrible excuse of a military society.

I think, Europe and U.S are opponents in trade area, when it comes to military needs, they are partners.This kind of relationship was established during the Cold War. Now, the Cold War is over, so this kind of military relationship between NATO and U. S is changing too.

It most certainly is changing.

There has been a push for many years in Europe to police itself.
Both Britain and France are building new aircraft carriers etc in partnership and Germany is increasing its airlift capacity.
Russia will eventually belong to the European free trade community adding its military to the policing.

Arms wise, Europe is now almost self sufficient in high tech equipment but does not have the immense production capeability of America.
However Russia does.

All this may take some time, but it is already happening.

Regards.......Alan

This seems to be a very well thought out post, and I agree with most of it. The problem I see is that Europe needs to look out for itself a bit more, and stop depending on the US quite so much for situations in Europe. We should not be in Bosnia for one thing. The Unites States cannot police the whole world. It should not be necessary. In return we receive so much grief and unpleasantness.

This IS the point........

Europe is rapidly becoming in the position to police itself.
Military-wise it is already in the position to do so.

The eventual outcome is that it also becomes an autonimous economic bloc trading with the rest of the world.

The questions I need to ask are these.........
Is America willing to relinquish its military presence in Europe?.
Is America willing to trade, under equal circumstances, with the bloc?.

OR.

Will America continue to retain military, and therefore dominance of the European sector?.
Will Europe ask American military to go?.

All for history to decide.......

Regards..........Alan