America Shrugged

We have all heard the phrases, “It is lonely at the top.” “The solitude of Command.” “Players only love you when they’re playing.” Everyone accepts the fact that, deep down, they resent the starting Quarterback and the Homecoming Queen…..bla…bla…bla.

With few exceptions of the British, Poles, Australians, Japanese, and other smaller – but just as valuable allies – like the Danes and El Salvadorans; America has suffered a thousand pinpricks from “friendly” allies on the sidelines – ankle biting, bitter-boy wannabees both at home and abroad all too anxious to point out every imperfection to avoid thinking about their own. Not all U.S. actions are perfect – no nation ever is. Not every operation is perfect from the start – never is. Like Teddy Roosevelt said,

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

But, our actions are based, whether you like it or believe it or not, on a nation fighting for its core cultural and national survival born out of The Enlightenment.

Contrary to popular belief, and this is a warning to my European friends, I don’t think that most of the world understands that America’s majority from Left to Right has never been comfortable with its post-WWII global responsibilities, and it would be just happy to stay at home and be left in peace. The last 100 years have not given us much choice, as the world shrinks with technology, and the ever present forces of darkness, with a history from Mongolia to Saudi Arabia, continue to press the free and the weak; and the free and strong wait too late to do anything about it.

Since 2003 we have heard from foreign and domestic a call for greater “international” flavour to our operations. Bring in our “allies.” Being well occupied elsewhere, and in the finest American tradition of self-doubt, “Maybe they are right…” combined with the wonderful Southern tradition of “Son, if you think you are so smart, you do it!”, we have let the Europeans take the lead on Iran’s nukes. That has gone swimmingly. We have also let Europe and its proxy the African Union take Darfur. Well, let’s just say; “Never Again” already happened.

So where do we find ourselves? The Economist, NYT/IHT, and now arguably the leader of the responsible/sane Euro-Left, Joschka Fischer, is calling for “more American hegemony.” Sure, they use different words, but by their own Cold War and post-Cold War lexicon, that is what it is. Why, lets just quote ‘ole Joschka;

"It would be really helpful if the United States could join," he said of the talks Britain, France and Germany held with Iran while the United States maintained its diplomatic boycott of Tehran.

"We have an important opportunity to solve this if we work together," Fischer said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "Europe is not strong enough."

You aren't strong enough because you have made the decision to buy votes instead of a military. Can we please have another adult on the playground? No, not you Commie China; sit back down. America will soon tire of borrowing money from the world to protect it. We can’t/won’t do it forever. We can’t/won’t do everything – especially when the people asking for help will 6-months later spit it in our face for doing their dirty work.

Harumph.