CrackerBarrel wrote:

I think things are changing fast in world affairs and I think we ought to wake up to it for a second. Yeah, France, who cares? But the point is that throughout the cold war there has always been this polite facade and grudging support from the more liberal members of the "free world" but now it seems that the gloves are off. We all know that France more or less openly criticizes us and we generally turn the other cheek considering it harmless. I think Germany here is playing their conscience which is really above reproach. What I don't think the hotheaded Perle realizes is that he probably doesn't like a world where no one cooperates with the US. In other words, he actually ought to kiss more ass because the ramifications worldwide are, I think, a bit more dire than he considers.

It's a foregone conclusion that we're going to hit Iraq. It's been in the cards for awhile and we have the support, however nominal, to do it, but I think this will be the last time we can embark on such an overtly offensive military maneuver without the serious backlash of the world community. And it seems they are less cowed by us and, in fact, more openly disdainful of our policies. Did anyone catch the statements made by Nelson Mandela last week? Think of how much we've done for him and think about how he dares to insult us. The same for Germany. The insult in itself is a non-issue (though people mistakingly decide to focus on it) it's the fact that Mandela, and Germany, and France stand up in the open now to loudly refute US policies abroad.

And I sort of like it. It helps keep us in check. Believe or not, the US government is not the sole arbiter of world justice (I made myself laugh with that). Ang guess what? It doesn't really matter how much I or any of you like it. I think France and Germany's denial to aid us go beyond Saddam. The US derives much of it's world might through the unquestioning compliance of even the most powerful countries. Now that that compliance is degrading, I think you'll start to see more and more overt action against the United States. Sadly, I imagine the most nefarious organizations will see this and play up to rising anti-US sympathies and may be able to get away with more than they ought. To be frank, this is not the time to lose allies. But then again the Reagan administration was never really known for its delicacy.

Reading over his statements again it strikes me that Perle is a bit out of his era. That whole "show of hands" nonsense not only smacks of playground bullying, but it begs the question: What if France and Germany and even the whole European Union declares itself "not supportive" of US world policy? Do you think declaring them "enemies" and investigating their motives are going to anything? We're obviously decades (I hope) if not forever away from military action against any European country, so what exactly would we do if we really can't call Germany an ally anymore? Actually, maybe, try to be more gentle in our heavy-handed international proclamations and actions? Nah. I heard about the Mandela comments on Crossfire where that hopeless nerd in the bowtie called for some sort of retaliation against Mandela, The Nobel Peace Prize winner. I heard that and laughed because you can hear the desperate impotence. I agree that Mandela's statements are a bit over the top, but maybe knowingly so. We can't strong-arm anyone anymore and it's time our international actions reflected that.

"In reaction to Mandela's comments, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Bush was grateful to the many European leaders who 'obviously think differently.' " Sounds like that number is dwindling.