Discussion Question

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

A lot of other developed countries complain about America's role of "world police"--for example, our intervention in Bosnia in the 90s. Why don't these countries develop their military so that they can have a say in these situations and America doesn't HAVE to police the world?

 

I'm not looking for cliche answers like "the French have no testicles."

 

For instance, I know the lingering aura of Nazism is still very strong in Germany and thus they are very reluctant to act militarily or to arm themselves.

[Justice 0]

For instance, I know the lingering aura of Nazism is still very strong in Germany and thus they are very reluctant to act militarily or to arm themselves.

Eh, that's more the sad fact that they have a coalition government, which gives the Greens much more power than they should have. They aren't allowed to use or build up their military unless it's in defense, so they basically can't do anything or the Liberals lose power.

[Special K 0]

I don't think China and India want to freak each other out. Japan, for obvious reasons. Britain does participate. Between WWs I&II, French and Germany seem reluctant to engage in military conflict at all, this will probably continue at least until the generation that witnessed WWII has died, and the ghosts are somewhat put to rest.

[Guest MikeSC]

Europe lost their desire to fire with the barbarism of World War I. They seem to fervently believe that diplomacy always works and will do anything to avoid having it "not work".

 

There is also a deep cultural pacifism and appeasement streak in the populace.

-=Mike

[EricMM 0]

But there is a huge difference between an army and a police force.

 

One, I think, is practically useless against terrorism, one is good against terrorism.

 

One is not the other. The phrase "world-police" is a misnomer, armies are very bad at policing the world. Just because France is afraid of going back into the trenches doesn't mean that they can't fight the war on terror. I dunno WHY they can't fight the war on terror.

 

I think perception is one of the main things. I think if you asked most Europeans, they wouldn't feel as threatened by terrorism as most Americans. Thus they aren't willing AT ALL to raise a military and go to war to fight it.

[Guest MikeSC]

One of the reasons they can't (and, in all honesty, they can't) is that they have spent so little on the military --- especially R & D --- that they are not close to being a military power.

 

England is the best in Europe, and their military hardware is considerably less advanced than the US hardware.

-=Mike

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

Despite our opinions on Iraq, Canada very much wants America to police the world. That was the reasoning for the depletion of our military under Trudeau. The thinking was that the USA would never tolerate a hostile power sharing the longest border in the world with them, and that we would be protected while not having to actually do anything.

 

Our complaints end with Iraq. We are one of the few nations backing the US effort to end the genocide in Sudan, for example, and we are still in Afghanistan.

[Guest Olympic Slam]

Despite our opinions on Iraq, Canada very much wants America to police the world.  That was the reasoning for the depletion of our military under Trudeau.  The thinking was that the USA would never tolerate a hostile power sharing the longest border in the world with them, and that we would be protected while not having to actually do anything.

 

Our complaints end with Iraq.  We are one of the few nations backing the US effort to end the genocide in Sudan, for example, and we are still in Afghanistan.

Canada is one of the lone exceptions. I would wager that Canada spends MORE than necessary (it should be proportional to population difference between U.S).

 

Europe shouldn't have much of an excuse. I think their general belief is that the U.S is the big target, "let them do all the dirty work." Spoiled brats, that's what I say. Targeting Spain or France wouldn't do much to achieve a goal for any organized threat. It'd be like trying to bring down the U.S and going after Florida and Arizona. Important, but not much when it comes to the BIG picture. Europe is essentially an American suburb in the grand scheme of things.

 

And now with the European Union basically eroding generations of work towards building these countries into something unique, I would guess that the only major threats for Europe would have to come from within their own borders. Click here to see what I mean