When our European cousins chide us for our skepticism about international institutions or our inclination to go it alone, it might be productive to consider that our experiences have differed from theirs. We don’t have the experience of an alliance that has brought us greater peace and security in any but a very indirect manner.
We do have the experience of alliances that have led us into war, that have cost us dearly, and in which our allies haven’t lived up to their side of the bargain.
So, rather than complaining about cowboys or gangsters or American disregard for the rule of law, it might be more productive to ask “What can we do so that Americans have a different experience?â€
It’s interesting to consider the actions of the British, Poles, and Italians in that light: they’re working to change our experience. The French and Germans, not so much.
Just a thought.
The Triple Entente didn’t work out all that well for them, or the German-led Triple Alliance. Maybe they should just avoid alliances that come in threes. (Like the Axis.) The Entente worked pretty well, and the whole Allies and subsequent NATO has been successful.
Sorry, I should have made clear that by “The Entente” I meant the cordiale one.
Most Europeans are less interested in a real alliance than in pushing responsibility up to another level so they don’t have to confront reality. I doubt that 0.5% of Germans are aware of the UN’s new human rights organ, which even the NYT trashed today.