Althouse: The Germans are annoying Professor Bainbridge.

May 6, 2011

The Germans are annoying Professor Bainbridge.

"To be lectured on military proprieties by a people who are free to do so because they've been able to hide behind our security skirts for decades takes the proverbial cake."

105 comments:

The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/6/11, 9:32 AM
Patrick said...: Yeah, too soon.; 5/6/11, 9:37 AM
Robert said...: Well, if anyone knows about government illegally killing people, it is the Germans.; 5/6/11, 9:38 AM
test said...: "Those are thoughts of revenge that one should not harbor. That is from the Middle Ages."

Why do people saying this was revenge? First the same facts are true of any punishment, yet no country in the world allows murderers to go free as long as they promise not to do it again. Does that mean all punishment is revenge and therefore from the Middle ages?

Secondly, we killed Bin Laden to degrade his terrorist organization's ability to wage war.

The claim that this is revenge is so obviously wrong you have to wonder what their hidden agenda is. It's virtually impossible to arrive at such stupid conclusions honestly.; 5/6/11, 9:44 AM
Skyler said...: I agree that much of European culture, including German, is very annoying and unrealistic.

But . . .

And this is a big but.

Germany has for most of the decades complained about, been "encouraged" not to develop strong military powers. They have been awash in guilt and their neighbors have preferred them to be quite docile.

So while the larger point made by Bainbridge is valid, we shouldn't be too critical that they are under our security skirts. We put them there.; 5/6/11, 9:46 AM
Skyler said...: What's wrong with revenge, Marshal?; 5/6/11, 9:47 AM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: I miss Dieter from Sprockets. Who can forget Germany's most disturbing homes videos?; 5/6/11, 9:47 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: Amazing how pacifistic one can become when their cities were turned into rubble.; 5/6/11, 9:49 AM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/6/11, 9:49 AM
Anonymous said...: The public cheering was unfortunate, and showed a side of the American public that is disturbing.; 5/6/11, 9:51 AM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/6/11, 9:52 AM
test said...: "Skyler said...

What's wrong with revenge, Marshal?"

Revenge implies an emotional or disproportionate response.

Punishment or justice is better.; 5/6/11, 9:56 AM
Original Mike said...: "For European observers, these kinds of public gatherings [i.e., at the WTC after bin laden's death was announced] are indeed somewhat embarrassing, because they demonstrate a kind of unthinking naïveté, and also because there is something provocative about them. ... the photos of the revelers at Ground Zero have now become the definitive symbol of the entire nation's mood. That is something that cannot be changed, unfortunately."

I was a little embarrassed (that's too strong a word, but I can't think of another at the moment) at the "USA" chants and the flag waving.

I feel a lot better about it now that I know it offended pisants like this.; 5/6/11, 9:57 AM
Tim said...: Quayle,

Disturbing, how? The message to al Qaeda terrorists is, "you kill some of us, we'll kill you, even if it takes ten years, and then celebrate the fact."

I can see how that might disturb al Qaeda, but no one else should be troubled.; 5/6/11, 9:58 AM
Anonymous said...: Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, the guilt that was drilled into the Germans psyche has transformed into a sense of moral superiority.; 5/6/11, 9:58 AM
Original Mike said...: "So while the larger point made by Bainbridge is valid, we shouldn't be too critical that they are under our security skirts. We put them there."

Fine, but then they should know when to shut up.; 5/6/11, 9:58 AM
Fred4Pres said...: I am surprised PB did not declare that German Wines suck and are only good for pickling cabbage.

They don't. But that would really piss off the Germans.; 5/6/11, 10:00 AM
Tim said...: Don't want to see Americans celebrating the death of terrorists?

Then don't be one.; 5/6/11, 10:00 AM
Joe said...: We should have pulled all our bases out of Germany two decades ago. The only facility arguably useful is Ramstein Air Base, though even there I'd argue that any foreign venture than absolutely needs Ramstein is a foreign venture we probably shouldn't be doing.

(Besides, Ramstein is a NATO installation, so for NATO related operations, we would still be able to use it.); 5/6/11, 10:01 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: For European observers, these kinds of public gatherings [i.e., at the WTC after bin laden's death was announced] are indeed somewhat embarrassing, because they demonstrate a kind of unthinking naïveté,

Classic. I recall reading about a Morrisy concert in Ireland I believe and in between songs Morrisy let the audience know that Reagen died. Cheers and applause followed.

Guess it just depends on the person.; 5/6/11, 10:01 AM
test said...: "Original Mike said
I was a little embarrassed (that's too strong a word, but I can't think of another at the moment) at the "USA" chants and the flag waving.

I feel a lot better about it now that I know it offended pisants like this."

Dead on balls accurate.; 5/6/11, 10:03 AM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
Revenge implies an emotional or disproportionate response.

Key word IMPLIES…..Imply does NOT mean anything more real than COULD BE….please get back with the facts, so we’ll know what IS, not would COULD BE, would you?; 5/6/11, 10:04 AM
Original Mike said...: "Revenge implies an emotional or disproportionate response.

Punishment or justice is better."

An emotional response??? Do you remeber 9/11? Dar es Salaam and Nairobi? The Khobar Towers? The USS Cole?

I've got no problem with revenge.; 5/6/11, 10:05 AM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
We should have pulled all our bases out of Germany two decades ago. The only facility arguably useful is Ramstein Air Base, though even there I'd argue that any foreign venture than absolutely needs Ramstein is a foreign venture we probably shouldn't be doing.

Wow, for a Joe, meaning incredibly handsome and smart you couldn’t be more wrong…much of our support for Afghanistan, Deseret Storm, and OIF can out of or thru Europe…UNLESS you think Infinite Justice, Desert Strom, or OIF were wrong….; 5/6/11, 10:07 AM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
Revenge implies an emotional or disproportionate response.

Punishment or justice is better.

And I hate to *pop* your bubble Mr. Spock, but an EMOTIONAL response is PERFECTLY justified….Humans aren’t and shouldn’t be “disembodied brains”……; 5/6/11, 10:08 AM
test said...: "An emotional response??? Do you remember 9/11? Dar es Salaam and Nairobi? The Khobar Towers? The USS Cole?"

I don't think you're following me. The term revenge carries a negative connotation which implies the act described isn't fully appropriate. Killing Bin Laden is not revenge because the act isn't disproportionate.; 5/6/11, 10:13 AM
test said...: "Joe said...

(The Crypto Jew)
Revenge implies an emotional or disproportionate response.

Key word IMPLIES…..Imply does NOT mean anything more real than COULD BE….please get back with the facts, so we’ll know what IS, not would COULD BE, would you?"

The English language is nuanced. If you can't deal with that speak something else.; 5/6/11, 10:16 AM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
implies the act described isn't fully appropriate.

You’re hedging…implies, not fully appropriate…the only final judge of our acts is Yhwh, He will dis-integrate out actions and motivations for a final judgment…until then please stand on the issue, assassination of Usama good or not…stop hiding behind “weasel words” that rely upon a Yhwh-like ability to parse motives….”revenge” isn’t bad, necessarily…would killing be acceptable because he stole my game of “Life” as a teen, no…is revenge for 30,000-plus dead acceptable, yes.; 5/6/11, 10:17 AM
Skyler said...: Marshall explained, "Revenge implies an emotional or disproportionate response."

How is that implied to be disproportionate? The man deserved to die, did he not? Revenge is just as good as reason as any other.

I celebrated. If I were allowed to drink, I'd have been doing so.; 5/6/11, 10:19 AM
Original Mike said...: @Marshal: Got it.

But I would quibble with those who think revenge should have a negative connotation. I've got no problem with revenge when it's deserved. And if anybody deserved it, it was bin Laden.; 5/6/11, 10:19 AM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
The English language is nuanced. If you can't deal with that speak something else.

ALL languages are NUANCED Inuit has multiple words for “Ice”…because the state of the ice is critical to life and death on the pack ice…that “nuance” allows Inuits to communicate concepts effectively….nuanced designed to OBSCURE rather than ENHANCE understanding is bad….it’s fudging, it’s hedging….; 5/6/11, 10:19 AM
MadisonMan said...: What Skyler said.

It's high time we closed bases in Europe, too. Long past high time.; 5/6/11, 10:24 AM
test said...: Skyler,

He did deserve to die, that's why it's better to call his killing justice or punishment rather than revenge.

To understand what I mean about the negative connotation of revenge consider the difference in using these terms. Punishment or justice imply the killing was appropriate, while revenge does not.; 5/6/11, 10:24 AM
Joe said...: Joe (The Crypto Jew),

We go through mainland Europe because it's convenient and the bases are there. We don't need them. We could easily go through other avenues. Right now, Qatar arguably is home to our most critical foreign bases.

Take a look at how many military bases we still have in Europe and Japan. Few are needed and most are a gargantuan waste of money.

Besides, I believe Afghanistan qualifies as one of the ventures we shouldn't be doing.; 5/6/11, 10:24 AM
Skyler said...: Marshall further explained, "The term revenge carries a negative connotation which implies the act described isn't fully appropriate."

I don't know where you get your definition, but if that's the one you're using, then I understand you, but I still don't agree.

I can't think of any fate for Osama bin Laden that would have been disproportionate or fully appropriate.

And if it weren't for that cursed General Order #1, I'd be drinking many beers in celebration of his becoming fish food.; 5/6/11, 10:25 AM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
It's high time we closed bases in Europe, too. Long past high time.

Again Desert Strom, OIF…good or bad? If “bad” fine, then close the bases in Europe. If good, then no, don’t close the bases. Bases are for a PURPOSE, please define that purpose or the lack of purpose you see.; 5/6/11, 10:26 AM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
Besides, I believe Afghanistan qualifies as one of the ventures we shouldn't be doing.

9/11 ring any bells….; 5/6/11, 10:27 AM
cold pizza said...: Wow. Those Germans are quite the militant pacifists (and proud of their humility, too!). -cp

wv: procyte: giving up the amateur status.; 5/6/11, 10:29 AM
Lincolntf said...: I served in Germany for three years. While a few of the smaller bases could be closed/reassigned to the German Army without much trouble, we definitely need the bulk of them. The bases in the U.K., Germany, Italy, etc. are for OUR benefit, not the Euros. Sure, they get the benefit of our presence, and have probably abused it, but we get to keep a spare U.S. military half way around the world. The location, the training opportunities, the deterrent effect, etc. all accrue to our benefit.; 5/6/11, 10:29 AM
Skyler said...: I also agree that much of our military in Germany and Japan is misplaced. A few of those army units should be in the fight rather than living in luxury. Germany can fend for itself, and its neighbors are now voluntarily in the exact type of arrangement that they fought against in the 20th century wars. We don't even need Germany for staging in our current war. I got here in Afghanistan via Kyrgystan, not Germany.; 5/6/11, 10:30 AM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
The term revenge carries a negative connotation which implies the act described isn't fully appropriate."

Who cares about “connotation”? You’re arguing like an English major…an act carries many “connotations” depending upon the audience that view it. Is revenge good or bad? Because now you’re using other people’s views to define the morality or immorality of an act…it’s like asking the Germans whether or not the Allied Bombing Campaign from 1940-45 was good or bad….who cares?; 5/6/11, 10:30 AM
Skyler said...: Lincoln, that's a legitimate point. Our presence and their weakness keeps the Euros subordinate to us. Just like Athens required its allies to provide hoplites and ships, or they could pay money instead, with the preference being to provide money. This allowed Athens to stay militarily dominant over their allies. This is a worthwhile purpose, but I'm not sure if it's worth it.; 5/6/11, 10:33 AM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)

Well Skyler I’m not so sure of the analogy…I don’t think we want Europe militarily subordinate to the US, it IS…Libya case-in-point….Certainly the current European struggles in Libya highlight Europe’s military weakness, but I’m not sure that the US wanted this as a demonstration…I would argue it just kinda happened, due to confluence of foreign events (France and Britain’s oil contracts) and US domestic politics (Obama/Jarrett/Hillary in-fighting). The result has been a, mostly, Euro-intervention, with very little US support…and the results show. But again, I think this is a “bug” not feature of the policy…; 5/6/11, 10:38 AM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: Skyler said...

What's wrong with revenge, Marshal?

That sounds like a line out of a western.; 5/6/11, 10:39 AM
Original Mike said...: I think "revenege" describes the state of feeling satisfaction over the act or outcome. Some think we shouldn't feel good about killing people like bin Laden and that it makes us a lesser person. I say, if it makes me a lesser person, fine. I can live with that.; 5/6/11, 10:42 AM
edutcher said...: I wish the Krauts would make up their minds. They spent 2, not one, world wars slaughtering anybody who got in their way - innocent civilians included.

Now, when we're saving them, they go all wussy.

Marshal said...

The English language is nuanced. If you can't deal with that speak something else.

Another nuancy boy.; 5/6/11, 10:42 AM
Original Mike said...: "That sounds like a line out of a western."

Good one.; 5/6/11, 10:43 AM
AllenS said...: The best thing about foreign bases, is that it gives young men a chance to screw some of the local foreign girls. Other than jumping out of airplanes it was the only thing that I liked about being in the Army.

WV: skyja

ps: Skyler, be careful.; 5/6/11, 10:43 AM
Joe said...: Joe (The Crypto Jew),

Note that at one point I qualified mainland Europe. A few bases in England are sufficient.

Second, Qatar probably plays a more important role in Iraq and Afghanistan than Germany.

Finally, not I said "Afghanistan qualifies as one of the ventures we shouldn't be doing."

That's present tense. Afghanistan is a nation building nightmare with no end in sight. It would be cheaper to simply pay chieftans to keep the Taliban and al Qaida at bay (which is how we won the inititial engagement in the first place.); 5/6/11, 10:54 AM
Smilin' Jack said...: Those are thoughts of revenge that one should not harbor. That is from the Middle Ages.

Middle Ages? Gosh, I don't think we have to go quite that far back to find examples of vengeance. In fact, within living memory there was a prominent German leader who responded quite vengefully when an attempt was made on his life. Tom Cruise made a movie about it.; 5/6/11, 10:59 AM
Joe said...: Even if there are bases in foreign countries that have stategic value, I say that most have no strategic value whatsoever, even at a diplomatic level. Far too many are maintained because they are nice assignments. (What's perverse is that in order to justify many of these bases, work is essentially invented. There's a base in Japan that processes paperwork that could easily be done out of Hawaii or San Diego, but you have to justify the bureacracy somehow.); 5/6/11, 11:02 AM
Anonymous said...: You know how people who've quit smoking can become intolerably self-righteous and preachy on the subject? I figure it's the same thing with Germans and violence.; 5/6/11, 11:03 AM
rhhardin said...: "takes the proverbial cake."

What proverb is that?; 5/6/11, 11:06 AM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
That's present tense. Afghanistan is a nation building nightmare with no end in sight. It would be cheaper to simply pay chieftans to keep the Taliban and al Qaida at bay (which is how we won the inititial engagement in the first place.)

Sadly they don’t stay bought…and it isn’t just money…PRIOR to the “Initial engagement” the Taliban were on the verge conquering the entire nation. Simply leaving Afghanistan without serious nation-building runs the risk of returning to a 9/10 situation. I’m a realist enough to know Afghanistan isn’t going to look like New Jersey any time soon, but we need to stomp quite a few more Taliban heads before we leave.; 5/6/11, 11:08 AM
Original Mike said...: Libya would make a nice, central location.; 5/6/11, 11:11 AM
traditionalguy said...: The display of chauvinist pride after the enemy's CIC was killed was like the one for our 1980 Olympic Hockey Team which beat the USSR. The Germans are jealous. As for retribution being barbaric, that is the reverse of the truth. Mankind only has a civilized life because of enforcing the Death Penalty for murder. War is organized murder done for theft, and it draws a retribution which is the only way to end the thief's barbaric ways. (E.g., the Japanese Army units that conducted the "Rape of Nanking" was finally stopped by war waged against them on Guadalcanal by the USA's professional retribution Corps.; 5/6/11, 11:18 AM
Lincolntf said...: "There's a base in Japan that processes paperwork that could easily be done out of Hawaii or San Diego, but you have to justify the bureacracy somehow."

What base is this? What department? It is strange to me that ppwk is being shipped overseas for processing. Our main processing points are in MD, Illinois and Indiana (last I checked).
There is no reason for "make work" at any military base, by the way. Training, whether general or specialized, can go on 24/7 for years and not a second of it would be wasted.; 5/6/11, 11:29 AM
rcocean said...: Why pick on the Germans? I assume the Swedes, French, Dutch, and Danes are saying the same thing.

But bashing the Krauts is always fun, if somewhat tiresome. Has anyone brought up Hitler? Someone told me he was German.; 5/6/11, 11:41 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: Skyler,

While the larger point made by Bainbridge is valid, we shouldn't be too critical that they are under our security skirts. We put them there.

And with good reason, so they ought to shut up. That said, I agree with everything you said, Skyler:

I found germany to be a lovely country and people - except for the Nazis.; 5/6/11, 11:47 AM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/6/11, 11:48 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: As for Desert Storm, keep in mind that it was within a handful of years from the fall of the "evil empire". For good reason, that was where our best armored units were stationed, and they were thus used in the offensive.

There are other Europeans who really don't want the Germans to rearm. Remembering that they were the major power on the other side in two World Wars, and if seriously rearmed, could again militarily dominate the western portion of the continent. The French, for good reason, are apprehensive. They got their rear ends kicked the last time they fought, and have one of the strongest militaries around there right now. But the apprehension also is there from some of the smaller countries, where the Germans honked on the way through, last time around.

But, as we are still seeing with Libya, no one there really has the military power to do much of anything any more, without our presence.; 5/6/11, 11:50 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: Quayle,

The public cheering was unfortunate, and showed a side of the American public that is disturbing.

Not to me. As I've traveled the world, I've wondered why other cultures can be proud of themselves - for almost any reason - but we have to watch ourselves for signs of patriotism. We killed a tyrant - we always kill tyrants - and we should be proud of it, happy about it, and willing to cheer their demise.

U.S.A.!; 5/6/11, 11:50 AM
Lincolntf said...: Seconded, Crack.
Shame of achievement is just one more side effect of the "no-score soccer" culture we're steeping in.; 5/6/11, 11:53 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: Tg,

The Germans are jealous.

That's a fact, about almost everybody else, most Americans don't get - they think we're equals and their arguments are valid - when the truth is we're a superpower and the others will say just about anything to demoralize us, to make us question ourselves, to give them an opening to usurp us.

The sooner we get that through our heads, the better off we'll be.; 5/6/11, 12:02 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: rcocean,

Why pick on the Germans? I assume the Swedes, French, Dutch, and Danes are saying the same thing.

Yeah, and fuck them, too.

Bashing the Krauts is always fun, if somewhat tiresome. Has anyone brought up Hitler? Someone told me he was German.

Yeah, and the country followed him to Hell. Get real.; 5/6/11, 12:04 PM
PaulV said...: retribution is not revenge. Neither is lancing and infection.; 5/6/11, 12:05 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Bruce Hayden,

The French, for good reason, are apprehensive. They got their rear ends kicked the last time they fought, and have one of the strongest militaries around there right now.

The French are a bunch of confused pussies. They and England, together, can't even bring down Kaddafi - mostly because they're confused - some "strong" military, that.; 5/6/11, 12:08 PM
Anonymous said...: "So while the larger point made by Bainbridge is valid, we shouldn't be too critical that they are under our security skirts. We put them there."

Fair enough. But they're the ones that enthusiastically took up long-term housekeeping under there. So not only is the larger point vaild, but the specific criticism still stands.; 5/6/11, 12:29 PM
Phil 314 said...: Well Sixty won't be going on any high level diplomatic missions in the near future.; 5/6/11, 12:34 PM
Phil 314 said...: I cannot tell you how much this mentality annoys me. This form of cheap criticism of the US by Europeans, only to later jump on the footboard and let Americans give them a ride in security-political matters.

Well many libertarians and liberals would point out that the US does have an alternative:

Get out of Europe and the role of World Police; 5/6/11, 12:37 PM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/6/11, 12:49 PM
Lincolntf said...: Anyone who thinks Isolationism is the answer doesn't have a clue. First of all, it's impossible. Second, it's a juvenile reflex. You want to live in a country where Isolationism is a viable option? Move to the lowliest shithole on Earth.
As long as we in the U.S. has wealth and power, others will be conspiring to take it away. The entirety of human history makes this point pretty clearly.; 5/6/11, 12:53 PM
jr565 said...: marshall is right about the connotation of the word revenge, and is saying that it's not revenge (when thinking of that word negatively) BECAUSE us getting OBL is in fact just.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenge

Although revenge resembles some conceptions of justice, vengeance is usually depicted as more injurious and punitive as opposed to being harmonious and restorative. Whereas justice implies actions undertaken and supported by a legitimate judicial system grounded upon a foundation of ethics and morals of the authorities, revenge implies actions undertaken by an individual or narrowly defined group outside the boundaries of judicial or ethical conduct whose goal is to force a wrongdoer to suffer the same or greater pain than that which was originally inflicted to a party.
That being said, sometimes revenge iS justice.; 5/6/11, 1:10 PM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
But Hamburg judge Heinz Uthmann went even further. He alleges that the chancellor's statement was nothing short of illegal, and filed a criminal complaint against Merkel midweek, the daily Hamburger Morgenpost reported Friday.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/a-761077.html; 5/6/11, 1:18 PM
Bender said...: Yes, maybe they are annoyed for having been convicted of war crimes for doing what Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama apparently authorized in the execution of bin Laden.; 5/6/11, 1:19 PM
Fred Drinkwater said...: Revenge is not a useful motive.
When the US went into Afghanistan I was happy. Not because I thought they "deserved" to be invaded. I felt pretty much the same way I felt when I was cleaning the rats nest out of my garden shed. When I was done I sat in the sun, drank a beer, and was happier than I had been that morning.
It wasn't such a big deal that I felt compelled to wave a flag, though.; 5/6/11, 1:40 PM
rcocean said...: "Anyone who thinks Isolationism is the answer doesn't have a clue."

Way to knockdown that strawman! But thanks. Let me add, if you think "Prohibition" is the answer - you're wrong.; 5/6/11, 1:52 PM
Fred4Pres said...: Crack is 100% right.

I remember diving off of Borneo at Sipidan Island. I was there by myself (I was a poor college student but managed the scratch to get me there). There was an American guy with his wife. There was a Dutch guy and his wife.

Everthing was going great. Everone was a serious diver. At night we were hanging out in the Gilligans Island style kitchen, having some Tiger beers (nice and cold). The Dutch guy in particular had some great stories about diving in Irian Jaya, Flores, and Kommodo. Then the American guy made some comment about the United States that was slightly arrogant (like implying American exceptionalism), but was said as a dry joke. I forgot what it even was, it was that minor. But the Dutch guy was really offended. It was amazing.

And I have seen that time and time again overseas. What can you do? Speak softly and carry a big stick.

Now I do not think we have to apologize for anything. OBL killed thousands of Americans directly and perhaps hundreds of thousands of others (mostly muslims overseas) through the murderous acts of al Qaeda and its affiliates.

The Obama Administration should have said "we killed him, we buried him at sea, beyond that we have no comment." Give the critics nothing. Say nothing but that line and no comment.; 5/6/11, 1:54 PM
Crimso said...: "It's not revenge he's after. It's a reckoning"

Val Kilmer's Doc Holliday in "Tombstone."; 5/6/11, 2:18 PM
Lincolntf said...: Where's the "strawman"? I'm talking reality here. Say we leave Europe and Asia in order to "save money", or whatever other motive the Isolationists have today, and what exactrly will that achieve? Absolutely nothing but to make the world a more war-ravaged place and our country less influential in it. Try to think ahead a few years before you postulate undoing strategic decisions that have taken generations to realize.; 5/6/11, 2:22 PM
William said...: "You don't make peace with your friends. You make peace with your enemies." If only we had someone with the vision of Obama or Hillary back then to reach out to Hitler to negotiate an honorable peace...How many lives would have been saved and what a pretty place the world would be now.; 5/6/11, 2:27 PM
Original Mike said...: "But Hamburg judge Heinz Uthmann went even further. He alleges that the chancellor's statement was nothing short of illegal, and filed a criminal complaint against Merkel midweek, the daily Hamburger Morgenpost reported Friday.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/a-761077.html"

OK, who, upthread, was arguing that we are being unfair by singling out the Germans?; 5/6/11, 2:36 PM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)

To be fair original Mike, the Spanish have, recently, been, IMO, the most obnoxious and egregious…so we’ll see. Right NOW, the BRD has the lead, but it’s entirely possible some Spanish prosecutor will seek an indictment or warrant, and then SPAIN will move to the front of the pack in the race to be the most annoyingly self-righteous.; 5/6/11, 2:43 PM
Quaestor said...: Marshal wrote: [W]e killed Bin Laden to degrade his terrorist organization's ability to wage war.

Exactly. In WW2 the British SOE created a plan to kill Hitler called Operation Foxly. The plan was shelved because the Allied Chiefs of Staff decided that Hitler alive was a bigger hindrance to the German war effort than Hitler dead.

Skyler wrote: We put them there [under our security skirts]

Yes, and they found that position very comfortable.

t-man wrote: [T]he guilt that was drilled into the Germans psyche has transformed into a sense of moral superiority.

On the nose, t-man. The Germans are big into this "superiority" thing in general -- beer superiority, car superiority, racial superiority... they need to be reminded of their history from time to time to keep that "superiority" thing in check. I can tell you some stories about barroom debates I had with Germans, most of them end with the German slinking off muttering "I wasn't even born then..."

wv: inhaute - having your computers, switches and routers custom built

wv: perstine - the state of your text when you think your spelling is perfect but it's not.; 5/6/11, 2:47 PM
Quaestor said...: Damn fingers! my wv was so cute, but I ruined it, "inhaute" is supposed to read "ithaute"; 5/6/11, 2:51 PM
edutcher said...: Bruce Hayden said...

...

The French, for good reason, are apprehensive. They got their rear ends kicked the last time they fought, and have one of the strongest militaries around there right now.

The French haven't been worth much militarily since Bonaparte went to Russia (and not a whole lot before he gave them a whiff of grapeshot...). It took a century to recover from that and they haven't gotten their mojo back yet.

Fred Drinkwater said...

Revenge is not a useful motive.

Probably not, but it beats none at all.; 5/6/11, 2:55 PM
Chennaul said...: Original Mike

Volokh's Kenneth Anderson has had his eye on a whole list of Euro Weenies...

I'm not sure they are all German.

My eyes were crossing too much to think about looking that up.

Somehow when you say "international" the Euros think you must be abdicating to them....

*****
To the good looking Joe who's not as attratcive because he's crouched down in I-mode and some others-

What forward projection -overseas bases-enable is rapid response. That capability saves military lives in the long run.

We have an all voluntary force and we aren't going to win wars of attrition in the future.

That means we have to take upmost advantage of technology and timely response to mind the "numbers gap."

Why did WW II cost us so much-you could say the dithering.

Think we can pull that off again-when we don't even have enough "youth" o support Social Security?

Plus terrorism has changed the playing field some of you guys are still stuck in nation state mode.; 5/6/11, 3:04 PM
Chennaul said...: The French haven't been worth much militarily since Bonaparte went to Russia (and not a whole lot before he gave them a whiff of grapeshot...). It took a century to recover from that and they haven't gotten their mojo back yet.

How many did they lose in WW I?

I forgot the numbers they were so atrocious.

They are in the Cote D'Ivoire now-maybe they get their MoJo back.; 5/6/11, 3:07 PM
Chennaul said...: SPQR

Or you could translate it to mean-

In heat.

Ha!; 5/6/11, 3:08 PM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
How many did they lose in WW I?

I forgot the numbers they were so atrocious.

They are in the Cote D'Ivoire now-maybe they get their MoJo back.
•
Beyond joking I am not really a Cheese Eating Surrender Monkey type…but the fact that France suffered more combat casualties than any nation in WWI, either in gross or per capita terms, is irrelevant. Had it not been for the British Empire and the United States the Third Republic would have lost WWI. They certainly worked very hard to from 1914-17….only the advent of fresh US troops and Petain in command of the French Army saved their bacon.

But I agree, beating of the inhabitants of Cote D’Ivoire may restore their ability to frighten hungry, Third World children….; 5/6/11, 3:11 PM
Synova said...: I think it was revenge for some people, and have thought that for those who made Bin Laden the centerpiece of everything that must have been it. It made me slightly uncomfortable. Other than that it seemed myopic - politically, morally, strategically, whatever. I distrust heat and tend to feel that justice should be cold.

"Reckoning" is an excellent word.

So is "pisant" for those clutching their pearls over a bit of celebration.

And lastly... every single person who had to look into a casket of a loved one, if they were *fortunate* enough to have that opportunity and doubly so if they were not, ought to have gotten to look also at the dead body of Bin Laden without some moral scold fussing about jingoistic triumphalism.; 5/6/11, 3:13 PM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/6/11, 3:15 PM
Lincolntf said...: "their bacon."

They wish. All we saved was their cold tomato soup and garlicky snails.
(Ironically, the bacon of Kuwait WAS saved but they couldn't eat it.); 5/6/11, 3:16 PM
Amartel said...: "For European observers, these kinds of public gatherings are indeed somewhat embarrassing, because they demonstrate a kind of unthinking naïveté, and also because there is something provocative about them."

"European* Observers" just gonna observe.

That's all they are: observers. Standing on the sidelines, the uninvited and unwelcome referees. Which is embarrassing, no doubt, especially given the naivete that comes from the lack of any er, recent, empirical knowledge. And it is provocative; it provokes contempt.

*"Germans" became "Europeans" for a reason, yaknow.; 5/6/11, 3:29 PM
Synova said...: "For European observers, these kinds of public gatherings are indeed somewhat embarrassing, because they demonstrate a kind of unthinking naïveté, and also because there is something provocative about them."

Just wanted to point out that Europeans just LOVE American "unthinking naïveté".

It's like Christmas.; 5/6/11, 3:42 PM
NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...: Not to mention what the Germans did before 1945!; 5/6/11, 3:56 PM
Joe said...: Lincolntf, the strawman goes both ways. Leaving all our overseas bases in places achieves exactly what? Most of your arguments are just made up bullshit.

(This isn't isolationism; the number of overseas bases we have is absurd and just as pointless as the number of domestic bases we had until a few years ago.); 5/6/11, 4:24 PM
Lincolntf said...: My arguments are "made up bullshit"? Fuck off.
How many wars have Western Europe and/or Japan been involved in during our post-war presence? How many before? How frequently? How many would've occurred had we not been there?
Do you want to remove not only the troops but the listening posts, missile sites, etc.? Believe me that we're not going to be able to have one without the other. It costs a relative pittance to have troops stationed in USAREUR rather than Kansas or New Jersey, but the advantages are huge.; 5/6/11, 4:35 PM
Synova said...: I think that the best thing to have done would have been to build a ginormous base in the middle Iraq. The region is more important than Europe, security wise, and that would be a better location than Germany. The operations dependent on Ramstein could be... moved.

I suppose we'd never have done it anyway because we were trying so hard not to give the impression of occupation, but the thing of that is that we're not *occupying* Germany or Japan or England or (before it got covered in a couple feet of ash) the Philippines. A bit of cultural imperialism, perhaps, but that goes both ways. American families that grow up overseas have a unique understanding that cultural tourists, no matter how smug, do not.

The notion of Iraq being an *accompanied* tour would be a fine measurement for success in the middle east.; 5/6/11, 4:39 PM
Phil 314 said...: Sixty;
Phil you make a good case for the return of the Caliphate. Hope you like living in the 7th century.

You don't know me so I'm assuming you're just ranting at your computer screen and whatever other demons might be haunting you at this point in time.

And I would refer back to your initial, top-of-the-thread comment. Nothing like genocide jokes to lighten up the mood.; 5/6/11, 5:33 PM
Phil 314 said...: And Sixty;
If you were responding to this:

Well many libertarians and liberals would point out that the US does have an alternative:

Get out of Europe and the role of World Police

You've assumed I agree with that stance. My point was that some on the right do want to abandon many if not all foreign bases. Not a position I take but I can understand their viewpoint. Too many Americans want America to be "exceptional", "powerful" and "well liked". Probably not going to happen.; 5/6/11, 5:39 PM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/6/11, 8:05 PM
Skyler said...: Synova wrote, "I think that the best thing to have done would have been to build a ginormous base in the middle Iraq. The region is more important than Europe, security wise, and that would be a better location than Germany. The operations dependent on Ramstein could be... moved."

Exactly right. Poland, the nations comprising the Commonwealth of Independent States (Azerbaijan, Georgia, etc.) and other former Soviet Bloc states have expressed interest in getting us to support them against their former oppressors.

My impression is that they do not trust us to stand by them yet and fear a back lash from Russia if they align more with us.; 5/6/11, 11:02 PM
Synova said...: I'm not sure if you were agreeing with me or not, Skyler.

I do know that I was utterly appalled when Obama dissed Poland.; 5/7/11, 1:07 AM
Lincolntf said...: Synova, the abandonment of plans for missile bases in Poland (and Czech Rep., to a lesser extent) was the epitome of abandoning a long sought strategic advantage for transient reasons. Not to mention the blow to freedom loving Eastern Europeans who saw 60 years of yearning and waiting rendered moot with a pen stroke. That's when I knew for sure that this Adminstration was dangerously incompetent.; 5/7/11, 8:04 AM