Over the last two and a half odd years I have been very critical of our friends in Europe. There has always been differences between us, but in my view it became more than differences in the leadup to war in Iraq. From the very beginning some European countries, led by France, have obstructed and fought the United States every step of the way, making it harder for us and our troops, as well as our coalition, to succeed in Iraq. While we have toiled to bring freedom and democracy to that country, the European obstructionists have fought to allow a brutal dictator continue his reign of terror.
Simply put, the Europeans have been a thorn in the side to the United States, the coalition, and the Iraqis. By steadfastly refusing to hold Saddam to account and than refusing to help us out in the postwar construction, they have in many ways denied the efforts in Iraq legitimacy while granting it to the terrorists and insurgents trying to defeat us. Because of this Europe will be stuck on the wrong side of history when it is all said and done, and there is nothing that can be done about it.
Yet for the first time in maybe my lifetime I see fit to give France and her friends some credit. President Assad of Syria has tried every avenue he can find to wriggle out of having to withdraw from Lebanon. But instead of only the United States standing up to him, a united Europe has stood with us as well. With the whole world demanding in unison that Syria vacate Lebanon immediately and completely, Assad has had no where to go and no one to hide behind, which wasn't the case with Saddam for all those years.
Left with no other choice, Assad has promised that Syria will leave Lebanon in meetings with a U.N. envoy today, something he was refusing to do just days ago. The shared resolve by the United States, France, and the rest of Europe has been very encouraging, and my only regret is that we didn't have such unity when confronting Saddam a couple of years ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment