Today’s paragraphs come to us from the always-worthwhile powerlineblog.com regular, Paul Mirengoff.
Mr. Mirengoff’s latest commentary is about the whining, hand-wringing lament of Europe’s establishment wonks over three of President Trump’s decisions.
Which ones are they? What is Paul’s take on them? Read the following paragraphs (then click here for the rest of his piece) and see for yourself:
Our European partners feel that Trump “delight[s] in smashing transatlantic bonds.” The situation is so dire that, according to Josef Janning of the European Council on Foreign Relations, the post-World War ties that provided the basis for Western strength and peace for 70-plus years are probably gone forever.
But what actual policies and controversies support this European pessimism? The (Washington) Post’s article, by Griff Witte and Michael Birnbaum, cites three.
First, and apparently foremost, is Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. Second, Witte and Birnbaum point to “the bloodshed in the Gaza strip,” referring to it as a “Trump-ignited brushfire.”
Americans had no role in the Gaza bloodshed, so I assume the Post and the European leaders it speaks for mean the decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. In reality, the Gaza bloodshed was not caused by this decision, but let’s assume for the sake of argument that it was.
Does the transatlantic alliance really depend on America’s willingness to abide by what it considers a terrible nuclear deal and to keep its embassy in Israel outside that nation’s capital? These aren’t transatlantic issues (though, to be sure, Europeans want desperately to make money in Iran).
The third grievance of the Europeans/Washington Post is “the specter of an international trade war.” Here we finally have a legitimate transatlantic issue.
But right now, there is only the prospect of new American trade policies directed against European firms. A compromise may be in store.
Life was so much easier before Donald Trump took office.
The USA paid the lion’s share of NATO, while 23 of its 28 “partners” were in arrears, but unchallenged to pay up.
And since Iran’s nuclear capabilities were not threatening Europe – yet – why care if the middle east is incinerated? It’s just Jews and Arabs, right? Besides, look at all the money that can be extracted from those mullah’s before their sites turn on Paris, Rome, Madrid, etc.
Paul Mirengoff wins Paragraphs Of The Day for pointing out just how meaningless these whinings are….and just how much stronger we are as a nation when President Trump ignores them.
Whine on, guys. You still need us just as much, so you’re not going anywhere.
Or would you rather dump the USA and rely instead on the tender mercies of Tehran?
I didn’t think so.
