“It is an undeniable privilege of every man to prove himself right in the thesis that the world is his enemy; for if he reiterates it frequently enough and makes it the background of his conduct he is bound eventually to be right.”
George Kennan
The Post War economic and societal benefits America has derived from a peaceful Europe are immeasurable. For 75 years now we have enjoyed ever expanding markets for our exports and a political/military alliance that has not only embraced our leadership, but been willing to subordinate countless domestic political requirements to requisites we deemed necessary.
When “no nukes’ was the unifying rally cry of Europe in the early 80s, flooding capitals with hundreds of thousands of protesters, Chancellor Helmut Schmidt accepted US intermediate-range Pershing II missiles on German soil. When George W Bush was knee deep in the folly of Iraq, nobody was more unwavering in their support than England’s Tony Blair. And as Barack Obama agonized over his options in Syria, French President Francois Hollande offered staunch support despite his desire for a more aggressive approach.
These are but several examples of a long list, European leaders falling in line with the ebbs and flows of the US political landscape. No doubt plenty of contentious issues have arisen throughout the decades, but they were never permitted to poison the well of good will. Whether it be a conservative revolution or “hope and change,” NATO has faithfully danced with the partner that brung em….. Until now.
In Munich this week, the annual security conference of the Western alliance, until 2017 an opportunity to bury the hatchet and express genuine mutual gratitude for cooperation that has kept the peace for three-quarters of a century, exhibited how truly bad the vibes have become. Judging by the reception accorded VP Mike Pence, there to yet again upbraid Europeans for mooching off US generosity, and demand they mimic America’s war footing toward Iran, patience has been fully exhausted, and tolerance for Trumpian guff has waned to the point even basic cordiality seems a bridge too far. When manners give way to pride and self-respect, things are going south in a hurry.
The long overdue pushback was led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on her way toward retirement and no longer able to abide factless preening by American oafs. Merkel was as systematic as she was devastating in her criticisms of Trump’s destructive disengagement from global leadership. She made little effort to hide her disgust toward the President’s reckless withdrawal from Syria, categorically asserting it only benefits Russia and Iran. Merkel was equally disdainful of Trump’s mindless protectionism, how are BMWs made in South Carolina a danger to US shores, she wondered aloud. Moreover, she spoke for everyone when making clear allies will not follow blindly America’s annulment of the Iranian nuclear pact it negotiated just several years ago.
Pence was pathetic following the standing ovation Merkel’s presentation received. Absolute silence met the breathless announcement he brought all greetings from his master, who at that very moment was playing his 168th round of taxpayer funded golf. When Pence declared Trump “the leader of the free world”…. a dropped pin would have echoed throughout the hall. America first doesn’t mean alone, intoned Pence, and the US is “leading on the world stage once again.” Only Ivanka Trump was clapping.
Europe has had enough. Two years ago nobody imagined things could deteriorate so fast, but the icy stares and incredulous looks directed at Pence as he cluelessly kept to his John Bolton script, said it all. America who?!
It was later left to Joe Biden of all people to assuage the bad feelings Pence only reinforced. We’ll come to our senses soon, Biden promised the gathering. Just a blip on the screen. An ugly aberration I’ll work tirelessly to undo if my yet-to-be-announced candidacy bears fruit. Believe me, we won’t make this kind of mistake twice. Most in the hall wished they could believe him, but the assault Trump buffoonery foists on the senses sorely tests any inventory of faith. Four years is going to be very hard to do… eight an unimaginable specter.
Yet and still, a “screw the US” mentality is beginning to grow, based on the idea that taking Trump at his word and proceeding accordingly is only prudent, preferable to sitting by the phone waiting for news of his ouster. Trouble is, European unity is itself fraying at the seams. Brexit and Trump wannabes in places like Hungary and Poland, who Secretary of State Pompeo happened to be coddling at practically the same moment Pence was bombing in Munich, make this the worst possible time for American-NATO estrangement. Given the fractures forming left and right, is a return to 19th century balance-of-power arrangements that far fetched?
Of course all of this couldn’t sound better to Putin, who’s name and country were conspicuously absent from Pence’s remarks. In fact, it’s become fair for Europeans to ask whether Trump’s America even shares their view of Russia as an adversary any longer. Certainly nothing from the President’s mouth or twitter account would allay that fear. Trump divides the world into two camps: those who “treat me fair” and those who don’t. Pep talks for Chairman Kim, perhaps the world’s worst dictator, are as appropriate to him as the ugly attack he will surely tweet out about Angela Merkel if anybody bothers to inform him of her criticisms in Munich.
Trumpist nihilism has no agenda; it merely seeks to wreck things in the name of nasty human frailties like grievance and resentment. The idea that only the metric of current defense budgets is relevant to assessing a country’s contributions to Europe’s collective security is as absurd as it is dangerous. However, this is the gist of US policy, which Pence made clear yet again to the incredulously hostile audience in Munich.
Aside from mindless MAGA deplorables, full throated support of this approach in Europe can only be found toward the Ural Mountains. Trump may be a wretched misanthrope, certain most all are his enemy, but he’s the best friend the Kremlin ever had. What happened in Munich this week clarifies Europe is adjusting to that reality with increasing haste. Putin couldn’t be happier. BC
From Youngstown to Mar-a-Lago