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The European "War against Terror"

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Bismarck

There is nothing to doubt. The deals have already been signed and the bases are under construction (though not enough for all the troops yet). Given the geographic location of Poland and Romania, the history of the regions, and the total inability of Europeans to protect themselves, I see nothing irrational about Eastern European states relying on the US for their protection.

WTF do you mean by that you arrogant yank?

And who are you going to be protecting Romania from exactly? Invading hordes of Hungarians?

Reply 41

Weejimmie

Bismarck

Firstly, double-jeopardy only applies on a national level. More importantly, it can be successfully argued that Germany didn't let the judicial process run its course since it released the prisoner before he was supposed to be up for parole.

It would be interesting to see if a US court would order the extradition of a newly-released prisoner to another country to be tried again for the same offence though. The question of whether the German executive arm had the right to override the judiciary is a matter for German constuitutional experts. The USA has also bent the law to obtain the release of US hostages. You could argue that this should never have been done, but once the custom was adopted to complain about one case because the original victim was a US serviceman is a little hypocritical.

Reply 42

Bismarck

Howard

WTF do you mean by that you arrogant yank?

You did an absolutely brilliant job of ending the violence in Bosnia and Kosovo. :rolleyes:

There are also Russian troops illegally present in Moldova, which the EU doesn't seem to have any guts to do anything about, and the Macedonians seem to trust the US to deal with the Albanian problem much more than they do the EU. I wonder why.

And who are you going to be protecting Romania from exactly? Invading hordes of Hungarians?

Hungary, Bulgaria, Russia. Funny you should mention Hungary given the fact that more than half the wars in the region involved Hungarian irredentism, and given continuous attempts by nationalists in Hungary (who make up well over a third of the population) to grant citizenship rights to all Hungarians living in neighboring countries.

Reply 43

Howard

Bismarck

You did an absolutely brilliant job of ending the violence in Bosnia and Kosovo.

But we did a ****in good job at ending the violence of WW1 and WW11 although admittedly owing some gratitude (in WW11 at least) to your very belated arrival.

I don't think the Europeans need a lecture from America on fighting wars thank you very much. Don't forget, most of the world was under the heel of European superpowers while you people were playing Cowboys and Indians.

Reply 44

Howard

Bismarck

Get real. Romania don't need your protection. But they'll hapilly take your dollars if you want to play soldiers in their country.

Reply 45

Bismarck

Howard

Get real. Romania don't need your protection. But they'll hapilly take your dollars if you want to play soldiers in their country.

That's the attitude Poland and Romania had in the inter-War years. Needless to say, things didn't quite work out for them due to that position.

Reply 46

Weejimmie

Bismarck

That's the attitude Poland and Romania had in the inter-War years. Needless to say, things didn't quite work out for them due to that position.

Would the USA actually make much sacrifice for the benefit of Poland or Romania, though? I'd think that in practise the US guarantees there are as effective as the British and French guarantees before WWII were. The one possible advantage is that the threat of US withdrawal might help to keep potentially extreme nationalist governments in the future a bit saner. On the other hand if governments start thinking that the USA will support them regardless it have very dubious consequences.

Reply 47

110111

Bismarck

Source

Allies my a**.

What did you expect them to do ?
Torture them like the US ?

Reply 48

Bismarck

Weejimmie

It's not merely a guarantee; an attack against a country that hosts American troops is tantamount to a declaration of war against the US.

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poohbear

What did you expect them to do ?
Torture them like the US ?

How about not releasing convicted murderers before they were up for parole?

Reply 49

Howard

Bismarck

It's not merely a guarantee; an attack against a country that hosts American troops is tantamount to a declaration of war against the US.

Wow! That's scary. You can't even control a couple of poxy countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. Third world dumps like Iran and N.Korea laugh in your face. Nobody is particularly worried about American troops or upsetting the US.

Reply 50

Bismarck

Howard

Yeah, I'm sure countries don't care that a war with the US would lead to the destruction of their economy, military, and leadership. I don't see Syria or Libya laughing in our face, seeing that they know they'll be next if the chance arises.

Reply 51

Howard

Bismarck

Nobody is going tio be next unless you send in Boy Scouts of America.

Reply 52

Bismarck

Howard

Nobody is going tio be next unless you send in Boy Scouts of America.

Just like there was no next enemy after Vietnam, if you exclude about a dozen conflicts. :rolleyes:

Reply 53

Howard

Bismarck

Just like there was no next enemy after Vietnam, if you exclude about a dozen conflicts. :rolleyes:

Well, you keep on thinking that. Join the rest of the moronic American public, just stick a flag up your ass, and your head in the sand.....

Reply 54

Bismarck

Howard

Well, you keep on thinking that. Join the rest of the moronic American public, just stick a flag up your ass, and your head in the sand.....

All Iraq demonstrated is the inadvisability of occupying areas of the world where the population is hostile to the US. The successful wars against Grenada, Nicaragua, and Serbia, as well as a successful occupation of Kosovo and a slightly less successful occupation of Afghanistan should that the use of force is still a viable political option.

And if you want precedents for precision attacks by US against Iran, there's always this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Praying_Mantis

Reply 55

Howard

Bismarck

The problem is that the US' present foreign policy will increasingly demand that it occupies areas of the world where the population is hostile to the US.

Nations to not become compliant to US wishes, and regimes are not changed by precision bombing.

Kosovo? That's about the size of Wales isn't it?

Reply 56

Bismarck

Howard

I don't see the Afghan government funding, arming, and protecting groups that are hostile to the US, but I guess the same was the case before we invaded Afghanistan. :rolleyes:

Kosovo? That's about the size of Wales isn't it?