We defend Europe for American national security interests. This isn't charity.
This would be a lost opportunity to challenge the prevailing consensus and embrace a much-reduced troop presence in Europe. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, such retrenchment would not benefit U.S. rivals. It would benefit U.S. national security.
Or, if you prefer, it has all the accuracy of claiming abandoning Afghanistan would work out just swell. Gosh, if the author gets his wish, will he one day claim that the resulting clusterf**k is actually a great success?
First of all, I would like to grant this writer's wish for a much-reduced troop presence in Europe:
No American fleets roam the Mediterranean Sea or guard Atlantic supply lines. Aircraft don't darken the skies of Europe. The Army doesn't possess a multi-corps army to hold back the enemy. You want reduced American power in Europe to focus on Asia?
Done!
You're welcome. For those with a short memory, our presence in Europe and in the water and air around and above Europe is dramatically smaller than it was in the Cold War. Let alone what is was in 1945.
And consider that NATO is America's figurative wall in Europe that has ended the centuries-long threat to our Atlantic coast that we've had to cope with since before we were a country.
I guess we've been so successful for so long that some people forget about our Atlantic vulnerability.
Further, threats from Europe can arise from within.
The bottom line is that America is close to needing to dig up the graves of our dead soldiers from two world wars fought to hold the wall if we are to significantly bring even more troops home.
Stay in Europe. Keep NATO strong. Because keeping the Russia we have as far east as possible is our best defense.
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
NOTE: I'm adding updates on the Last Hamas War in this post.NOTE: You may also read my posts on Substack, at The Dignified Rant: Evolved. Go ahead and subscribe to it.NOTE: The illustration was generated using my old DALL-E account.
