NATO, Libya, and Leftist Revision

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NATO, Libya, and Leftist Revision

Harry Graver · August 30, 2011 at 5:51pm

I just read this editorial from the NYT. Not only does it entirely repaint President Obama's conduct before Libyan intervention (non-commital, hesitant, etc), but it reaffirms a never ceasing commitment of the left to international organizations. The Times' reaction to the weaknesses of NATO (which certainly exist, but we cannot forget that it was Europe who lead on this issue) is a call for pouring more resources into a structural flawed system. Instead, the difficulties surrounding Libya should reaffirm the necessity of American hegemony. But that probably won't end up in the Times soon...

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→ show Diane Ellis's comment (#1)

Re: NATO, Libya, and Leftist Revision

Diane Ellis

Hm. I saw this editorial a little earlier this morning and was actually shocked to see the NYT call for the end of Europe's free riding. Hasn't that what we conservatives have been saying for years? Here's the excerpt from the editorial I found myself actually agreeing with:

For decades, European nations have counted on a free-spending Pentagon to provide the needed capabilities they failed to provide themselves. The Pentagon is now under intense and legitimate pressure to meet America’s security needs more economically. It can no longer afford to provide affluent allies with a free ride.
In June, Defense Secretary Robert Gates pointedly told European NATO allies that they risked becoming militarily irrelevant unless they stepped up investment in their forces and equipment. His successor, Leon Panetta, needs to drive that message home.
European leaders need to ask themselves a fundamental question: If it was this hard taking on a ragtag army like Qaddafi’s, what would it be like to have to fight a real enemy?