No Evian or Volkswagens

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No Evian or Volkswagens
by Dave Gibson, Columnist

March 10, 2003

Dave Gibson The recent opposition which the nations of France and Germany have given to the United States over the imminent war with Iraq is disgusting; however, it is not that shocking. Those two countries seem to have abandoned the NATO charter which was set up to protect Europe. You see, when it comes to treaties between the U.S. and most of the world... it is all too often a one-way street.

The U.S. sacrificed hundreds of thousands of its young men to liberate France, not once but twice during the last century. There are little white crosses bearing the names of brave American servicemen throughout that country as far as the eye can see. Do these supreme sacrifices now mean nothing to the French? The effort expended by the French government to protect Saddam as well as their business arrangements with that despot leader is a slap in the face to every U.S. soldier who fought for that nation's freedom from Nazi oppression. How many Frenchman does it take to defend Paris?...No one knows, it has never been done!

We liberated the German people from Hitler and then rebuilt that defeated nation on the backs of the American taxpayer. The United States was then prepared to defend West Germany against the Soviet Union and when that 'evil empire' blockaded the city of Berlin, cutting off essential supply lines to the German people, who came to their rescue? The American government, through the tireless efforts of its brave pilots, who refused to abandon their former enemy.

The Berlin Airlift helped prove to the Russians that they could not intimidate the freedom loving people of Europe into submission. Time and time again, U.S. troops squared off with the Soviets (who always blinked first) in defense of West Germany. Since the end of World War II, it was every U.S. President's wish that Germany would once again be united and that democracy would prevail. Now that they are whole again (thanks in no small part to Ronald Reagan!), they too seem to have forgotten us in our hour of need.

I believe that we should boycott every product that comes out of those two most ungrateful nations. France does not produce much other than wine and over-priced bottled water...let them turn rancid on the store shelves! May we also stop purchasing Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen automobiles, no more Krups products either (I purchased a 'Mr. Coffee' espresso machine after I learned that Krups had used Jews as slave labor during WWII). Let the ingrates of 'Old Europe' feel the pinch in the only place they seem to understand... the wallet!

The French and German weasels are not alone in their lack of support for the U.S. Russia has made no secret of it's opposition to this war from the start (even though Bush has supported Russia's controversial war in Chechnya, in an effort to deal with Muslim extremists threatening the former Soviet Union). How much Russian military equipment do you think will be uncovered inside Iraq?

Mexico is now threatening to become a hindrance, as they sit on the fence, undecided whether or not to lend it's United Nations vote on the matter. Does anyone remember the colossal bailout the U.S. gave to our neighbor to the south? They don't seem to. It is no surprise that the Mexican government is having trouble choosing a side in this war, they are undoubtedly lending aid and comfort to the enemy by allowing Muslim terrorists safe passage across the U.S.-Mexican border.

Many of our traditional allies such as Turkey (another NATO member), whom we had to bribe to let us station our troops and equipment inside that nation, are showing us either none or very lackluster support. It would seem that NATO, at least as we have known it is changing and unfortunately, just as the United Nations... is becoming irrelevant.

In the end, the U.S. will have allies, Great Britain (goes without saying) Spain, Italy, and most of the former Soviet satellite nations (many of whom are now NATO members), still remember the contributions made by the U.S. to bring freedom to all of Europe. Even a few moderate Arab nations will contribute to the war effort.

We should embrace our new brothers-in-arms and though their military might may be somewhat meager, undoubtedly their spirit and bravery is nothing of the sort. Conversely, let us never forget the nations for whom we sacrificed so much and when time came for them to come to our aid... they turned their collective back upon us. ***

Photo of Dave Gibson courtesy of staff files