Here is an interesting article about how much European countries are contributing to the occupation of Iraq. In short, not much, except Britain. The Netherlands is also contributing a good amount for its size.
On the one hand, I would agree that this is primarily just a function of how this war played out. It wasn't popular in Europe and leaders can't take the political hit to send troops. However, on the other hand, it shows that even those who supported us on this aren't willing to send many troops because of cost or capability.
The most interesting thing for me that this points out is the scarcity of political will to support anything militarily in Europe. There has been a lot of talk about how Europe focuses on peacekeeping and the US on warmaking, but this shows that Europe doesn't even have the will for peacekeeping. For instance, France had a tough time putting together 1,000 troops for the Congo.
The conclusion that I'm forced to come to is that Europe on the whole is demobilizing to the point where it will be impossible for it to act in any meaningful way outside of its borders, and that the US wish that Europe would spend something like 2.5% of its economy on the military is a fantasy. It may fly in the UK and France, but that's about it.
On the one hand, I would agree that this is primarily just a function of how this war played out. It wasn't popular in Europe and leaders can't take the political hit to send troops. However, on the other hand, it shows that even those who supported us on this aren't willing to send many troops because of cost or capability.
The most interesting thing for me that this points out is the scarcity of political will to support anything militarily in Europe. There has been a lot of talk about how Europe focuses on peacekeeping and the US on warmaking, but this shows that Europe doesn't even have the will for peacekeeping. For instance, France had a tough time putting together 1,000 troops for the Congo.
The conclusion that I'm forced to come to is that Europe on the whole is demobilizing to the point where it will be impossible for it to act in any meaningful way outside of its borders, and that the US wish that Europe would spend something like 2.5% of its economy on the military is a fantasy. It may fly in the UK and France, but that's about it.
Comment