The American Spectator

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(Page 6 of 12)

occasions we saved you from German conquest. Let's hear no more about debts, OK? ... br> -- Bill Proctor br> Chicago, Illinois /p> p> I read with amazement "Once More Into the Screech." Instead of taking notice that in this instance that the U.N. and dare I say even France may have been right in not sanctioning our pre-emptive strike against a sovereign state, Jed Babbin gives the classic response of bullies everywhere: "we don't really give a damn." Why this is good a thing I have yet to understand. br> -- Scott Alber br> Bloomington, Indiana /p>

Our last visit to France in July 2001, was a fairly pleasant one. I queried a friendly bartender about why Parisians, in particular, were being so unexpectedly cordial to "us Yanks." Seems that American tourists were noticeably detouring to friendlier territories, and there was a quasi-organized campaign to bring the business back.

The current campaign with a repetitive theme by Mr. Kerry, to put "an international face" on the Iraq War, has raised a significant issue that I doubt anyone on the Republican side really wants to honestly answer. The answer is, that the face would still be anglo; as it always has been. Looking back on past UN-endorsed peacekeeping missions, our major opposition on the Security Council have seldom or never participated. Germany, believes it has no legal authority to venture beyond its borders (or interests). Russia, a new democracy, still holds old grudges and suspicions. France, has primarily been concerned with minimal "cameo appearances" in prior missions, but seldom has placed ground troops in harm's way.

I worked with Canadians, Brits, Aussies and French in joint exercises and in certain UN-sponsored missions, such as Kosovo, Bosnia, and patrolling the Iraqi No Fly Zones. I can summarize that our relationship with the Australians, British and Canadians was almost seamless. The French, when they show up for battle, Monday thru Thursday, 10-4, seemed chiefly concerned with the status of their next cuisine cargo delivery. The rest of the "coalition" was working 15-hour days, every day. I never saw any Chinese, German, Russian, Mexican, Spanish, Kenyan, Somalian, Nepalese, Japanese (the list goes on and on) troops, aviators, etc.

So, when John Kerry says we need to "internationalize" the war, where is he planning to recruit? The French, Germans, Russians, Chinese, and North Koreans should probably lead the list since they have sizable armies and resources. Secondly, they are the countries who helped fund Saddam and furnish him with the fairly sophisticated weapon systems, aircraft and radars that we've had to dismantle twice, so far.

p>So why won't the Republicans tell the truth? Probably because it would be an admission that the UN is a complete failure and a total joke, when it comes to peacekeeping. It's always the same crew who shows up to clean the mess. The same crew who got rid of Hitler, Hirohito, the Soviet Empire and numerous other threats to freedom. A lot more has been accomplished by our Coalitions of the Willing throughout the last century than the UN has dreamed of. What would happen to the UN as a "World Body" if the U.S., Britain, Australia and Canada stayed home, from now on? It would truly be what President Bush referred to as a "Debating Club"...

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