The American Spectator

At Large

(Page 2 of 2)

America Alone img src= "http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theamericansp-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" class="c1"> /em>, argues that with the anti-Americanism that fuels both Old Europe and radical Islam, America will have no choice but to stand alone. The world will be divided between America and the rest, Steyn writes, and for our sake America had better win. /p>

THE THEORY OF AMERICAN "exceptionalism" may be regarded by our so-called allies as egoism, but inwardly, they are relieved to have the U.S. fighting their battles for them.

"The reason that we so often must stand by ourselves is that the United States really is different," writes foreign policy analyst Victor Davis Hanson. "Our Constitution singularly preserves the sanctity of the individual; American culture is truly a revolutionary society that has empowered millions of free and freed peoples without regard for religion, race, or background -- and so unleashed economic and military power never before seen. The common anti-American slurs of 'exceptionalism' and 'unilateralism' are, in fact, compliments of the highest order."

According to Hanson, America going it alone (with occasional support from the UK) has been the rule, not the exception for the past 60 years:

Remember that in all the recent crises of the past, America has stood nearly alone. By 1942, Europe and most of Asia were fascist, the other continents neutral at best. England was our sole democratic ally. During the Cold War -- despite periodic appeasement in Europe and the venom of the elite left -- the U.S. stopped the spread of Soviet communism and finally bankrupted its murderous hegemony. In neither case did the League of Nations or the United Nations offer much assistance; both passed sanctimonious resolutions while millions were butchered in silence by Hitler, Tojo, Stalin, and Mao. Our recent encounter with Milosevic was thus predictable.

When U.S. leaders believe that America is exceptional only in its culpability the world is ripe for more Somalias, Rwandas, Srebrenicas, and Darfurs, with belated apologies to follow. For the first time since the Reagan Administration, our leaders seem to believe that America has the moral standing as well as a moral obligation to spread democracy and fight all forms of fascism and totalitarianism. What a bonus if our president were able to confidently and succinctly express that exceptionalism, and maybe even put it into effect in Darfur. The sad fact is America is exceptional only when it has exceptional leadership.

One more thing. Rather than the dreary daily tally of American servicemen killed by sniper and roadside bomb, it would be interesting just once to estimate how many innocent lives America and Britain have saved since Saddam's prisons and torture chambers were shut down, to say nothing of the losses had he acquired nukes. Once again a bumper sticker sums up the global situation much better than any tosh delivered from the pulpit of the U.N.: "If this is a real emergency, please hang up and dial America."

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Foreign Policy, Religion, Islam, Books, Constitution, Law, Military, Iran, Pakistan, United Nations, North Korea, Communism, Fascism, Oil