Will the West ever learn?
It's not hard to imagine why Germany, France and the EU want to drop the weapons embargo to China. In America we call them "dollar signs". There is a lot of money to be made in the weapons exporting business. I think there is also a more sinister reason. Europe pretends to be an ally of Washington but actions speak louder than words. What was true in the Iraq conflict is true with China: Europe is not on our side. If Europe begins arming China it is arming them for a conflict with us. When the conflict erupts does anyone think Europe will stand by our side? What a pickle Great Britain will be in. Tony Blair has been heeding Sir Winston Churchill's advice about not forsaking the United States, but how long can he hold out?
All of this is not to say Washington is on any less shaky ground when it comes to arming future enemies. It has happened before and it will happen again. There's just too much money to made selling weapons to resist. Honestly, if our government/defense contractors do not satisfy the market someone else will. It is not as easy as taking a high moral stand and declaring a moratorium on foreign weapons sales. As much as I wish it was as easy as that we have to live in the real world. In the real world armies want weapons and where there is a demand there will be a supply.
Me, I would prefer a Cold War with China to buy us the time it will take to outlast the communist regime entrenched there. The communist government in China is quietly plotting their world domination strategy and the West is playing right into their hands. We can only hope an equally quiet democracy revolution takes place before the communists feel emboldened enough to take Taiwan and all hell breaks loose.
CW
1 comment:
I agree with both your premise and conclusion. We are playing into their hands MFN trading status is “the rope with which they will hang us” and we cannot seam to sell them enough of it. The Europeans will look after their interests if it inconveniences or threatens us so much the better. Their typical shortsighted outlook will not allow them to realize they are for the second time in less than a century jeopardizing their own salvation.
Britain will stand with us but can they hold out for long against their own European neighbors and China. I admire them as a people and an ally, even though I may never find an affinity for their brand of football or warm beer. The dragon is watching, he will eventually whet his appetite on a Taiwan. He will not stop there and WE are the only ones who have any real capability to even slow China down
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