Excellent article. There is an unstated neoconservative premise: Free states need each other economically; so are more willing to help each other militarily. We do not bomb our customers and business partners, since we really are mutually dependent in a world of intentional comparative economic advantage. Authoritarian states do not see themselves as parts of a world community. Their comparative advantage is not developed in community with other states. In evolutionary terms authoritarian states are "cheaters", since they gain their best advantage by freeloading as much as possible. Free states on the other hand are generally punished for freeloading off their community of mutually dependent states. This is why Trump has been able to coerce NATO states to up their military spending. The punishment for military freeloading is generally understood by free states.
And isn't it fascinating that military prowess and democratic governments seem to accompany one another. General Mark Hertling observed that Russia's military will never match that of the United States because there is a foundation of trust upon which the US Military is based. Hertling saw first hand that trust is entirely absent from the Russian army. It is vitally important that Donald Trump be prevented from destroying that trust which is still present at some levels of the US Military.
German and Japanese soldiers, sailors and pilots were effective and highly motivated during WW2. Fortunately, their leadership was completely clueless about what was needed to fight a global war as well as the industrial might and willpower of the US.
Since I am not a student of Japanese history perhaps can you tell us if there was a sycophancy catering to the whims of Japan's leaders just before WWII. Did those men provide bad intelligence which contributed to poor decisions on the part of Japan's leader and crystallize Japan's alliance with Germany?
Japan had embraced extreme militarism and believed that following the bushido code would enable them to overcome any obstacle. Admiral Yamamoto, who knew the US, said that Japan would have 6 months before the sleeping tiger would be fully awake. He was exactly right.
Since Japan attacked the US, Germany was not obligated by treaty to aid Japan. Hitler declared war on the US after Pearl Harbor anyway; a huge mistake since the allies made defeating Hitler the primary objective with the Pacific of secondary concern. Hubris squared,
This author has a truly mistaken idea of what allies can do for each other, and this is just another chance to bash Trump in the hope of tarnishing his support of Israel by bombing the Iranian nuclear facilities.
A very poignant readers comment: "Are the democracies more resolute than they were in the 1930’s when they fed the Czechs to the Nazis and abandoned the Poles to the Nazis and Soviets? History has not been kind," sums up well articulated criticism of the basis of this essay. Hitler’s support of Mussolini in WW II shoots this argument to bits. Allies are allies whether they are authoritarian of democratic.
BTW: Trump is not and authoritarian any more that any other POTUS, and he has not done anything unconstitutional in the decisions he has made.
"When things get tough, authoritarian states leave each other in the lurch."
Okay, I'll read the article, but only because I'm trying to figure out if the writer is classifying Trump as an authoritarian who left Ukraine in the lurch.
Oh for Gods sake, you are Pollyanna. Can you really ignore the history of US foreign meddling and regime change? In "Legacy of Ashes" by NY Times reporter ( mainstream) about the CIA, he documented at least 40 democratically elected governments the CIA toppled.. Now lets talk about Ukraine. Innocent country that was invaded by big BAD Putin? Or CIA playground in Russia's backyard? Would the USA accept that Mexico or Canada was in a military alliance with Russia or China? ( NATO Membership for Ukraine was the reddest of red lines as Bill Burns said).
The issue is how much of US and EU support of The Ukraine is based on shared values versus a shared interest in keeping the conflict with Russia as far east as possible.
p.s. Are the democracies more resolute than they were in the 1930s when they fed the Czechs to the Nazis and abandoned the Poles to the Nazis and Soviets? History has not been kind.
Excellent article. There is an unstated neoconservative premise: Free states need each other economically; so are more willing to help each other militarily. We do not bomb our customers and business partners, since we really are mutually dependent in a world of intentional comparative economic advantage. Authoritarian states do not see themselves as parts of a world community. Their comparative advantage is not developed in community with other states. In evolutionary terms authoritarian states are "cheaters", since they gain their best advantage by freeloading as much as possible. Free states on the other hand are generally punished for freeloading off their community of mutually dependent states. This is why Trump has been able to coerce NATO states to up their military spending. The punishment for military freeloading is generally understood by free states.
And isn't it fascinating that military prowess and democratic governments seem to accompany one another. General Mark Hertling observed that Russia's military will never match that of the United States because there is a foundation of trust upon which the US Military is based. Hertling saw first hand that trust is entirely absent from the Russian army. It is vitally important that Donald Trump be prevented from destroying that trust which is still present at some levels of the US Military.
German and Japanese soldiers, sailors and pilots were effective and highly motivated during WW2. Fortunately, their leadership was completely clueless about what was needed to fight a global war as well as the industrial might and willpower of the US.
Since I am not a student of Japanese history perhaps can you tell us if there was a sycophancy catering to the whims of Japan's leaders just before WWII. Did those men provide bad intelligence which contributed to poor decisions on the part of Japan's leader and crystallize Japan's alliance with Germany?
Japan had embraced extreme militarism and believed that following the bushido code would enable them to overcome any obstacle. Admiral Yamamoto, who knew the US, said that Japan would have 6 months before the sleeping tiger would be fully awake. He was exactly right.
Since Japan attacked the US, Germany was not obligated by treaty to aid Japan. Hitler declared war on the US after Pearl Harbor anyway; a huge mistake since the allies made defeating Hitler the primary objective with the Pacific of secondary concern. Hubris squared,
This author has a truly mistaken idea of what allies can do for each other, and this is just another chance to bash Trump in the hope of tarnishing his support of Israel by bombing the Iranian nuclear facilities.
A very poignant readers comment: "Are the democracies more resolute than they were in the 1930’s when they fed the Czechs to the Nazis and abandoned the Poles to the Nazis and Soviets? History has not been kind," sums up well articulated criticism of the basis of this essay. Hitler’s support of Mussolini in WW II shoots this argument to bits. Allies are allies whether they are authoritarian of democratic.
BTW: Trump is not and authoritarian any more that any other POTUS, and he has not done anything unconstitutional in the decisions he has made.
"When things get tough, authoritarian states leave each other in the lurch."
Okay, I'll read the article, but only because I'm trying to figure out if the writer is classifying Trump as an authoritarian who left Ukraine in the lurch.
Oh for Gods sake, you are Pollyanna. Can you really ignore the history of US foreign meddling and regime change? In "Legacy of Ashes" by NY Times reporter ( mainstream) about the CIA, he documented at least 40 democratically elected governments the CIA toppled.. Now lets talk about Ukraine. Innocent country that was invaded by big BAD Putin? Or CIA playground in Russia's backyard? Would the USA accept that Mexico or Canada was in a military alliance with Russia or China? ( NATO Membership for Ukraine was the reddest of red lines as Bill Burns said).
The issue is how much of US and EU support of The Ukraine is based on shared values versus a shared interest in keeping the conflict with Russia as far east as possible.
p.s. Are the democracies more resolute than they were in the 1930s when they fed the Czechs to the Nazis and abandoned the Poles to the Nazis and Soviets? History has not been kind.