BARR: No war for Georgia

Mr. Barr is absolutely correct to say Europe needs to bare the burden of what happens on the European continent. But, sadly, they really don't care. And, knowing as they do that America most assuredly does, they will not act - I suspect - until Russia crosses into Poland or another former Soviet Bloc country. As for Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, and other former states of the USSR, they - I suspect - are on their own. Should America be surprised? I certainly am not.

Mr. Barr could usefully have pointed out that NATO's utter apathy in the Georgia crisis highlights once again the utter irrelevance of NATO in world affairs now that the Cold War is essentially a bitter memory. NATO has proven that it cannot maintain a force capable of effective military force, and cannot sustain a political consensus that would deploy such a force if it existed. The more new members NATO adds, the less it has such capabilities. It's way past time for the U.S. to be developing alternative options to NATO.

Yes this is Europes problem, but he is wrong in saying we have no interest there, we need a free Europe as badly as they need a free US. Once again we are seeing the World slide towards war and once again people are opposing doing anything to stop the coming war.

rtk_51: So you agree that it's Europe's problem, but you are upset that Americans might not want to solve it for them? A big incentive for Europe to do nothing is the attitude America has toward conflicts around the world. Namely, that we will consistently use our own resources and people to solve said conflicts that don't even involve us. Other countries have lost their sense of responsibility, thinking that America will either assist with military action, or foreign aid, or both. We are basically egging this kind of thing on. Where do we draw the line? When will America stop being the policemen of the world? Well one thing is for sure, that we cannot afford to keep this policy up. Violence and war are destructive for any country, and when America is in all of these conflicts, the burden falls on them. War doesn't seem like such a bad idea when you know that America will come in to save the day.