NATO Payback

General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen spoke of “a highly successful meeting” of NATO’s 28 ministers of defense. NATO would now be leaner and more flexible in order to better deal with future challenges. Probably true, since coming up with policies much worse and divisive than those in Afghanistan and Libya would be difficult.

Not even half the NATO members are taking part in “Operation Hound Gadhafi.” That exposes NATO’s new strategy, formulated and agreed upon in 2010, as nothing more than table decorations.

Among the bloody lessons Germany has learned in Afghanistan is that fruitful political change can’t be bombed into anyone. Nevertheless, would-be global powers like France and Great Britain just won’t back off. And the United States is no longer in a position, nor is it prepared, to support every global war that comes along.

The bomb throwers now demand alliance solidarity, especially from Germany. And who actually believes that someone should get a royal White House reception, including ostentatious medals, for nothing more than her claim that she inwardly protested her wearing of an FDJ blouse in Uckermark?* It was Defense Minister de Maizière’s responsibility to recommend in what way the commitment of German troops to combat in Libya should be rewarded. Merkel and de Maizière should both know that this isn’t the proper way to export credible democracy to North Africa. But they both went along with it…

* Translator’s Note: The FDJ was the socialist-led Free German Youth movement. In her youth, Merkel was active in the organization in her home region of Uckermark.