America, Europe, IR theory and the problems of a 'common good' gone bad:
"... dependency in an area of need [I assume you agree defense is a need] leads to a decline in related skills and possibly of more significance a rise in attempts to justify or rationalize this deficiency or weakness. There was a void in the West after WW2 that America was happy to fill and has done well accordingly - but you're suggesting if that commitment has become too burdensome that America simply pull away and let the EU take up the slack. How, if it lacks the skills and the will to do so? More likely the EU resorts to bureaucratic muddling and rationalization - leaving America where? It will still have vital interests that involve Europe and Europe's support. Seems to me you're left with two choices then: embrace going it alone, a Reagan-like solution; or you solicit, admonish, beg for, hope for cooperation, which sounds a lot like Obama. You're dumping on Gates but, one, there's not a ton of choices here and, two, look at the president he's serving..."
