Channeling Victor Davis Hanson (or at least, finely imitating him) Cal State Fresno Classics Professor Bruce Thornton writes on “Europe: Axis of Arrogance” for Frontpage Mag:

Once more European politicians and pundits are carping at the U.S., this time over President Bush’s identification of Iraq, North Korea, and Iran as an ‘axis of evil.’ The protest has nothing to do with the statement’s obvious accuracy, but rather with the wounded pride of once-great nations that are now, as the Secretary General of NATO himself put it, ‘military pygmies.’

Yet despite their unwillingness to finance militaries commensurate with their inflated self-image and global pretensions, the Europeans still demand from the U.S. a ‘multilateralism’ and ‘consultative process’ that imply an alliance of equals. And why shouldn’t they? For years they have depended on the military muscle of the United States to keep them free and to take the lead in cleaning up various post-colonial and post-Cold War messes, all the while criticizing America, indulging a sentimental Third-Worldism, and doing business with thug states like Iraq, Iran, and Libya.

Given that the security of the U.S. does not depend much on Europe, why do we put up with it?

[…]At this critical juncture, when it appears we have recovered our nerve and are willing to punish the evil that threatens our security and interests, we should look to the future rather than to the past. Strengthening Mexico’s democracy and economy, for example, serves our interests much more than does soothing the fragile self-esteem of European politicians. The Europeans have created a common currency; let them create and finance a common defensive alliance for which they foot the bill.

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