"For good measure, Britain’s prime minister Tony Blair had in a speech in Chicago in 1999 suggested that a concept of ‘humanitarian intervention’ be seen as valid wherever democracy and human rights were under threat. To him, there could be no limit to NATO’s responsibility. But who should define threats and responsibilities? After New York’s 9/11 atrocity in 2001 at the hands of Al Qaeda, NATO found itself expected to intervene wherever Washington’s rulers ordained. Armies from virtually all Europe’s states were summoned to fight with varying degrees of enthusiasm and engagement in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya. As America tested its hegemonic muscles, obedience was the price for the continuance of the nuclear umbrella. No one asked, let alone answered, the question of who should police the ever-expanding borders of democratic Europe."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Simon Jenkins, A Short History of Europe: From Pericles to Putin (2018)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/European_Union%E2%80%93United_States_relations
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
European Union–United States relations
8 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by European Union–United States relations →
Related Quotes
"The paradox is that 500 million Europeans are asking 300 million Americans to defend them against 140 million Russian…"
"I deeply appreciate the kind expression of good wishes extended on behalf of yourself and the Commission of the Europ…"
"The movement toward unity responds to a deep desire of the people of Europe. It enhances the partnership between Amer…"
"Tomorrow will mark the 35th anniversary of the Schuman plan, which led to the European Coal and Steel Community, the …"
"The European Union as a whole, but also Germany, needs to recognize that this is our alliance, our common alliance, o…"
"In 2017 a new American president, Donald Trump, directly called Europe’s bluff. His two immediate predecessors, Georg…"
"Hating America may still be fashionable, particularly in Europe. But it is also fundamentally shortsighted, unless on…"
"Between 1945 and 2005 the United States has attempted to overthrow more than 50 foreign governments, and to crush mor…"
"There have also been cases where the United States, while (perhaps) not interfering in the election process, was, how…"
"In sum, the post-World War II foreign policy of the U.S. — independent of its massive human rights violations committ…"