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France's Afghanistan Pull-Out Signals War Fatigue Driving European Defense Cuts -- Christian Science Monitor
Disillusionment with warfare, coupled with economic troubles, has given European defense cuts strong momentum. But defense experts worry they are being made too haphazardly.
On a visit to Afghanistan today, newly inaugurated French President François Hollande reiterated his commitment to a full withdrawal of French combat troops by year’s end, well ahead of NATO’s 2014 withdrawal.
France’s decision highlights the high level of so-called "intervention fatigue” among NATO’s European members as the decade-old Afghanistan conflict winds down and they face the need to make drastic budget cuts to remain solvent.
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My Comment: On a global level .... one can make the argument that Europe is a major defense/military spender .... and that argument would be right. But .... while the rest of the globe is expanding their military expenditures .... Europe has made the decision to go the other way. Is this a wise decision in view of how much turmoil is occurring near it's borders
France’s decision highlights the high level of so-called "intervention fatigue” among NATO’s European members as the decade-old Afghanistan conflict winds down and they face the need to make drastic budget cuts to remain solvent.
Read more ....
My Comment: On a global level .... one can make the argument that Europe is a major defense/military spender .... and that argument would be right. But .... while the rest of the globe is expanding their military expenditures .... Europe has made the decision to go the other way. Is this a wise decision in view of how much turmoil is occurring near it's borders ..... I would have to say no. But Europe has a bigger problem .... and that is the euro and debt crisis is forcing European governments to implement some hard decisions .... and defense cuts is one of them. So while war fatigue is playing a part in defense cuts .... a bigger reason is debt and no extra money in the treasury .... a harsh reality for the Europe of today.
Read more ....
My Comment: On a global level .... one can make the argument that Europe is a major defense/military spender .... and that argument would be right. But .... while the rest of the globe is expanding their military expenditures .... Europe has made the decision to go the other way. Is this a wise decision in view of how much turmoil is occurring near it's borders ..... I would have to say no. But Europe has a bigger problem .... and that is the euro and debt crisis is forcing European governments to implement some hard decisions .... and defense cuts is one of them. So while war fatigue is playing a part in defense cuts .... a bigger reason is debt and no extra money in the treasury .... a harsh reality for the Europe of today.