The fates of the United States and Europe have been inexorably intertwined since the spinoff colony became a world power early in the 20th century. The relationship between the upstart country and its continental progenitor has waxed and waned over the past 100 years, but economic and geopolitical interests have remained constant. With the successful fight against tyranny in World War II, the two began a security alliance built around the common foundations of democracy and freedom that continues today.
Now, however, that alliance has become strained. Stresses have appeared before, of course, but never before was the foundation of Western civilization so threatened as it is now. The enemy is not an easily defined, monolithic adversary whose hostile acts bear a return address. Instead, the enemy is a shadowy foe who takes advantage of the West’s freedoms to destroy them. And, make no mistake about it: This foe seeks the destruction of Western-style freedom and democracy and their replacement by a cultlike totalitarianism that actually rejects most of the tenets of the religion that it claims to represent.
It may be the unusual nature of this 21st century threat that has caused the United States and Europe to focus more on disagreements than on common needs. Or, perhaps it is the relative prosperity that both sides have enjoyed—and continue to enjoy—since the end of the Cold War. Whatever the cause, the two groups are defining their relationship by differences rather than by shared interests. To say that this approach is counterproductive is an understatement. To paraphrase former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, now is not the time to go wobbly on the Atlantic alliance.
Fortunately, efforts continue at keeping the Atlantic alliance effective as the cornerstone of Western security. The many new nations that have entered and are entering NATO bring new capabilities and resources to the alliance. These nations, fresh with the memory of life under totalitarian regimes, are not flagging in their dedication to defending freedom against all enemies. Many longtime NATO members continue to recognize the importance of its trans-Atlantic nature. And, political differences aside, NATO planners work constantly at standardizing vital enabling technologies so that alliance members can perform coalition operations in concert.
This cooperation manifests itself in many forms. Defense companies, for example, are teaming across borders to provide key high-technology systems to NATO members. This will help ensure necessary interoperability while also guaranteeing that alliance member militaries have the best equipment available as they defend freedom.
The fate of the United States is the fate of Europe, and vice versa. The war on terrorism is a war in the truest sense of the word. The nihilistic terrorists seek neither political nor geographical gain but instead the destruction of a way of life that values human rights. The best hope for defeating this unprecedented menace is for the Atlantic alliance to remember its origins as a coalition of allies that embraced core purposes.
It would be ironic indeed if it were to take a major terrorist strike—such as the successful deployment of weapons of mass destruction against the population centers of Europe and the United States—to bring the countries of the Free World together as full wartime allies again. It would be worse than ironic if that terrorist success were to strike a mortal blow to the Free World’s will to resist. Many individuals are devoting their careers to keeping the Atlantic alliance strong. They must continue to do so. Their efforts are needed now and ultimately will be valued on the day that the trans-Atlantic allies truly realize that, wherever the battle is being fought, they are in this war together.
—The Editor
More information about European Technology is available in the September 2004 issue of SIGNAL Magazine, in the mail September 1, 2004. If you are not a member of AFCEA or a subscriber to SIGNAL, you can purchase a copy of this issue by contacting service@afcea.org.
