04-17-2003, 02:31 PM
That's a good point, Jester. I think that the Australian and Japanese decisions to support the US play in Iraq had much more to do with their long-term security interests than it did any particular interest in Iraq....
On the other side of things, the Canadians could afford to not send troops, or support the war, as their domestic political situation was not supportive of doing so, and their physical security is tied up with the US's physical security, anyway. I mean, the US is not going to let anyone invade Canada anytime soon, I think. I'm not at all trying to be insulting. Every country acts in what they feel to be their best interests. Canada did so, as did Japan and Australia.
As far as being pissy at Syria, I posted a hypothetical scenario elsewhere:
In the Cold War days, if the Soviets took over Scandinavia, and then Mexico (this is hypothetical) started shipping supplies to Soviet troops in Norway, would the US (who would be at war with the Soviets) look kindly on this? I think Mexico would have fewer ships when it was all over, at the least. The US SSN fleet would see to that. So, Syria's going to get away with what they're doing with a few harsh words, I think.
On the other side of things, the Canadians could afford to not send troops, or support the war, as their domestic political situation was not supportive of doing so, and their physical security is tied up with the US's physical security, anyway. I mean, the US is not going to let anyone invade Canada anytime soon, I think. I'm not at all trying to be insulting. Every country acts in what they feel to be their best interests. Canada did so, as did Japan and Australia.
As far as being pissy at Syria, I posted a hypothetical scenario elsewhere:
In the Cold War days, if the Soviets took over Scandinavia, and then Mexico (this is hypothetical) started shipping supplies to Soviet troops in Norway, would the US (who would be at war with the Soviets) look kindly on this? I think Mexico would have fewer ships when it was all over, at the least. The US SSN fleet would see to that. So, Syria's going to get away with what they're doing with a few harsh words, I think.
--Mav