For the last several decades diplomatic, economic and cultural tensions have existed between countries in Europe and the United States. At different times, the particular attenuation of each form of tension would be pitched differently between the several European nations and America. The French have typically been most at odds with us even going so far as to disallowing our planes to fly over French airspace on the way to a mission in Libya and, of course, they pulled out of NATO years ago. Then, none of that seemed insurmountable. No longer.

Immediately following 9-11, the European countries expressed shock and solidarity with us. Since then we have come to see and hear the very different songs sung by their various leaders when it comes to Iraq or the Palestinians. The Germans have said they'll not help with money or men in an "adventure" against Saddam; Tony Blair's Labor party is dead set against the administration's regime change goal if it involves military action. Anglo-American observers are beginning to take bets that Blair will abandon Bush in the end. Hatred for Jews, numerous anti-Semitic incidents and distaste for Israel's defending itself against the Palestinians seems alive and well, again particularly in France. We are linked with the Israelis. The unelected Eurocrats in Brussels go wobbly whenever they contemplate a unilateral American expedition which will not only depose Saddam but will deliver the people of Iraq from their chains. Concern for its destabilizing effect on the rest of the Arab nations is cited. What they mean is that once the Iraqis are free, the rest of the region's people will demand freedom too. Then it will look more like America which would surely be awful.

We know that the Europeans are militarily impotent. No Euro country has upgraded its armed forces in years; they rely on us to defend them. If you doubt that, ask yourself why there remain tens of thousands of American service people in Europe 50 years on from the end of WWII and nearly 15 years since the Wall was torn down. Not one European country can project force in the Middle East, Asia or anyplace else in the world except in conjunction with us and then only in a minor capacity. And they know it. Europe is dead in the game of world power and influence because it is a mercantile continent, a merchant without mercenaries.

This impotence is coupled with a defensive, smug self-righteousness manifested in its preachiness to us. European politicos see us as naive in world affairs, unwilling to accept diplomatic nuances as a substitute for action. Bush is frequently termed a "cowboy" by our cultural betters; the only American leader they like is Colin Powell. But they twist logic and language to sustain Arafat; they cheer Castro and they refuse to confront Saddam. Europe's elites, comparing American and Arab culture, come to multi-cultural conclusions: they simply do not see the forest for the trees; they miss what is really going on. They do not see the larger picture.

We, the West, the United States, and we thought Europe, Canada, Australia, and perhaps Japan, are not economic constructs. The West is a philosophy of people living in freedom, under elected governments and with laws respected by the people. We believe that philosophy is worth defending; we believe it to be good. Is it perfect? Of course not. But choose between Boston and Beirut; Dallas and Baghdad; Nashville and Teheran. Not even the Europeans would choose other than America. But they will not defend their way of life, our way of life, the West's way of life.

Europeans know we don't need them or their support. Many resent that even though it results from their policies, not ours. Americans have a soft spot for Europe. Many of us have travelled there and generally enjoyed it. Tens of millions of us "come from" Europe through our fast receding ancestors. We've given Europe hundreds of thousands of American lives in two wars and a trillion or more dollars. Were it not for us, the language of Europe would be German or Russian, not English.

It is beginning to look like we may have to go it alone against the terrorists and fascists of the world. The Europeans simply won't get off their duffs. Mr. Bush should simply tell them what we are going to do, offer them one chance to join up. What do we do after that? Let's roll.