A Belgian friend replies
This week a Belgian friend of long standing was asked why his nation seems to have turned on the United States. Edgard Pots' reply is shared with our reaaders:
"Since Sept. 11 last year I've found that if you want to be 'important' in Europe you must be anti-American .
"You can see it in our newspapers, hear it on the radio and TV, they give a forum to anybody who wants to say something anti-American.
"The reason, I believe, is that almost all of our people who were personally liberated by your GIs are now gone or too old to react.
"The generation that has heard the story from their parents are now around 60 and are no longer running things.
"A new generation is in control, and they don't like America.
"Why?
"First, because they are extremely jealous. Today America is the world leader, is technically on top, has the best army, and many money making people who live in luxury.
"Second, France is fickle and frustrated since your GIs liberated it. And Germany has never forgotten that they were beaten by the Americans.
"Belgium has a complicated political system, speaks three languages, and our secretary of foreign affairs is a lackey of France.
"France has always played a dirty role in world political problems, and will never change.
"We also have the Green party and the Socialists in every country who are 100 percent anti-American. Always.
"So we are entering a decade where this will continue.
"If I were president of the USA I'd remove all my soldiers from Europe. I'd ask American businesses to close their plants in Europe. I'd blow up NATO. And I'd request Americans to not visit Europe. After a few years of no troops, no American plant employment, and no American tourist dollars, our Europeans would soon feel who is boss.
"You might even bring home the thousands of veterans from the military cemeteries. We no longer have the right for these brave men to be over here.
"Europe can't handle business, never could. Two world wars in 30 years started in Europe. I'm sure Europe will end up in another mess in a decade or so.
"Forgive me. But I'm a Belgian who continues to love America. Thank you for our freedom which now is under pressure of barbarian terror and some of our European stupidity."
Those who care to write our friend can reach him on the Internet at e.pots@worldonline.be
