[gizmo]

For those who don't know, the French (and British) instigated the Suez crisis. It was a highly illegal attempt at regime change in Egypt and the US along with the USSR and United Nations rightfully pressured the French to stop. Bizarre example to illustrate the need for military independence.

[Sammi]

Unfortunately your assessment is based on the faulty premise that anyone in international politics does anything to be nice.

The US doesn't give one rats ass about Egypt. The US won and got their way in Suez and the international seas in general. Europe lost.

There is no right in geo politics - only might. It's completely machiavellian. This is because you don't get to elect your neighbors leaders, and so they aren't beholden to you. International politics fundamentally doesn't work like national politics because of this. You can't stop Putin, Trump, or Xi, from taking what is yours unless you have the steel and oil to stop them. You can't sue them or vote them out like in national politics.

[gizmo]

The problem with your perspective is that citizens can still tell right from wrong. And the public is much less Machiavellian than those in charge. The people can change how their leaders act, but won't when they believe any attempt to steer towards pro-social geopolitics is pointless.

I should also point out that some countries are much more bellicose than others, in direct contradiction with your nihilist view.

[disgruntledphd2]

This is entirely true, but it's still good that as a result of this, the French prioritised independent defence policies for the last 60+ years.

[jgilias]

It’s not an example, it’s a timeline.