John Keegan is to warfare as Bernard Lewis is to Islam: when they speak on their respective subjects, it would be well-advised to listen. The British Keegan is the author of numerous books on war including “A History of Warfare” (which I highly recommend) and is widely considered as the expert in his field. Here are some excerpts from an opinion piece that ran in UK’s Daily Telegraph yesterday, titled “Old Europe has gone too far this time.”

Nevertheless, there must be a feeling in Washington that what Donald Rumsfeld calls "old Europe" has this time gone too far. The American offer to Turkey of missile and early-warning defence can in no way be seen as warmongering. The French and Germans, not to mention the insignificant Belgians, seem simply, like tiresome neighbours, to be demanding attention. In so doing, they are inflicting damage on the organization that secured their safety during the Cold War, and affronting the ally that guaranteed it, to a degree that cannot easily be forgotten or forgiven.

and

The events of this week suggest at least a grave lack of responsibility in the foreign policy of "old Europe." France and Germany do not seem serious about denying weapons of mass destruction to rogue states, and seem positively frivolous about preserving what is still the most important military alliance in the world. Perhaps they are serious about the war on terrorism but, to fight and win that they need the unstinted support of the United States. They are frittering it away.

Thanks to Real Clear Politics for the link.