Headline of the Day

Europe’s Daddy Issues

—Jacobin, on NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's stunningly obsequious behavior toward Donald Trump

While there are legitimate reasons for people to disagree as to whether NATO is still necessary as a military force or not, it's position as a standards organization is indesputable, (STANAGs) the behavior of senior NATO officials in Europe is the strongest argument for sh%$-canning the whole thing.

NATO is to European self-governance as Charlie McCarthy is to script writing:

On Wednesday, Donald Trump and former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte sat down for a press conference at the NATO summit in The Hague.

Asked about the ongoing war between Israel and Iran — a conflict that, despite his promises of peace and isolationism, Trump himself dragged the United States into — the president expressed his thoughts in characteristically inappropriate terms: “They’ve had a big fight, like two kids in a schoolyard. They fight like hell; you can’t stop them. Let them fight for about two, three minutes, then it’s easier to stop them.”

Usually whichever world leader happens to sit next to Trump just listens. Sometimes they force a smile, steal a concerned or confused glance at the cameras, or put on a poker face to try to hide their disbelief at the situation.

Rutte didn’t quite do this. Stooping down to — or rather below — Trump’s rhetorical level, he replied with all the tact and grace you’d expect from a seasoned statesman: “Daddy has to sometimes use strong language.” 

………

While some European officials were embarrassed by Rutte’s conduct (speaking anonymously, one source told Politico that “the sucking up was pretty over the top”), others followed his example. “The vibes were good,” someone else said. “This is the Trump effect.” Diplomats reportedly congratulated the president on brokering a cease-fire between Israel and Iran, one that both parties have since violated. The Dutch king took part in the operation too, inviting Trump — a well-known fanboy of all things royal and dynastic — to a palace sleepover.

The people who oppose NATO accuse it of being a lap-dog of US interests.

The people who support NATO respond with, "Here, hold my beer."