It was easier to pretend before because they would condemn the US publicly but if you paid attention to what they were doing they were also there committing war crimes together. It sucks but it's the truth, Europe only cared about this rhetoric as a means to an end, it gives a facade of being the grown up, but now that the US got a less subtle leader it's impossible for them to keep plausible deniability and be loyal at the same time.

[–] Bloomcole@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

That is accurate.
People since forever have fallen for the rhetoric of politicians.
If you separate the words from the actions and facts you get a different story.
Even I, with my ample mistrust and scepticism almost fell for this 'rift' or whatever they call it between the US/EU.
One of Trump's unreasonable demands was for the EU to pay vastly more for 'defense'.
Which is basically supporting US merchants of death and only used in support of their imperialism when they need it.
Before, everyone barely and grudgingly coughed up their 2%.
And what happened then?
Some arguing and theater about the US not going to 'help' us anymore and our leaders deciding we should have our own defense.
The result is exactly what Trump wanted.
Well played.

[–] mirshafie@europe.pub 0 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I think a lot of Europeans genuinely believe in human rights and a rules-based world order. And it would serve their interests too (in a multipolar world, having rules that apply to all is favorable to all). But they're also cowards and want the USA to be world police and uphold this order, and it has always been convenient to look the other way as long as it was brown people on the receiving end of the Empire's violence.

[–] Bloomcole@lemmy.world 3 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

I think a lot of Europeans genuinely believe in human rights and a rules-based world order.

Most people in the world have that view.

But you are mistaking the people for our EU vassal sell-out leaders here:

But they’re also cowards and want the USA to be world police

Our population is vastly against most of the US wars.
We know we're going to pay for it, first literally and later when we get 100000's of refugees they caused.

Our 'leaders' go along because it keeps the system in place of getting the crumbs from the US loot.
They don't care about the people and consequences for them.
If they refuse, as in Iran's case, it is indeed out of cowardice and the negative consequences for themselves economically.

Our economies are already in a huge crisis because of the sanctions on Russia, we suffer and the US profits from selling us expensive fracking gas.

They can not take more problems by joining this war.

[–] mirshafie@europe.pub 1 points 28 minutes ago

You're right, I should have been more explicit that I don't count our amoeba EU leaders as people.