I think the Bush admin severely overestimated how much goodwill they had left after 9/11. Europeans let Afghanistan slide because it was supposedly about getting Bin Laden, even if that was bullshit not least because the Taliban were willing to hand him over without a fight. Iraq though? That was a step too far outside of Bush's lackey Tony Blair. In retrospect, it was funny how France was 100% right about Iraq and Blair completely tanked his reputation. It was also a major blow for NATO's credibility to have major allies France and Germany not take part, plus Finland could've joined at the same time as the Baltics did, but turned down the offer because the population was so against joining.
It was quite a time to interact with Americans online, since so many of them supported the wars and thought Europe was a bunch of limp-wristed wimps (almost verbatim comment) for not being entirely on board.
I think the Bush admin severely overestimated how much goodwill they had left after 9/11. Europeans let Afghanistan slide because it was supposedly about getting Bin Laden, even if that was bullshit not least because the Taliban were willing to hand him over without a fight. Iraq though? That was a step too far outside of Bush's lackey Tony Blair. In retrospect, it was funny how France was 100% right about Iraq and Blair completely tanked his reputation. It was also a major blow for NATO's credibility to have major allies France and Germany not take part, plus Finland could've joined at the same time as the Baltics did, but turned down the offer because the population was so against joining.
It was quite a time to interact with Americans online, since so many of them supported the wars and thought Europe was a bunch of limp-wristed wimps (almost verbatim comment) for not being entirely on board.