Thread by @PatPorter76

Regarding Afghanistan, US & allies: US irritation is justified.

1/ Allies didn't invoke Article V & enter Afghanistan out of noble altruism. They were pursuing their interests. The US doesn't "owe" them for it. Arguments at the time appealed to the value of ensuring influence.

2/Most allies withdrew most of their forces years ago. Understandably so - but don't then denounce Washington's decision to withdraw after doing more heavy lifting.

3/Regarding "consultation", the US gave reasonable notice in Feb 2020. Could there have been more coordination? Yes. But the US was not obliged to seek permission, and allies had time to arrange their own evacuations.

4/In Europe, there has been an orgy of rhetoric levelled at the US about its credibility, often by a small & unrepresentative group of security elites who otherwise regularly affirm the importance of NATO & alignment with DC. As with Afghanistan, they don't walk the talk.

5/Insisting on organising their national defences around, effectively, dependency on US hegemony, they then complain when the limitations on their own become visible. Theresa May voted through austerity budgets but now complains Britain is marginalised.

6/So the performance is a traditional one: wanting while resenting US dominance, maximum rhetoric about a war without calling for their countries' commitment, and wanting to be a military protectorate while issuing demands for deference as though Europe is still boss continent.

7/A self-respecting hegemon would reply that allies should be worried what it thinks about them. Esp after plenty of allies' choices against US' wishes, like Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank and Nordstream 2.

8/On a brighter note, most folk on this side of the pond don't go on like this, and don't regard Afghanistan withdrawal as a drama about our own societies' importance or democracy or NATO.