Another Reason Our Allies Must Accept More Military Responsibility

When one doesn't have to pay the bill, it is easy to be oblivious to the cost and sacrifices of others. This has been a burgeoning problem with respect to the monetary and human costs of the United States for being largely responsible for providing for the defense of our allies since World War II.

Initially, this was an appropriate role for the U.S. to play. Europe and Japan were physically devastated after the War and necessarily their focus was on rebuilding their countries with U.S. assistance. The U.S. was also concerned about the re-arming of our former enemies, Japan and West Germany. The U.S.S.R. was a threat that only the U.S. could thwart in the aftermath of the War.

But much has happened in the 65 years since then. Japan now has the world's second largest economy and Germany ranks third. Europe has restored itself and largely prospered and flourished while the Soviet Union crumbled. None of this would have been possible without the strong and reliable support of the U.S. But, although time has marched on, Europe has still now assume its fair share for the defense of themselves and the West, nor have they shouldered the cost of the U.S. defense presence on their soil. Whereas this once made sense, it no longer does anymore.

Additionally, the lack of Japan and European contributions to their own defense has been largely taken for granted because the U.S. was primarily footing the bill. And therein lies the rub. Our allies have continued to benefit from the U.S. expenditures on defense so as to be immunized from the true cost of their own freedom and liberty. Perhaps if our allies bore their share of the defense burden, they would have to make tough choices about their own priorities, which for too long they have shunted away.