Europe's lack of military hardware and clout leaves it on the sidelines

ARLINGTON, Va., May 28 (UPI) -- Policymakers and pundits in the nations of the European Union have watched their language very carefully in their discussions of the Russian invasion of the former Soviet republic of Georgia last year. They say that the situation in Georgia is regrettable, but somehow unavoidable. Nobody in Europe really said to Russia: "Get out of Georgia, or else." The painful truth was that there was no "else" in Europe's arsenal.

In the end, that is what soft power alone gets you. You are weak and everybody knows it. If someone out there is willing to act aggressively counting on zero reaction from you, as you have no tools, then bad behavior is not discouraged. If word gets around that the local police force is now disarmed, some criminals may take notice of this strategic change. That is the dilemma now facing the 27 nations of the European Union with their combined population of half a billion people.

As the post-surge situation in Iraq has proved over the past two and a half years, there is a positive, productive use of military power as a key ingredient in the new mix of a better planned counterinsurgency strategy that is beginning to succeed. The fact that shooting indiscriminately is a bad idea does not automatically exclude that shooting discriminately, along with sound engagement policies, may be productive.

The trick is in creating the proper mix. In a word, it is not an either/or proposition: "either raw power or soft power." It is about having both and managing skillfully both. If it is true that raw power alone may not get results, the reverse is also true.

The great U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt a century ago famously embraced the approach of speaking softly while carrying a big stick as the most prudent way to move forward. The preferred approach should always be to resolve issues by speaking softly. But all those concerned should see the big stick and -- most importantly -- they should be absolutely convinced that one will use it without hesitation if all else fails.

The United States is now improving its talking skills under the new leader ship of President Barack Obama, while also devising a more judicious and nuanced use of its stick. But the critical point is that the United States has a stick. The European Union has the much more difficult challenge of finding the will to get a stick and to create a policy consensus that would convince the rest of the world that Europe is prepared to use it -- and not just in Third World police operations of little or no consequence.

But this may be asking too much of a loose coalition of countries whose main aspiration is to do their best to stay out of trouble.

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(Paolo Liebl von Schirach is the editor of SchirachReport.com, a regular contributor to Swiss radio and an international economic-development expert.)

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(United Press International's "Outside View" commentaries are written by outside contributors who specialize in a variety of important issues. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of United Press International. In the interests of creating an open forum, original submissions are invited.)