On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 18:13:56 +0200, Martin Hotze
wrote:

My family fought in two world wars, defending your land

_my_ land? *bah*

I think people forget that all of Western Europe's modern prosperity
has its roots in the Marshall Plan. In hindsight perhaps Martin thinks
we offered Austria a quick fix and 50 years of military stability in
the region? For example, I don't seem to recall that very much of the
Serbo-croatian violence spilled over into Hungary or Austria. (Though
I do know of a bombing attempt between two such groups in Zurich;
friends of mine were living in the same apartment building at the
time, but that appears to be the extent of it.)

Trust me -- if many of us have anything to say about future action in
Europe, the answer to your question will be a resounding "Yes".

Thank you. What a positive outcome this has.

Yeah; consider that. I think Austria is already not a NATO member,
meaning it has no voice in that alliance's councils. It might be a
member of some trade alliances with the West, but I think the only one
it really has is with Switzerland and two Scandinavian countries.

I shudder to think what would happen if the U.S., with by far the
largest armed force in Europe, were to entirely withdraw. France and
Germany are still remarkably ethnocentric, with capable and educated
workforces and access to significant natural resources. In other
words, without strong economic and military alliances like NATO,
what's to stop them from overwhelming Poland and Austria yet again, I
wonder?

What would, as well, prevent India or China, or an alliance of Islamic
nations, from getting visions of larger Empires, with eyes on wealthy
Europe, were the U.S. to publicly repudiate its alliances in Europe
and withdraw again across the sea?

Better the devil you know, says I. But if you're really opposed to it,
then I'll offer that you can renounce any flight training you got in
the U.S., cut off all your business relationships with all Americans,
and your government can refuse the tourist dollars, and formally stand
up in the U.S. Embassy declaring that no more Americans will be
permitted entry into Austria for any reason. No use profiting from our
system of laws and our economy if you're all dead-set against

Say, that reminds me of an episode I had with an Austrian Border
Policeman years ago at the Sankt Margrethen border post, where the
policeman, apparantly upon seeing I was an American missionary,
decided that I owed the 150 shillings or so in import tax on my
friend's property. I was almost not permitted entry (after already
having been fully and legally "angemeldet" and everything).

When I looked over the import laws and consulted with my Austrian
friends in Vorarlberg, I learned that he had far outstepped his
bounds. Didn't seem to matter; he harrassed us until I paid the tax on
property that wasn't mine.

Perhaps this man feels similarly towards Americans as Martin does.

Rob, an otherwise enthusiastic fan of the Alpine region