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same token, the
Times
wisely edi–
torialized : " Americans who talk of
a ba ndon ing the decadent a nd
ungrateful Europeans to their fate
are retreating into an old American
dream world.
The United S tates
could not a.fford to let an area as
rich and strategical/y vulnerable
as Europe slip under Soviet hege–
mony."
What we are withessing is the
generat ion gap in full bloom on
both sides of the Atlantic. On the
eastern shore, youthful Europeans
are unaware of the importance of
America's contemporary commit–
ment to their freedom and securi ty.
On the western shore, a " new crop"
of U.S. legislators has grown to
adulthood without realizing how
critica! a free aJlied Europe is to the
very surviva bility of America
itself.
The current generation also
over looks t he fact that withou t
NATO, the age-old "German
Question" in the heart of Europe
would rise once again to the sur–
face.
West German sovereignty is
uniqu e ly limited. Upon joining
NATO, the Wes t Germans re–
nounced having thei r own national
army, instead placing the
Bundes–
wehr
under NATO-mean ing ulti–
mately U.S.-command. The Bonn
government also foreswore produc–
tion and ownership of atomic weap–
ons, in return for protection under
America's nuclear umbrella.
To tamper with this arrangement
is to open a potential Pandora's
box.
Which Way Europe?
The stage is being set for a crisis–
fill ed Western world- especially
Western Europe-in this decisive
decade of the l980s.
The threat of U.S. military with–
drawal from the Continent could
become a reality by 1983 if Euro–
pean governments- succumbing to
public pressure-do not permit the
new generation of NATO nuclear
missiles to be deployed on Euro–
pean soil.
Were this to occur, it is now
believed that the United States
would pull its 300,000 troops and
dependents back borne, rather
than having them subjected as
underprotected "hostages" to the
6
Western Europeans have
a healthy respect- in
many cases, fear-of
Russian military might.
There is a growing U.S.
unilateralism, feeding on
European neutralism.
What we are witnessing is
the generation gap in
full bloom on both sides
of the Atlantic.
The stage is being set for
a crisis-filled Western
world-especially Western
Europe- in this decisive
decade of the 1980s.
"The most urgent cnsts 1s
the impending crisis of
NATO."
ever-increasing Soviet military
might.
Western Europe, in turn, would
be neutralized by intense Soviet
political pressure. The word used
today is
Finlandizarion.
The future is therefore either
compromised neutrality, leading to
eventua l S ov iet domination of
Europe- or
Western Europe must
wake up to the specter of becoming
a powerful nuclear third force on
its own.
Bible prophecy clearl y indicates
the latter alternative!
Prophecy foretells that there is
yet to come the final end-time res–
toration of the Roman Empire.
It
will be composed of " ten horns"–
meaning 10 nations or ruli ng enti–
ties (Rev. 17: 12).
This resurrected Roman Empire
will be able to stand up to the
Soviet U nion- perhaps even de–
mand a release of sorne of its satel–
lite European nations in return for
a promise of trade and nonaggres–
sion.
A " Sweeping Desi gn " for Europe
The comin g configuratio n in
Europe, according to Bible proph–
ecy, wi ll be a
church-state
com–
bine . In this light, it is interesting
to note a little reported event that
took place in the Vatican last
November.
More than 200 participants from
20 countries gathered in a confer–
ence to deal with the subject of the
"common Christian roots" of the
nations of Europe. The event, orga–
nized by Pope John P aul ll 's old
University of Lublin in Poland and
the Lateran University in Rome,
was, according to the
Times
of
London, "the first attempt on an
international scale to look at the
weight to be attached to Eastern
and Western E urope as a whole.
From the Vatican's point of view,
the change is sweeping."
Pope P aul VI , according to
Times
reporter Peter Nichols, was
inclined to see Europeas the West,
the noncommunist countries. He
regarded the East as mainly a di p–
lomatic problem.
Pope John Paul 's design on the
other hand, noted Mr. Nichols,
"is sweeping, perhaps roman t ic ,
yet felt with the extraordi nary
intensity of the first Pope from
the East. There is something mes–
sianic in the expression of his feel–
ings about 'how deeply fixed in
t he ground o f history are the
roots' of his origin."
Tbe Pope, says Mr. Nichols, sees
Poland as an example for Europe.
Poland, even when partitioned in
the past, never lost
its
identity.
Europe, divided by the Yal ta Con–
ference in 1945, no longer feels
itself to be Europe, but appendages
of the United States and Russia.
Europe, according to the Pope,
must rediscover
its
common roots,
based on religion and culture.
The Plain Truth
will continue to
keep its readers abreast of cr itically
important events and trends in
Europe throughout t his " Decade of
Decision." o
The PLAIN TRUTH