Marco Rubio told a group of European security bigwigs in Munich that Europe and America are united by culture, ethnicity, history, and Christianity. Liberal democracy did not make the cut. Does Rubio’s formula make sense?
Ignore the fact that few Europeans are practicing Christians. Disregard the vast differences in ethnicity between 21st century America and Europe. Focus, instead, on the role that Russia plays in the formula. If Rubio is right, Russia should be on the same team as the rest of Europe, and there should be no war with Ukraine.
But there is. To the extent we share characteristics with the Europeans, the story has to revolve around the battles against Nazi and Russian despotism, not language, ethnicity, or religion.