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Europe
EU nations condemn Euro army as a threat to Nato (meanwhile, vodka flows in Moscow)
2003-05-01
Diplomatic warfare over proposals for a "Euro army" intensified yesterday as Greece and Russia came out in support while others, including Britain, condemned them as a divisive threat to Nato. Greece became the only other European Union member to support a call by France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg to boost Europe's self-reliance in defence, a day after the four countries met in Brussels. Russia added its weight, to the consternation of its erstwhile central European satellites, saying it considered "that yesterday's meeting marks the start of a process at the heart of the European Union". Igor Ivanov, the foreign minister, said Russia would "follow closely how it develops."
Them weasels, still up to their tricks?
"Why don't we call it, uhhh... the Holy Alliance?"
Condemnation of the initiative spread across the rest of Europe as concern grew over what was being seen as an attempt by a small caucus of the countries to loosen American and Nato ties to Europe. "The very reason that the meeting was held is that those countries weren't satisfied with our initiative which tied European defence to Nato," Tony Blair told Parliament. "There were four involved yesterday, there were 11 that weren't. We are part of the 11. The United Kingdom believes it is important that decisions on European defence and security are taken together in consensus, not only with the existing 15 members of the EU but also with those countries who are about to join."
What's with all this unilateral [I'm using the French word, which as we're all aware by now, does not have the same meaning as the English] military action, anyway?
Italy, Portugal and Spain, which also backed America over Iraq, reacted with dismay, while Nato said a new military command could lead to duplication.
Is NATO going to take this lying down?
Posted by:Bulldog

#3  First of all, can anything that's been given the Russian stamp of approval ever be looked at as positive?

Secondly, I think this is going to be very fun to watch because after they go through all the political strife and expense of putting this military together they're going to want to use it, and relatively soon to prove how right they were, and how this is going to be a 'good thing'. The problem of course is that they are all born losers. So the question is which poor unsuspecting country will be forever damaged from their "help"?
Posted by: g wiz   2003-05-01 11:43:40  

#2  As someone once noted, the Holy Roman Empire was "none of the above".

I think this will make the Germans and the ex-sattelites real, real nervous.
Posted by: mojo   2003-05-01 10:47:17  

#1  Time for a Sixth Republic in Paris?
Posted by: Chuck   2003-05-01 07:41:22  

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