| Submit your comments on this article |
| Europe |
| U.S. needs to commit itself to Europe’s security -Finland’s PM |
| 2004-05-11 |
| The role of the United States remains considerable and constructive in Europe even if the now 25-nation bloc’s own security policy role is gathering pace, said Finland’s centrist Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen Tuesday. Speaking at a seminar of national defence in Helsinki, Vanhanen said he does not see this development as causing a conflict between the US and the EU. He said it was in Europe’s own interests to make sure that the United States continues to be politically interested in Europe and that the relationship remains as strong as possibe. Otherwise global economic development will steer its interest toward the regions of the Pacific Ocean and of Asia. The premier said he was in full agreement with Finland’s former centrist Prime Minister Esko Aho (1991-1995) on the fact that "fundamentalist anti-Americanism" needs to be avoided. However, Vanhanen said he had not witnessed signs of this type of development in Finland. On Finland’s possible membership in NATO, Vanhanen repeated that military alliance was not a timely consideration for Finland at the moment. He added, however, that at the same time membership cannot be ruled out and that Finland must see to it that its military is NATO compatible. "I take it as a given that Finland would be welcome in NATO if we chose to apply for membership. For me the question about NATO membership is not an ideological but a practical one," he said at the seminar. |
| Posted by:TS(vice girl) |
| #20 For the Euro readers, any ideas on how to increase the birth rate such as: Make housing more affordable for families? Less taxes, tax breaks for kids? Quit teaching school kids about BJs and instruct them on the nasty? Have recurring recipe 'mix-ups' at the birth control pill factory? Lace the quiche with testosterone? |
| Posted by: ed 2004-05-11 1:36:53 PM |
| #19 Nokia can merge with Erikson. Opps, same boat, no paddle. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-05-11 1:15:04 PM |
| #18 With their current birth rate the Finns as nation will disappear by the end of thid century. Not sure who or what is there to protect other than Nokia. |
| Posted by: marek 2004-05-11 1:11:57 PM |
| #17 U.S. needs to commit itself to Europe’s security On Finland’s possible membership in NATO, Vanhanen repeated that military alliance was not a timely consideration for Finland at the moment. He added, however, that at the same time membership cannot be ruled out and that Finland must see to it that its military is NATO compatible. Let's do the math. America spent BILLIONS to prop up NATO and create a credible deterrent in Europe during the Cold War. Our thanks? "[M]ilitary alliance was not a timely consideration for Finland at the moment ..." If ever there was a time to begin showing some gratitude, it's RIGHT ABOUT NOW. For Finland to whine about fears of Europe's being sidelined and still reject participation in NATO is just another dose of surrealism. Quite obviously, no one over there actually managed to take Madrid seriously. I wonder if some planes flying into skyscrapers would even get them off their collective @sses, except maybe to hurriedly surrender. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-05-11 12:57:36 PM |
| #16 Right on, bro! |
| Posted by: John Simmins 2004-05-11 12:00:00 PM |
| #15 look what happend to Sigfreid. Or was it Roy? Here kitty kitty - stand up and dance. |
| Posted by: Becky 2004-05-11 11:48:41 AM |
| #14 Well, I've said it before, and I'll say it again. It was fun for them to pull the tail and the ears of the big friendly American dog. But were sick of it now and we're a bit quicker to snap. And their mother's would do well to remind them that we can still attack and rip them to shreds if we are so inclined - we just haven't done it yet, because we are basically nice people and would prefer not to. But one or two more kicks like 911 and they will see what we are really made of. You think they would have learned from previous wars, but I guess history is destined to repeat itself. It's never smart to assume that a dog won't bite. |
| Posted by: B 2004-05-11 11:47:00 AM |
| #13 This must bug the Hell out of the French and German bureaucrats. They want to *be* somebody in the world, not the bums they are today; but they don't want to have to *pay* for it. Can't we just be a major world power through economic means? Everybody has their price, or we can pay someone who has a price and a gun to kill the first guy who has no price. As long as we don't actually have to pay him to do it. But, we really, really, truly want to rule Europe and be a major world power, and that should be enough. Maybe we should hold another meeting and get input, then write another staffing report, and *that* will make us a world power. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2004-05-11 11:46:41 AM |
| #12 Looks like the Finns, after a few centuries of snuggling up to the big friendly bear, don't want to continue the relationship alone. Must be getting near feeding time or somethin'... |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-05-11 11:02:51 AM |
| #11 It's a little early for Kerry to start thinking about renting out the Lincoln Bedroom. The election is 6 months away, a political eterntity. I think this year may be a demonstration of the old adage that you can't beat something with nothing. Kerry is hollow shell of calculating ambition rather than a strong, principled man. I can't imagine the American people depending on him to keep us safe, prosperous, and free. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-05-11 10:58:45 AM |
| #10 Isn't this the same Finnish government that implied that GWB was a war criminal? How about this: "Bye-o. Have your women measured for burkas. You don't want them shot on sight." |
| Posted by: BigEd 2004-05-11 10:56:34 AM |
| #9 To hell with them all. Thanks to the jagoffs at Abu Ghraib, Kerry will win the election and the Mohammedans can continue their jihad unhindered. Everything's going to hell, and good riddance. |
| Posted by: Cthulhu Akbar 2004-05-11 10:43:07 AM |
| #8 The money graf here is: He said it was in Europe's own interests to make sure that the United States continues to be politically interested in Europe and that the relationship remains as strong as possibe. Otherwise global economic development will steer its interest toward the regions of the Pacific Ocean and of Asia. The Finns recognize that European power has diminished to the point that the EU is just a sideshow and that, with Bush in the White House, America realizes Europe needs us more than we need them. They also realize that if the EU continues to be so thoroughly uncooperative and unpleasant, America will walk away and pursue her interests in more congenial climes with more cooperative and significant countries. The Finns are perceptive enought to understand what Old Europe does not. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-05-11 10:28:27 AM |
| #7 LOL Frank! =) |
| Posted by: docob 2004-05-11 10:25:07 AM |
| #6 Chuck - my thought exactly as soon as I read the headline. If the Zeropeans would commit themselves (and their money, not ours) to their own goddam security, we'd all be safer. I ain't holding my breath. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-05-11 10:24:04 AM |
| #5 bang the tray on the highchair a little louder, that might work |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-11 10:12:22 AM |
| #4 Hear, hear Bulldog. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-05-11 10:00:12 AM |
| #3 Chuck - my thoughts, put succinctly. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2004-05-11 9:45:24 AM |
| #2 IMO, the best way the US could commit itself to Europe's security would be to pull almost all her forces out of the continent. Scare the continental Euroweenies, if needs be, into taking their own security more seriously, whilst letting it be known that contributing funds and manpower to NATO, the supposedly-mutual defence alliance, would be a little less unlilateral. It's past time the plug was pulled on US-funded Euro defence welfare. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2004-05-11 9:44:43 AM |
| #1 How about if Europe commits itself to Europe's security? |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2004-05-11 9:39:24 AM |