hinduwoman

Now EU wants an army of their own to stand upto USA.

http://www.islam-online.net/English/...rticle16.shtml

BRUSSELS, April 29 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - France, Germany and two other countries opposed to the U.S.-led war on Iraq called Tuesday, April 29, in a summit talks for a raft of measures to boost Europe's self-reliance in defense matters
The ESDU would "gather those member states that are ready to go faster and further in strengthening their defense cooperation", the four leaders said in a joint statement after two hours of talks.
Such a development raises the prospect of a two-speed Europe as the E.U. struggles to forge a common foreign and security policy, which has been left in tatters by divisions over the war on Iraq.
...
The four leaders instructed their defense ministers to establish "not later than 2004" a European military command headquarters for joint operations outside the NATO arena.
In parallel they called for the "nucleus of a collective capability" offered by E.U. armed forces -- which could spell the beginnings of an E.U. army.
...
For his part, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday that the United States saw no need for a new E.U. military command.
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Powell might not see it, but EU does. The world is going to be so much more arms free.

Gringo

I think the EU developing their own army is a great idea. Bush is already talking about closing our bases in Germany. It's about time they start pulling their own weight.

Greg2003

Just the beginning of the fallout from the disasterous Bush administration foreign policy. We took universal sympathy and turned it into widespread resentment. Now a pacified western europe is going to start pursuing military build up after 60 years. Thanks a lot Mr. Bush.

Ruy Lopez

Franco-German intent is to derail US dominance and the eventual dissolution of Nato. The US wants to keep Nato and US forces in Europe. Don't get this wrong.

France and Germany sees the precarious perch of the dollar as an Achilles heel. Russia is scheduled to support this West European pact when the time is right. They met in St. Petersburg recently, didn't they?

France is pretending to support the US over Iraq sanctions lifting but with Russia against, it won't pan out.

Syphor

Good. Now they need a common foreign policy which will take some time, although if the US continues to diplomatically isolate itself (which it is going to do) the process will be speed up. Within 30 years we'll be looking at a uni and possibly tri-power world with China coming into the fray as well. American ability to assert its will on other nations without contention will be greatly diminished and thank goodness for that.

Answerer

Sorry guys, but it is not long ago that I heard Blair is trying to combine EU and US into one united foreign entity.

Besides, I think its time for the Asians to have one of their own 'EU'.

slept2long

New cold war?

meritocrat

NATO is suoerfluous and perhaps needs to be disbanded.

We in the EU must realise that the US would not be willing to intervene (nor should they be obligated to) in every situation. Maybe an EU defence force is a positive thing. Nonetheless, I still have reservations pertaining to whether it would erode a member state's sovereignty.

Jat

Yes, Bush sure did snatch defeat from the hands of victory.

Jat

NATO's original purpose was to stand against the Warsaw Pack nations, but since they are now a part of it something new is needed now.

You have to give up something in order to be a member of any working team. You all can't be in charge. Too many cooks spoil the broth.