Old Europe left out in the cold?

[Drake Tungsten]

LONDON, England -- Eight European leaders have backed U.S. President George W. Bush calling for tough action to force Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to disarm, breaking ranks with France and Germany.

In an article in Britain's Times newspaper and several other papers in Europe and America, the leaders of EU members Britain, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Denmark and applicants Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, appealed for unity in the bloc.

"The transatlantic relationship must not become a casualty of the current Iraqi regime's persistent attempts to threaten world security," the eight leaders wrote. "Our strength lies in unity.

"The Iraqi regime and its weapons of mass destruction represent a clear threat to world security," the premiers wrote in a thinly-veiled appeal to doubters French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to join up.

The newspaper article signed by Britain's Tony Blair, Italy's Silvio Berlusconi, Spain's Jose Maria Aznar, Portugal's Jose Barroso, Denmark's Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Czech Republic's Vaclav Havel, Poland's Leszek Miller and Hungary's Peter Medgyessy was hailed by the Bush administration as evidence of wider support in Europe than had been reported.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/01/30/sprj.irq.european.leaders/index.html

There are intelligent people left in Europe, it seems.

What do you guys think will come of this? Will France and Germany continue to drive a wedge in the transatlantic relationship? Or will they come around to the side of justice? They better hope that they don't end up on the losing end on this or the balance of power in Europe may undergo a shift...

[Lancer]

Yes! Looks like Germany and France took a major blow to their leadership positions in the EU, all because they want to be independant of the US. I guess the rest of europe isn't wandering around w/ identity issues.

[HershOstropoler]

An interesting episode. Let's forget Berlusconi, he's just an idiot who might ramble into the exactly opposite direction tomorrow.

The ones who're driving a wedge into the transatlantic relationship are Bush and co.

If you read carefully, the "backed U.S. President George W. Bush" is less than lukewarm. They put an emphasis on fighting terrorism, on disarming Iraq, and the security council. They avoided the crucial question: Do they support US occupation of Iraq without the backing of the SC. Now that answer would have been interesting....

[Usually Insane]

what is justice pray?

That millions of people have been starved because no one gave a dime for them before?

That the US are already selling Iraqi oil rights to oil companies?

That an assasination attempt at saddam would be a lot cheaper for the US and safer for it's soldiers?

That they are planning to counterattack with nuclear weapons IF Iraq uses any weapon of "mass desrtruction" thus killing innocent people for what one person is responsible for (and the cahin of command of course)

Calling people who do their job, i.e. defending their country, War criminals?

When was the trial, I seem to have missed it, I don't remember any judges listening to both sides and judging.

edit: spelling mistake

And I really can't see how there is any justice in this cause

[Fidel]

Originally posted by Lancer
Yes! Looks like Germany and France took a major blow to their leadership positions in the EU, all because they want to be independant of the US. I guess the rest of europe isn't wandering around w/ identity issues.

hm, i am not so sure. do you really think that lackey countries like hungary, czech republic and the like will hesitate one minute to suck it up to germans when it comes to their economic leadership on the continent. to say that this has been a blow to franco-german domination is to say that castro is undermining the hegemony of the US on the western hemisphere.

Hungary and the likes have very little left of the foreign policy and they have decided to use it as a cheap propaganda tool and make empty calls for unity on issues they certainly do not want to make a stand on. Please ask Hungarians how many batallions they are sending to Iraq.

[HershOstropoler]

Hey LR, how's it going. Are you back to Beograd?

[Harovan]

I demand to respect the opinion of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic! Grant them their 5 minutes of importance in the international arena! After all, they're the new Europe! They'll return soon enough in the arms of the old Europe, when they need the next chunk of Euros.

As for Italy, well, congratulations to this ally. They always were reliable. They'll make the US stronger, no doubt.

[TheStinger]

Spain and Italy are major players in europe. Also if the eastern countries were supporting France and Germany then you would saying oh look no one in europe likes the US

[TheStinger]

Originally posted by Sir Ralph
I demand to respect the opinion of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic! Grant them their 5 minutes of importance in the international arena! After all, they're the new Europe! They'll return soon enough in the arms of the old Europe, when they need the next chunk of Euros.

As for Italy, well, congratulations to this ally. They always were reliable. They'll make the US stronger, no doubt.

As Germany is broke and the French only give money to their gitane smoking country folk then they won't be getting any money from them

[HershOstropoler]

Spain and Italy belong to the big 5 in the EU, although Berlusconi has reduced Italy to a joke. As for Aznar's motives, I'm very uncertain what he wants to achieve here. There's some intra EU powerplay at work here too, but the goals look quite murky.

[TheStinger]

Originally posted by HershOstropoler
Spain and Italy belong to the big 5 in the EU, although Berlusconi has reduced Italy to a joke. As for Aznar's motives, I'm very uncertain what he wants to achieve here. There's some intra EU powerplay at work here too, but the goals look quite murky.

I agree, however France and Germanys motives are just as bad.

With Spain now exerting more power, it means the Franco/German axis is no longer the automatic dominant force, if the UK,Italy and Spain oppose it. They are playing on anti-american sentiment to stay in charge

[Harovan]

Originally posted by TheStinger
As Germany is broke and the French only give money to their gitane smoking country folk then they won't be getting any money from them

Germany still pays its membership fee to the EU. Mind you, that it is by far the largest by both amount and proportion. Perhaps we should propose to increase the fee for the other members to the same proportion?

[Worthingtons]

WHo cares about France and Germany. They follow each other polically wise in most cases anyway ... they are both a set of cowards so let them be continue to be, it's not like we really need thier support.

[Capt Dizle]

Just for the record. On the street in America, in 45 years, I have never heard a soul give a damn about what Europeans think.

[Lancer]

EU powerplay...exerting influence...what's this one or that one up to? Look at this EU country...they are a joke...bla bla bla.

Like sands through the hour glass, these are the days or our allies.

Or

As the World Turns... europe spins.

It's a big soap opera.