Rumsfeld is a diplomatic genius

[mindseye]

DanS wrote:

The latest from Rumsfeld: "hesitation increases the likelihood of war"

This is entirely true. Hesitation takes the pressure off of Hussein and allows him the luxury of miscalculating that he can get through this with his WMD intact.

So you feel that ending the hesitation and moving towards war will reduce it's likelihood?

Man, when the military is out on a leash that long, the institutional momentum (both inside and outside of the military) to use it is going to be enormous. That's quite a risk, I'd say.

[Fidel]

there is absolutely no way stopping it now. it's like chekhov's rule - a rifle on the wall in the first act has to be used by the last act of the play

[Wernazuma III]

Rumsfeld did it again!
This time he attacked Austria for delaying the transport of US troops from Germany to Italy. Austria denies the US the right to use its rail tracks for troop transport because it's a neutral state. Neutality is in our constitution damn it!
Bad enough that US warplanes fly illegally over our heads all the time and our government not complaining about it. But the fact that now WE're being attacked is simply ridiculous!!!!!!!

Great move, Rumsie, this makes many friends! Now, finally, all people here in Austria will recognize that America does not negotiate but only demands, demands, demands, threatens, threatens and threatens.

[Sava]

Now, finally, all people here in Austria will recognize that America does not negotiate but only demands, demands, demands, threatens, threatens and threatens.

They're just figuring this out now?

[Traianvs]

The patience of the world is nearing its end

Uhm, I believe Rumsfeld means: The patience of the US is nearing its end

[Wernazuma III]

Originally posted by Sava

They're just figuring this out now?

Sadly so, at least our political elites didn't raise their voices probably becasue they're scared to death that the CIA could find out about our biological weapon manufacture, the Styrian stinking cheese.

[Ned]

W, How can Austria be part of the EU if EU is not neutral? Is there a clause in the EU constitution that permits member states to be neutral?

[Ned]

Also, on the issue of the EU, how will this work from a foreign policy point of view when some of the member states are allies of the US, others neutral, and still others enemies.

[Spiffor]

Who is an enemy of the US in the EU ?

[KrazyHorse]

Allies: anybody who does exactly what the US says, when it says

Neutrals: anybody who takes some convincing

Enemies: anybody who kicks up a fight

[KrazyHorse]

i.e. France, Russia, Germany, Austria, Greece, Belgium: enemies

UK: ally

Rest: neutral

[Main_Brain]

Its not like EU is actually that united :P
We are more like a Federation and as long as no 'European' Stance has emitted every Member has its own Relations.
Also try to distince EU and Nato ;=)

[Spiffor]

I thought an enemy was a country which used its weapons to destroy you... My English is worse than I thought

[KrazyHorse]

You might want to give a dictionary to the US government.

[Spiffor]

BTW, there is still no EUropean constitution. EU is held together by a bunch of treaties. A constitution is in the works, and the draft should be completed in June. You can see the current drafted articles here
The EU is by no means a military alliance, and the Common Foreign and Security Policy is the loosest of all EU's agreements.