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Wars and ConflictsΒ  permalink

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE PROPER

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by jesw1962 (U1726423) on Thursday, 1st December 2005

  board for this question or not. Anyhow, here goes. IMO it is in the best interests of Russia, China, and the U.S. for Europe to stay fractured. I personally know several Conservative Republicans who were overjoyed when France and Belgium voted against the European Union. They are constantly trying to come up with a way to undermine the Euro.
  
  What the U.S. fears is that a unified Europe would have a larger Economy, military force, and even the financial capacity to challenge us on the oceans. How do other's feel about premise?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by arnaldalmaric (U1756653) on Friday, 2nd December 2005

  jesw1962,
  
  Probably not the right board for the question, however you'd be confusing me with someone who cared if I thought it mattered.
  
  I don't see myself that the USA, Russia or China has anything to fear from a united Europe. If a united Europe starts to include Russia then I'd start to get worried in Washington and Beijing.
  
  I don't think you need to get worried just yet. I'd draw on history and ask you what happened the last time independant states were drawn unwillingly into a federation that threatened their way of life? For me the history parallel would be the War between the States (or American Civil War as I still like to call it). There are more modern parallels e.g. Yugoslavia, The Czech Republic and Slovakia, the USSR.
  
  Of course my, opinion is coloured by being British and our long foreign policy of creating a disunited Europe (Hurrah).
  
  Cheers, AA.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by PaulRyckier (U1753522) on Friday, 2nd December 2005

  Re: Message 1.
  
  John, my American friend (from near the Great Lakes if I remember it well, but many times in Florida for the sun?),
  
  despite my "immense" backlog on these boards and while Arnald was so friendly to me today (smile)I take this "difficult" reply first.
  
  John, it was France and The Netherlands (and not Belgium. We couldn't vote, the same in Germany) which voted against "the European CONSTITUTION" and not the European Union. And what is "a constitution"? Britain seems to do it even without a Constitution and they "exist" already a lot of time too.
  
  Yes the Euro is the big and the good thing in my opinion in Europe. It gradually obliges the countries to move together ECONOMICALLY.
  
  Today it was in our local news, our prime minister has edited a book about a stronger Europe with a core of the 12 Euro-lands, if it don't go with the rest and if I remember it well he is for a European army too. And yes the economical strength of the new enlarged EU seems to be the equivalent of the US.
  
  But I completely disagree with our Belgian PM. IMO they are doing it the right way as it is now. Some European Constitution delayed, thats not that important IMO. They can stick to the essentials for the economy, because that's the only important matter and seeking a mutual aggreement. As the French now for the European subsidies have to give in (The French, because they have the biggest and most old-fashioned agriculture of the old core EU countries and...those farmers are voters...As the British have to give in with their "Tatcher-Discount"...but the voters in Britain don't like it that they have to open more their purses...I am for a loose cooperation between the several member states and restricted most to the economic field and for adherence of as many memberstates as possible if they are "a bit" economically viable, including Turkey. Because incorporate them will help them on the long run to become more democratic (in my humble opinion).
  
  And growing together on an organical way with not too much "European guidelines" but also not too less to come gradually on the long term! to a balanced economy. And I have the impression that there are a lot of people in Europe thinking as I.
  
  For the defence I am a favourite of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. And I think, as I read the augurs, that the new German Government together with Britain will strengthen the ties with the US in the near future, especially on defense, but I think also on economics. And even my France-lover Arnald will have to agree that if Germany starts, France has sooner or later to follow. And what about a Prime Minister's book of a small country as Belgium?...Pah (I learned the word yesterday from Arnald)
  
  I agree there is still a big gap, in the way the social solidarity is approached, between the US and Europe. But in Europe there are still huge differences in social attitudes too.
  
  And of course if the two biggest economies of the world stick together and at the end include Japan...however it can be wishful thinking...(smile).
  
  And of course Arnald's opinion is coloured by being British...
  
  Warm regards from near Bruges Belgium.

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