Re: [A-List] The end of NATO?

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Further on this theme, the Telegraph, right wing British paper always 
vigilant on military issues, had this as its lead story.

It is very clear that there is a closely linked drive between making Europe 
militarily self sufficient in however modest a way, and driving it towards 
greater economic independence of manouvre versus the US. It is true that 
different European states skirmish over what details come first. Blair was 
particularly keen on integrating the energy market. But the trend is there.

The interpenetration of finance capital on a global scale means that this 
heightened inter-imperialist rivalry will not lead to inter-imperialist 
war, but there will be remarkable skirmishings globally over the next ten 
years as the US attempts to enforce control over all states in the world 
that could provide any support for terrorist attacks ,and a struggle for 
economic and military parity.

Out of these battles a world government with grudging world consent, will 
be forged, with the class struggle and economic struggle depending on the 
relative strength of the respective forces.

But yes, as Heny Liu predicted, NATO as we have known, it may disappear.



Chris Burford

Telegraph>>


Britain caves in on Euro army By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard and George Jones 
in Barcelona (Filed: 16/03/2002)

THE European Union's new military force was on the way to becoming a 
reality last night when key EU leaders agreed in principle that it should 
take over peacekeeping in Macedonia this year.

They made the decision despite Ministry of Defence warnings that the 
mission could go disastrously wrong.

Javier Solana, the EU's foreign policy chief, told The Telegraph that 
Britain was no longer opposing the deployment of the rapid reaction force 
in the Balkans.

He said EU leaders were close to an agreement that would place the 
700-strong Nato-led Amber Fox peacekeeping mission in Macedonia under EU 
operational control.

"We expect to issue a statement declaring our readiness to take over Amber 
Fox at the end of September if need be."

British officials confirmed that the EU leaders were expected to issue a 
statement about the operation in their final communique today.

But issues still had to be resolved between Greece and Turkey over any 
future access to Nato equipment should the troops in Macedonia run into 
trouble.

Tony Blair appeared to have given ground to President Chirac of France, who 
pushed the idea vigorously in a series of meetings at the European summit 
in Barcelona.

M Chirac has been determined to create what opposition politicians in 
Britain fears will be the basis of an army that could undermine Nato.

The decision was not formally announced; nor did British officials give any 
hint that Mr Blair had agreed that the European force should take on its 
first role.

But M Chirac's spokesman, Catherine Colona, said that after a long 
conversation Mr Blair appeared to have moved towards the French position.

EU officials said Mr Blair was understood to have made the concession after 
France agreed to open its energy markets to competition.

The Prime Minister was anxious to achieve progress on deregulation to 
demonstrate that the EU was taking economic reform seriously.

He has been forced to play down expectations of any significant 
breakthrough at Barcelona. Last July he said the summit would be "make or 
break" for reform.

He would have been seriously embarrassed to return to London today without 
being able to show that he had secured more competition on energy - as 
French companies run British utilities but British companies cannot supply 
electricity in France.

Mr Blair also dropped his objections to the EU's £2 billion Galileo 
satellite project, intended to rival America's global positioning system.

Galileo is seen as vital in making the EU an independent force to avoid 
"vassal status", as M Chirac said.