Re: [A-List] EU Struggles: EU Constitution

["annewilliamson" <annewilliamson@xxxxxxx>]

One May 12, 2003, Michael Keany wrote:

  Meanwhile "Europe" is in no condition, and will not be in any condition
any
> time soon, to conduct itself in such a fashion. This is why far left
> jeremiads about a European common security and defence policy are
hopelessly
> off the mark. It is very much in the interests of the opponents of US
> imperialism that the illusion of an independent European military is
> fostered as much as possible, because it will work to undermine the
actually
> existing instrument of inter-imperialist cooperation (aka subjugation)
that
> is NATO.


Michael:

I can sign on to all that you wrote, with the
quibble that - even though I too very much
want Britain out from under the US hegemon -
I don't necessarily agree that further integration
into the EU is the way to get the job done, but
- large sigh - you may well be right.

Further I agree to your point about the "illusion of an
independent military" being critical.  Just one thing,
NATO is starting to unravel, it is rotting from within -
so that "illusion" may well get a much-needed kick in
the pants.  Not that I am anxious to see the EU
spend enormously on defense, but the old WWII
bargain of having the US provide the defense umbrella
while the Europeans built large welfare states has
proved to be a devil's bargain.  Like Chris Sanders
wrote:  Sometimes you have to fight.

But I'm not referencing a military campaign in the above.
The US economy is exhausted, and spending on the
military is really going to start to hurt.  Over the coming
year, Iraq and Afghanistan are not going to "come right."
The US simply doesn't have the men, materiel and funds
to keep it up without seriously harming the domestic
population.  And when the American people start feeling
the true aim of the Patridiot Act (tax farming by banks,
which - unlike govt - are efficient, and state control), the
world may at last see a reaction.  Amazingly, people
here are blithely unaware in large part of those laws,
and their ultimate purpose.  Zip reporting.

The EU doesn't have to have a giant military - it needs
a credible defense force, and a big "so long" to NATO.

Anne