angels4u Posted November 5, 2004 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 56 Topic Count: 1,664 Topics Per Day: 0.20 Content Count: 19,764 Content Per Day: 2.38 Reputation: 12,164 Days Won: 28 Joined: 08/22/2001 Status: Offline Share Posted November 5, 2004 French call for stronger EU to keep America in check By Ambrose Evans Pritchard and Toby Helm in Brussels (Filed: 05/11/2004) Tony Blair's hopes of healing the rift between Europe and America after the re-election of President George W Bush were quickly dashed yesterday, as France led calls for a rival European superpower to confront Washington. The Prime Minister told fellow leaders at a European Union summit in Brussels that it was now time to "rebuild the relationship across the Atlantic" after bitter arguments over Iraq, the environment, trade and the Middle East peace process. But "Old Europe's" political class seized on the election result to press for stronger EU institutions to counter US domination. Reacting to Mr Bush's victory, Michel Barnier, the French foreign minister, said four more years of a unilateralist administration in Washington required Europe to develop its own diplomatic and defence machinery. "Our world needs several powers. We are in the process of gathering the pieces and the will to become another power," he said. President Jacques Chirac heightened the tension by announcing that he would skip a lunch today with the Iraqi prime minister, Iyad Allawi, intended to bestow increased legitimacy on the Baghdad government in the build-up to elections early next year - ostensibly because of a funeral in the Gulf. Mr Allawi irked Paris by giving warning that French opposition to the invasion of Iraq would not shield the country from terrorist attacks. The lingering bad feelings are a disappointment for Mr Blair, who told his Cabinet yesterday that the re-election of Mr Bush offered another chance to advance the Middle East peace process, helping to create a greater sense of common purpose between Amierca and EU nations opposed to the war in Iraq. "The Prime Minister does believe we need to use this as an opportunity to rebuild the relationship across the Atlantic," said Mr Blair's official spokesman. Calls for Europe to accelerate its defence and foreign policy plans came from across the political spectrum yesterday. Graham Watson, MEP, the leader of the European Liberal group, said Mr Bush had the effect of drawing Europeans together, making them more conscious of their own distinctive moral brand and view of the world. "There are clear differences over Kyoto, the international criminal court, not to mention Iran and North Korea. There is a heightened perception that Europe is becoming a community of values rather than just a market, which is going to force Britain to decide which side of the Atlantic it is on," he said. The European constitution signed with a fanfare in Rome last week creates a European foreign minister backed by an EU diplomatic service. Brussels already has a large military staff to co-ordinate a 60,000-man rapid reaction force which has been used in Balkans and central Africa. The Norwegian prime minister, Kjell Magne Bondevik, said the outcome of the US election made it more likely his country would join the EU after holding out for 30 years. He said the unilateralist policies of the Bush administration were driving Europe and America apart, making it harder for Norway to straddle the two blocs. "This debate is going to be opened up if the US continues to pursue a policy in which little importance is given to its alliance with Europe," he said. Daniel Cohn-Bendit, the leader of the Greens in the European Parliament, said Mr Bush's victory made "Europe's role as a counterweight to the US ever more important". Following confirmation of the US election result Goran Persson, the Swedish prime minister said it was inevitable that European politicians would continue to criticise Mr Bush. "But I do not believe he will more willing to listen," he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Posted November 6, 2004 Group: Royal Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 115 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 8,281 Content Per Day: 1.12 Reputation: 249 Days Won: 3 Joined: 03/03/2004 Status: Offline Birthday: 10/30/1955 Share Posted November 6, 2004 Yes, America MUST be kept in check. Otherwise, because of our altruistic and noble nature, we might again be so foolish as to pull France's fat out of the fryer like we did in WWI AND WWII. Let's never make that mistake again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcm Posted November 6, 2004 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 10 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 136 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 1 Days Won: 0 Joined: 08/11/2004 Status: Offline Birthday: 11/11/1978 Share Posted November 6, 2004 Don't take it so personally. The world, like any system, needs checks and balances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Posted November 6, 2004 Group: Royal Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 115 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 8,281 Content Per Day: 1.12 Reputation: 249 Days Won: 3 Joined: 03/03/2004 Status: Offline Birthday: 10/30/1955 Share Posted November 6, 2004 Sorry, but "In Flanders Field poppies grow....", and the thousands of crosses at the beaches of Normandy are not taken lightly here......... I do not 'take it personally;' I TAKE IT NATIONALLY! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcm Posted November 6, 2004 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 10 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 136 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 1 Days Won: 0 Joined: 08/11/2004 Status: Offline Birthday: 11/11/1978 Share Posted November 6, 2004 What has that got to do with anything? Why take offense? Do you think that one nation should dominate world affairs? (Imagine if it was someone other than the US.) Don't take it as an anti-American stance, take it as a precaution against a situation in which only one voice and one opinion is tolerated in the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgolvach Posted November 6, 2004 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 110 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 1,254 Content Per Day: 0.17 Reputation: 6 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/28/2004 Status: Offline Share Posted November 6, 2004 What has that got to do with anything? Why take offense? Do you think that one nation should dominate world affairs? (Imagine if it was someone other than the US.) Don't take it as an anti-American stance, take it as a precaution against a situation in which only one voice and one opinion is tolerated in the world. Thats right, let a country of cowards and oil for food thugs who don't hesitate to back stab other Nations who have bailed them out twice in the past century lead the charge against the very country that liberated them with their own (US) blood. Most Americans I know have no use for France and they do take the ANTI-AMERICAN stance that comes out of France very personal. Theres a good chance that the war in Iraq could have been avoided if the oil for food, back stabbing thug leaders in France would have stood up to Hussain. I guess its not good business to diss your customers and now we know the truth as to way they vetoed. Now American blood is being spilt again because of a demonic dictator that France did business with. The world needs to keep France in check not America and don't fool yourself into thinking America is a country that EU could ever keep in check anyway. What a joke!!..Ttake it as a precaution? What a crock!!! The US has done more good in the world than any other nation in history. What you really should do is pray and give thanks that the BIG KID on the block is not a country like France or Germany. Remember the S.S.? So whats France gonna do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Posted November 6, 2004 Group: Royal Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 115 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 8,281 Content Per Day: 1.12 Reputation: 249 Days Won: 3 Joined: 03/03/2004 Status: Offline Birthday: 10/30/1955 Share Posted November 6, 2004 The present French administration has elevated treachery and duplicity to a high art form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest yod Posted November 6, 2004 Share Posted November 6, 2004 There is a good reason why the English and the French have been at war for almost their entire history. Let's face it, folks, the frogs (as they are known in England) are our enemies. It's time we treated them like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted Posted November 6, 2004 Group: Royal Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 276 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 7,474 Content Per Day: 0.97 Reputation: 51 Days Won: 0 Joined: 02/25/2003 Status: Offline Birthday: 01/31/1966 Share Posted November 6, 2004 That's right Yod, we should start praying for them. t. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angels4u Posted November 7, 2004 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 56 Topic Count: 1,664 Topics Per Day: 0.20 Content Count: 19,764 Content Per Day: 2.38 Reputation: 12,164 Days Won: 28 Joined: 08/22/2001 Status: Offline Author Share Posted November 7, 2004 Tony Blair's hopes of healing the rift between Europe and America after the re-election of President George W Bush were quickly dashed yesterday, as France led calls for a rival European superpower to confront Washington. Europe has been anti Americian for as long as I remember --I believe this article shows we're living in the last days as we seen them now Angels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts