Do I smell a Belgian Waffle?

"Guy Verhofstadt, the Belgian Prime Minister, who called today's mini-summit and drew up the exclusive invitation list..."

Oh yeah, and "dispatch emergency humanitarian aid within 24 hours of disasters" sounds kind of strange - I mean, even the Danes have now sent help to Iraq, but these guys?

OF COURSE they mean to have the rest of the EU pay for it. That's been the game all along, to bring other countries with younger demographics in to pay for things from pensions to defence for the entire EU.

I think we should make it clear that it's an "either-or". If you join this "EU defense", then you're not in NATO. If NATO won't go along with that policy, then we should leave NATO.

If the Frankenreich wants an arms race and a new cold war, they can be accomodated.

Aside from using EU funds to finance this venture, we should support this wholeheartedly. The most accurate description of the militaries of Germany, France, and Belgium is "inept." (Does Luxembourg have one?) The same welfare-state principles that hamstring their economies are even more destructive to their militaries. A couple months ago, WSJ had a front-page article about the Belgian military that revealed it to be little more than a jobs program. The money spent on personnel benefits leaves almost nothing for technology investment. Although it dealt specifically with Belgium, the story implied that it largely applied to France and Germany as well. The Belgian defense minister wrote a letter to the editor that viciously attacked the piece while at the same time admitting that most of what it alleged was true.

Luxembourg has an Army as well as the Grand Ducal Police. It spent .8% of its GDP on defense in FY 02.

CIA Factbook

I was being facetious. Obviously, not very effectively.

Actually, I didn't know so I looked. That's the best $147,000 ever spent on defense, I say.

And, beware the Grand Ducal Police. (I think they wear funny hats).

I agree with Dsmith, If they want to be a part of the surrender army then they will have to leave NATO officially!

Chances are they want to be nothing more than a nuisance. Perhaps they'll use their troops to grab Tommy Franks for his trial? Of course that could bring in a hundred thousand or more of his "friends."

Bet you'll see them in the Middle East though, to protect the wonderful peace activists of Hamas.

"A strike force of French and German troops could be landed in any capital challenging Framany and Gerance, with little chance of successful opposition."

Unless a troop of Girl Scouts happens to be in town.

Seriously, though, such an event would shatter the EU, which is far too big for Germany and France to dominate militarily. The end of the EU will bring home the demographic debacle in spades to those countries.

And, of course, if this happened in a NATO country (which it most likely would, as the overlap between NATO and the EU is quite large), that would bring in the US and the UK to root out the Germans and the French. We've done it before, I suppose we could do it again. Only this time, lets keep them as colonies.

In a nuclear standoff with the French, who would I pick to blink first? Gee, thats a toughie . . . . let me think . . . .

Well, Ich ben getting a little decrepit lately, but I'll fly over from Buenos Aires and lead the new army myself. And glad to have the French as allies this time, they can simply surrender to themselves before der next blitzkrieg starts, and spare me having to feed and "guard" (ha ha) them. They can take turns guarding themselves, and will thus be out of everyone else's way. Now, if I can get out of this wheelchair, NURSE!!! NURSE!!!

These are just words. Each one of the populations would have to submit to their governments military spending and they are currently enjoying the post-historic world of peace provided to them by the collapse of the Soviet Union and remains of the protective umbrella provided to them by the US. Why spoil the party, and the gossip is so delicious. They could possibly spend the money, but they lack the will. They do not even spend 1% of their GDP now on military procurement; they would need to triple that simply to come close to the US. IMHO, these pronouncements have been prompted by their leaders own short-term embarassment. But that will pass. They are incapable of projecting force now, and will continue to be in the future, despite what they may eloquently spew amidst amongst themselves at the dinner table. Most importantly, they do not perceive--correctly--any personal threat to their countries. The US is the target, and will remain so. And they have shown that they do not have a problem with forcing the US to ultimately act unilaterally. This is just how it is, and how it will be.

Well, they could put some stuff together...the key would be command/control. If they had a rapid-response division ready to go, someone like Chirac could cause some real grief for the world...nothing lasting--they'll never invade Russia again, but just imagine Saddam, a few days before his deadline, "inviting" them in to provide security, or whatever. This model was used by Nazis and Soviets (even as late as 1979, Afghan puppet "invited" USSR in)...a fifth column in target country makes plea for help....

Q. How many years before France has a Muslim majority?
A. 17.

With nuclear weapons yet.

Den Beste has some interesting comments on this issue:

** start quote **

Europe [meaning Germany, France, Belgium and Luxembourg] needs an independent military which is capable of "counterbalancing" the US, but doesn't want to pay for it. Europe needs a nation which actually has a force large enough to be credible, which can become a partner in Europe's defense so as to protect Europe from American aggression. (Which is to say, Europe needs a new free ride.)

In short, Europe needs Russia to come in to Western Europe and save it from America.

Which is why French defense minister Michèle Alliot-Marie is in Moscow right now, trying to talk up the idea. Russia can supply the troops, France can supply the commanders and the wisdom. Western Europe will finally be liberated from oppressive and cruel American military occupation through the agency of the friendly and solicitous Russian Army.

I do rather wonder just how this idea is going to play in places like Prague and Warsaw and Bucharest, who have a somewhat different opinion of the Russians than the French evidently have.

** end quote **

The whole entry here:

http://www.denbeste.nu/cd_log_entries/2003/04/Militaryoperationscenter.shtml

Actualy, it looks worse than a combined French-German army. I just erad today that French repersentatives are in Russia, looking to get Russia more involved in this military alliance.

How stupid is France? Are they really trying to spilt Europe into Germany, France, and Russia vs. everyone else? Cause that is the net effect of what they are doing.

Almost every country in Europe has been conquered at least once by each of those three. I don't think an alliance like this will go over very well in, say, Poland.

Hmmmmmm,

Does this sound as though some sort ot "Eastern Um-Empire" being attempted.

I agree with many about the $ issues and the control issues.

Dealing with the too hard headed Germans and whimsical French is becoming, well rather boring at best.

Personally I think it's too bad that the Eifel does not become a victim of the terrorism other countries are suffering. But like all things, what goes around will eventually come back around.

Hey guys,

the european defense will come to existence, wether you like it or not. And as with all other EC operations it will grow slowly but unstoppable (remember the scepticism about the Euro). It's sad the world will have to wait for some time untill its influence will be felt. But in the end most countries will be glad to get rid of america's imperialism.

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