Rumsfeld Criticizes EU Defense Plan

[Tinoire]

By Bradley Graham
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 3, 2003; Page A18


BRUSSELS, Dec. 2 -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld expressed continuing concern Tuesday about an emerging European proposal to establish a separate military planning group outside NATO's structure, suggesting that such a move could be a step toward undermining the Atlantic alliance.

Ending two days of meetings in Brussels with other NATO defense ministers, the Pentagon leader said the issue of the planning group had not been resolved and indicated it would likely need to be addressed by President Bush and European leaders.

<snip>

In general, Rumsfeld voiced satisfaction with the NATO meeting, noting progress in filling equipment and personnel shortfalls for alliance forces in Afghanistan, shoring up allied support in Iraq and beginning discussions on a possible wider NATO role in both combat zones.

But friction over how to strengthen the 15-nation European Union's defense arrangements and still maintain NATO's dominant role as protector of European security remained an irritant, not just for the United States but among European governments that are divided on the issue.

U.S. officials said they thought the matter had been settled last March when, after four years of negotiations, NATO and the EU signed agreements stipulating that any planning for European military operations would be done within NATO. A month later, however, France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg outlined plans for a full-blown military planning headquarters.

<snip>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A29688-2003Dec2?language=printer

[Hieronymus]

1. No big surprise there,

the WH is scared to death of a powerful EU.:dunce:

[aneerkoinos]

3. And even more scared

seeing that their tactics of divide and rule works only so far in EU, that EU can talk smiley happy about NATO and do what is politically possible with the Poodle US implant inside EU, and actually get the things done that the four wanted (France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg), and were laughed at. First they ridicule, then they fight, then you have won.

Europeans have twoforked tongue. We're good in diplomacy, sometimes too good. We're good because we actually, sincerely we mean the halftruths what we say, sort of, and seldom just plain lie. Americans can't lie, only home (Fox)audience buys the lies, and even they say WHA? once in a while.

Old civilization means having some pragmatic, tested diplomatic wisdom of historical insights. US has Power, US believes in Power, and that belief in Power is what really makes US weak, so let them Believe! Let them Brag! Bragging words are not power, money is power, and soon dollar is no money and soon US can't pay it's soldiers. Meanwhile our politicians just speak with two-forked tongue, dear allies, transatlantic, NATO, etc... we fuck you but don't want to get fucked in the process...

[cliss]

5. Love the post,

aneer. It echoes my sentiments exactly. You captured the essence of what I've been trying to pin down for the last few months, but have not been able to put my finger on it,

"....US believes in Power, and that belief in Power is what really makes US weak.....".

I knew intuitively that Bush and his coterie of henchmen including Rumskilled are arrogant asses. I could go on and on (and believe me I have!!!) about their stupidity, lack of insight, man the words just came tumbling out, but I didn't trace it back to its source. And there it is.

Thank you.

[aneerkoinos]

6. You know

Like everything, also politics is Aikido, simple as that. Every attempt to actually use force means simply kicking ones own but. Clinton's US was strong because the power was implicated, not explicated (OK, that too and too often, puttin the whole implicated power of US at extreme risk also during Clinton). Cheney and Rummy (and their master Kissinger) can only explicate power, thats how they fucked up Vietnam and US influence for long time (good thing!), and now try to prove they were right about Vietnam by repeating the same mistake. I love them!

[rusty charly]

2. and the bUShies are

SOOOOOO reliable when it comes to international agreements...

[drscm]

4. "US thought that the matter had been settled..."

I wonder how it feels for the pricks in this administration when sovreign nations no longer bow to them. I guess they don't like their "freedoms."

Isn't it georgie boy who taught the world that international agreements don't mean anything anyway - and that nations should only be concerned about their own self interests, even if it means lying to obtain ones ends?