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The Iraq crisis and the EU excalibur - 24/01/2003 09:56:05 PM

The Crisis in the Gulf has created a split between the ‘big three’ (UK, Germany and France) of the European Union. On the one side there are thousands of British troops in or heading for the Persian Gulf, and on the other you have the hostility of the German government, and France also (for the time being at least) to the prospect of war. In two months time we could have the absurd situation of British troops in combat, with Germany and France in direct opposition to that policy. And then you would have Javier Solana the EU Foreign policy spokesperson attempting to draw a coherent line between the two.

Relations between the US and UK are as strong as ever, and yet relations between the US and Germany are at a post-war low.

For me this is one of the many reasons that the UK should withdraw from the EU. European integration cannot work (continental Europe could possibly work though) - this is but a precursor of what could happen if integration goes further. The whole episode will likely fatally undermine any political influence the EU has anyway. The incident in Iraq could in one fell swoop remove two organizations with global influence – the UN and EU. This is not only a trial for the UN, but the EU too.

I’m sure I’m well known as a Euro-skeptic™, I’d be interested to see what others think ....



Excalibur
Aviendha's Englishman




This message last edited by excalibur on 1/24/2003 at 10:04:49 PM.




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The Iraq crisis and the EU - 24/01/2003 09:56:05 PM 146 Views
the problem is Tony Blair - 24/01/2003 10:06:04 PM 38 Views
This is probably the only issue that I support Blair on - 24/01/2003 10:15:48 PM 28 Views
hmmmm you see - 24/01/2003 10:19:16 PM 28 Views
Aaaah - 24/01/2003 10:25:38 PM 30 Views
Victory will vindicate him - 24/01/2003 11:42:20 PM 30 Views
I agree *NM* - 28/01/2003 09:21:18 PM 4 Views
The Problem is George Bush... *NM* - 24/01/2003 11:43:19 PM 8 Views
Being an American and former U.S. Soldier, I have to agree. *NM* - 24/01/2003 11:57:25 PM 5 Views
Ha!! This crisis will never remove the EU or the UNO - 25/01/2003 04:07:12 AM 33 Views
How... novel of you... *NM* - 25/01/2003 05:07:52 AM 6 Views
sorry,..didn't mean it to sound like that.. - 27/01/2003 10:00:08 AM 16 Views
And why say that? - 28/01/2003 09:26:23 PM 6 Views
Re: And why say that? - 29/01/2003 03:36:38 AM 7 Views
Re: Hmmm - 29/01/2003 07:42:19 PM 6 Views
Re: The Iraq crisis and the EU - 25/01/2003 07:58:37 AM 17 Views
They are split down the middle - 28/01/2003 09:30:57 PM 4 Views
I very much agree that EU wont work. - 25/01/2003 09:20:35 AM 17 Views
Between the UK and Germany is frosty - 28/01/2003 09:33:03 PM 8 Views
and i think the UK could count on... - 25/01/2003 09:50:47 AM 21 Views
Exactly - 28/01/2003 09:34:42 PM 5 Views
the union will survive - 25/01/2003 11:12:14 AM 19 Views
I meant whether it would survive in its present form ... - 28/01/2003 09:40:28 PM 7 Views
I agree - 25/01/2003 11:29:38 AM 20 Views
I didn't mean as the main reason - 28/01/2003 09:44:47 PM 16 Views
lol - 29/01/2003 08:04:08 AM 8 Views
To be fair ... - 29/01/2003 07:49:29 PM 4 Views
ah, well - 30/01/2003 02:14:30 AM 5 Views
In responce to that last quote - 29/01/2003 08:47:52 AM 10 Views
And again to be fair ... - 29/01/2003 07:51:42 PM 3 Views