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Topic: Franco-German alliance raises US fears
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Kindgo
Advanced Member
Member # 2
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posted
Herb's comentary about this:
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http://www.fulfilledprophecy.com/ru..._smells_it.html
Rumsfeld Smells it Too
In a recent commentary, I had this to say about this revival of the old Franco-German alliance: "Suddenly, the pot is beginning to smell to me. I thinks something's up here"
Well, it looks like I'm not the only one smelling something. According to a report in the Finical Times, it appears that US Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, is suspecting something sour may be brewing in this Franco-German alliance too (Read about it here).
I'm beginning to wonder if certain people in Washington are finally catching on to what's really going on in the European Union. If you recall, Rumsfeld had already outraged many European leaders by referring to this revived Franco-German alliance as "old Europe."
Now it's being reported that it's not really old Europe that Rumsfeld is worried about, it's new Europe -- it's this revived Franco-German alliance with-in the EU.
You see, according to other reports, France and Germany want their alliance with each other to go a few steps beyond their alliance with the other EU member states. They want to share deeper in things like foreign policy, defense, taxation and budget policy.
But, what really caused the EU pot to start smelling was when these two nations invited other "like-minded" nations to join them. In other words, France and Germany actually want to establish their own alliance with-in the EU alliance.
Here's the problem: Germany has lately broken away from her traditional support for US foreign policy and has, in fact, become anti-American. And France has always resented the US dominance in Europe because France has always wanted to a head and not a tail.
As I said before, making matters worse for US interests in Europe is France and Germany already share a common foreign policy identity as members of the EU's new, 10-nation military alliance. Are these the other like-minded nations France and Germany are inviting to join in with them in their alliance with-in the EU alliance?
Yes, the EU pot is beginning to smell to me. Fortunately, I'm not the only one who is noticing it anymore. It looks like Washington is beginning to smell it too.
It's about time!
Herb
www.fulfilledprophecy.com
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God bless,
Kindgo
Inside the will of God there is no failure. Outside the will of God there is no success.
Posts: 4320 | From: Sunny Florida | Registered: Jun 2002
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Kindgo
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Member # 2
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posted
The phrase "handwriting on the wall" comes to mind. Even those in charge are not blind to what is occuring in Europe. It's obvious. To those of us who are prophecy watchers this is not a surprise is it?
By Judy Dempsey in Brussels
Published: January 26 2003 22:04 | Last Updated: January 26 2003 22:04
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentS...p=1012571727166
US envoys in Europe are putting pressure on European Union countries to weaken the deepening Franco-German alliance, fearing it will lead to a more independent European defence and foreign policy.
Diplomats say the US envoys have raised their concerns in bilateral meetings with European officials, a move that reflects the ever-widening gap in the transatlantic relationship. France and Germany have set out proposals to give the EU greater political clout.
"US diplomats have suggested to us they do not like certain aspects of the Franco-German plan," a senior European diplomat said ahead of Monday's meeting of EU foreign ministers, at which Iraq will dominate the agenda. "The Americans discreetly question how this reinvigorated alliance will change Europe in a way that could completely redefine transatlantic relations."
The transatlantic relationship has rarely been so strained as now, with the issue of Iraq pitting traditional allies, such as the US and Germany, against each other. Many European countries question Washington's motives for a possible military attack against Baghdad.
Iraq, however, has also exposed the inherent weaknesses of Europe's so-called common foreign and security policy, or CFSP. Most strikingly, the four current EU members of the United Nations Security Council - Britain, France, Germany and Spain - have repeatedly failed to agree over Iraq, robbing the EU of a single voice.
Washington, however, fears the Franco-German axis could in time overcome these weaknesses, leading to a stronger, more independent Europe, diplomats say.
They add that last week's outburst by Donald Rumsfeld, in which the US defence secretary described France and Germany as part of "the old Europe" for their opposition to military strikes against Iraq without a UN mandate, reflects such unease in Washington.
"It is not really the 'old Europe' that worries Rumsfeld. It is the 'new Europe' that France and Germany are creating," says a EU military officer. "Washington is worried about the potential of the Franco-German axis."
The US questions two aspects of the Franco-German proposals. Diplomats say Washington dislikes plans to set up a defence procurement agency that could lead to better co-ordination in spending, research and the kind of military equipment either purchased or produced by EU countries.
What particularly annoys the US, officials say, is that even Britain, its most loyal European ally, tacitly endorses these plans.
"It is strange how the US reacts," says a European military officer. "We are trying to improve our capabilities and improve co-ordination, yet Washington really worries about the defence procurement agency. Perhaps it would lose out on contracts."
The other US concern with the proposals, now finding support in the Convention on the Future of Europe, is scrapping the individual right of veto of member states over foreign policy. "The right of veto has often crippled our foreign policy, diluting decisions to the point where they lack all teeth," says an EU ambassador. "If qualified majority voting was introduced, it would make our foreign policy more focused."
The US and other non-EU countries dislike the system. "We spend a lot of time working our relations on the bilateral level," explains a US official. "If qualified majority voting was introduced, we would have to do more of our lobbying in Brussels, which will be more difficult for us."
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God bless,
Kindgo
Inside the will of God there is no failure. Outside the will of God there is no success.
Posts: 4320 | From: Sunny Florida | Registered: Jun 2002
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