The EU was founded in the ashes of WW2 with the aim of for all time preventing another conflict between France and Germany. It should stand as a tribute to the sacrifices of the allies, and to that end it is strange that certain neo-con poster-children who love to do it down do so by harping on the contibution of the US contingent in WW2. I'm sure your grandfathers would be proud.
Originally posted by Gunslinger
I will not tout my views from a vast educated standpoint as I've never been to europe and I'm only quoting what I've read.
You've read being lots of editorials from the Weekly Standard and Worldnetdaily based on past form, correct? Your tacit admission that you know next to nothing about the subject in hand does not bode well for your subsequent posts. Why are you even post if you're so uninformed?
"Market Power", as you can see worldwide, is the strongest with those countries that have the strongest militaries. I'll let you decide whether or not this is a coincidence.
You're just making this stuff up as usual. Japan for example has the second biggest economy on the world and very little military power-projection capability.
"Political Power" can only be used when the promise of military power is behind it. How can we tell the middle east what to do if there is no promise of extreme retribution upon failure?
You're telling the middle east what to do? Since when? You can't control Iraq, Iran is thumbing its nose at you and colluding with Russia and China behind your back, and you're forced ignore the real sponsors of Islamic extremism in Saudi Arabia since they can close the oil spigot on you any time they want. Egypt does your bidding because you bribe them, not in reaction to any perceived "prestige".
Any country of decent size will fall apart without a decently strong central government.
The EU isn't a country, it's an economic union based on free-market principals. That it doesn't have any strong central authority is actually one of it's strengths, since it is then forced to make decisions based on unanimity and mutual benefit, and isn't easily hijacked by special interests like some other democracies we could name.
Mark my word. The EU will fail in one of two ways. Over a span of about 6-7 years they will bicker with eachother so much that they will break the bonds that "Unite" them.
That's interesting, because the founding treaty of the EU was promulgated in 1957, so it has lasted nearly 50 years already. 6-7 years? Engage brain before posting please.
Or the EU will be challenged militarily. And because (as we have already covered) the EU has no military power, they will fall apart within days
WhY would anyone agress against the EU? The US and Asia both need access to the combined markets there; both have massive investments there that would be risked. That said, some of the EU constituent states have more than enough nuclear capability to deter an attack by anyone, yourselves included. I think decades of bullying third world nations has made you over-confident.
Who said anything about defense? I said challenge them militarily. Sometime soon, the EU will venture out with all of it's military and engage someone. That same day the entire world will realize the lack of power the EU has and all EU stocks will drop like a rock.
You're just making this stuff up; it's great. EU stocks are underwritten by perception of potential military force? Brilliant!
