US policy highlights need for EU military autonomy
DB:Bush's opposition to a strengthened and autonomous European military is no surprise. Neither should it be a surprise to Bush that there is a growing realisation in Europe that such a force is becoming more desirable and probably inevitable.
Current US policy is partly responsible for this resurgent desire. It is clear that the majority of Europeans no longer see the US as a great, more or less benign power, under whose umbrella we may be protected from harm. If anything the reverse is true. We could easily be dragged into a hell of the US's own making. Of all those responsible for this shift in attitudes, it is Dubya himself, and his sponsors, who are mostly to blame.
Of course Bush would not see it like that. He would not grasp that which is plain for the rest of us to see; certainly those of us outside the US. Once you strip away the Goebbels style propaganda from the US agenda--the kind that was on display for all the world to observe at the State of the Union Address for example--what you are left with, as Seymour Hersh recently described it, is a nation that has been hijacked by a cult, with a superficial 'war on terror' and a mission that purports to advance global 'freedom' and 'democracy', whilst in reality, at its heart, the real drivers behind the crusade are a little different. Besides, where are those US 'freedoms' anyway? Are we talking about the freedom to lose your citizenship? The freedom to be locked up without trial? The freedom to be bugged and burgled and framed with impunity?
It is possible that in order to really believe the Bushite propaganda machine you need to live in America, or at least in a nation such as Slovakia, where the misconceived idea that the Soviet empire was dismantled by the efforts of Reagan and Thatcher alone, together with a need for financial favors has led to an unfortunate blind spot concerning the current US agenda that promotes it's own imperialist needs. In 'Old Europe', even in the UK, where we are saddled with the number one Bush cheerleader Blair, there is enough opposing comment for most who care enough to give these things a little thought, to understand that the aims and objectives, as articulated to the American people, are for the most part simplistic, trite, and a smokescreen, though not to be underestimated as very effective domestic propaganda.
It is Bush's own policies that have driven a wedge between him and a lot of Europeans. I would hasten to add that this phenomenon is not necessarily a problem between the peoples of these two continents. Lets not forget that 51% of voters supported the US administration in the last election. I would guess that within that figure 10-20% voted for him out of pure fear, ignorance and madness - a state of mind that had been scientifically induced in them. And one hopes that it is this 10-20%, who, given the right therapy, may just as easily flip the other way and use their vote to rid the US, and the world, of this scoundrel. But unfortunately, that will not happen for some time, and indeed should he be replaced by a Democrat we are likely to see a 'Bush Lite' set of policies.
Meanwhile we will continue to observe the evidence of 'cause and effect' unfold. The European desire to distance itself from US militarism is just one slowly developing example. But it is not the only example of the shifting tectonic plates across the world. Bland diplomatic niceties, and economic practicalities should not be allowed to mask the mistrust and concern that a lot of Europe and the world feel concerning this current US regime. And who can blame them? You don't have to look far for evidence of the destabilizing effect US policy is having.
Current US policy is partly responsible for this resurgent desire. It is clear that the majority of Europeans no longer see the US as a great, more or less benign power, under whose umbrella we may be protected from harm. If anything the reverse is true. We could easily be dragged into a hell of the US's own making. Of all those responsible for this shift in attitudes, it is Dubya himself, and his sponsors, who are mostly to blame.
Of course Bush would not see it like that. He would not grasp that which is plain for the rest of us to see; certainly those of us outside the US. Once you strip away the Goebbels style propaganda from the US agenda--the kind that was on display for all the world to observe at the State of the Union Address for example--what you are left with, as Seymour Hersh recently described it, is a nation that has been hijacked by a cult, with a superficial 'war on terror' and a mission that purports to advance global 'freedom' and 'democracy', whilst in reality, at its heart, the real drivers behind the crusade are a little different. Besides, where are those US 'freedoms' anyway? Are we talking about the freedom to lose your citizenship? The freedom to be locked up without trial? The freedom to be bugged and burgled and framed with impunity?
It is possible that in order to really believe the Bushite propaganda machine you need to live in America, or at least in a nation such as Slovakia, where the misconceived idea that the Soviet empire was dismantled by the efforts of Reagan and Thatcher alone, together with a need for financial favors has led to an unfortunate blind spot concerning the current US agenda that promotes it's own imperialist needs. In 'Old Europe', even in the UK, where we are saddled with the number one Bush cheerleader Blair, there is enough opposing comment for most who care enough to give these things a little thought, to understand that the aims and objectives, as articulated to the American people, are for the most part simplistic, trite, and a smokescreen, though not to be underestimated as very effective domestic propaganda.
It is Bush's own policies that have driven a wedge between him and a lot of Europeans. I would hasten to add that this phenomenon is not necessarily a problem between the peoples of these two continents. Lets not forget that 51% of voters supported the US administration in the last election. I would guess that within that figure 10-20% voted for him out of pure fear, ignorance and madness - a state of mind that had been scientifically induced in them. And one hopes that it is this 10-20%, who, given the right therapy, may just as easily flip the other way and use their vote to rid the US, and the world, of this scoundrel. But unfortunately, that will not happen for some time, and indeed should he be replaced by a Democrat we are likely to see a 'Bush Lite' set of policies.
Meanwhile we will continue to observe the evidence of 'cause and effect' unfold. The European desire to distance itself from US militarism is just one slowly developing example. But it is not the only example of the shifting tectonic plates across the world. Bland diplomatic niceties, and economic practicalities should not be allowed to mask the mistrust and concern that a lot of Europe and the world feel concerning this current US regime. And who can blame them? You don't have to look far for evidence of the destabilizing effect US policy is having.
posted by exoplanet at 12:46 AM
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