Germany, France vow to press ahead with EU military

[Khephra]

Germany and France pledged Thursday to push ahead with plans to develop an autonomous EU military capability, despite criticism that it would double up with NATO.

They committed themselves to transforming the European security and defence policy into a full-scale defence union "so that the EU can emerge as a full and equal partner on the world stage."

The statement was issued at the end of government talks chaired by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac.

They said the defence union would be open to all EU members.

But the idea of developing an EU military capable of acting on its own has not gone down well in Washington, which fears it may undermine the US-dominated North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

more.........

http://www.spacewar.com/2003/030918152925.0rti0jyb.html

[Beetwasher]

1. Ahh, the fruits of US Diplomacy

Can you blame them?

[MasonJar]

2. Go for it boys

I've always loved the French, but now I adore them.

[tom_paine]

3. Emperor Bunnypants*--a uniter

He has united the world together to hate and distrust us in a way not seen since the world hated the Old Soviet Union.

[oneighty]

4. Wait just a damn minute

you guys cannot do that!

180

[Bamboo]

5. Great place to live,but I wouldn't want to vacation there.

The "chocolate maker" comment shows our level of sophistication, http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030903/pl_afp/us_eu_military_nato_030903055136
It remindes me of the boycott of EU products urged by FOX and Clearchannel.Todd Schnitt talked about his love for Valrhona chocolate from France,I wonder how many of his listeners get empowered by boycotting products they have never heard of or buy anyway.I heard a caller to O'Really say he would take the Eurostar from London to Brussels to avoid a trip to France.The humor was obvious to O'Really who held back,I believe facing them down directly would make our point clear,n'est-ce pas?

[BonjourUSA]

6. "?" France received 75 million tourists in 2002 and

73 or 74 million this year (estimation). American included of course, less numerous this year because Euro is expensive for us.

French population = 62,5 million