Should the EU create it's own army and leave NATO

[Chaos_BF1942]

I don't really have any opinion on it. But if the EU does make it own army. Who will command it (like what Nation of the EU), and what Language will they use?

 

[Marla_Singer]

I don't really have any opinion on it. But if the EU does make it own army. Who will command it (like what Nation of the EU), and what Language will they use?

Well, it's the same as usual with the EU... Officially 20 languages would be used, and in reality, mainly english. There are many countries which work this way too, check India for instance.

 

[Hotpoint]

I don't really have any opinion on it. But if the EU does make it own army. Who will command it (like what Nation of the EU), and what Language will they use?

The Eurocorps could be a model

http://www.eurocorps.org/

 

[ComradeDavo]

Language isn't really an issue in the EU, there are pleanty of translaters to go round!

 

[Chaos_BF1942]

Language isn't really an issue in the EU, there are pleanty of interrupters to go round!

Yeah, but in combat sometimes having interrupters doesn't help, like something happened to the one or something. That is why they should have one Language.

 

[ComradeDavo]

Yeah, but in combat sometimes having interrupters doesn't help, like something happened to the one or something. That is why they should have one Language.

May I point out that NATO already operates with several countries speaking different languages so this issue doesn't have any releavance.

 

[Stapel]

What are the Netherlands if not a regional political union ?

The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands....

What I mean:
I think we should use the EU for economy. Making laws that make business go easier within it. I don't see a link with the military per se. Not joining the EU should not mean you can't join a military union.

 

[ComradeDavo]

The EU is an economic and political union. An EU army would of course be part of the political side.

 

[Stapel]

The EU is an economic and political union. An EU army would of course be part of the political side.

There might be a difference between what it is, and what I think it should be .

 

[CurtSibling]

I am sure the unified state of Europa will a reality before long -
Though forming a decent army together will involve a mass draft.

The welfare scroungers of places like the UK could be in for a sharp shock soon!

Blair and chums can get away with anything, conscription included -
Sadly, I am too old for frontline service, but would happily join a defence reserve or spread propaganda, or something!

And BF1942, is right - Language will be a problem.
All Euro people will have to learn English, French and German!

 

[Stefan Haertel]

I used to think no, but I've got a different opinion now. I'd rather have the EU and the US in one alliance than both going their seperate ways completely. I'd rather have the country I live in an ally of the US than a potential rival of theirs. No- I don't trust the US in the slightest.

 

[Zarn]

@Europeans (I'm offended): I was told a while back that a strong EU doesn't mean an enemy of the US. I just realized that I was told a lie. Europeans seem to have no care (at least here) for alliance with the United States, even if it means destroying an alliance with a couple of other nations as well. I hope the rest of Europe has more sense than this. I hope your politicians have more sense as well.

@All (trying to create remedy): If this does happen, it would harm both the United States and Europe as well as many other nations. This 'goal' is thinking too short term, and you all are very frustrated with one another. Destroying alliances is the last thing we need. NATO isn't just a military organization. It's a symbol of a united Western world. Not only do I believe there should be an alliance between Europe, the US, Canada, and Turkey, I believe it should be renamed and extended to Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, etc. Let's not further deteriorate relations, lets make them stronger and even extend the number of nations involved.

The UN is a bad idea, because it members with tyrants controlling them. There needs to be a tyrant free organization (and I wouldn't consider Bush, Chirac, or Blair tyrants).

 

[storealex]

No, we should create our own, but run it paralel to Nato. An alliance with USA is important.

 

[Marla_Singer]

No, we should create our own, but run it paralel to Nato. An alliance with USA is important.

I agree with you Storealex, however, I've still voted "yes".

Indeed, I like better to see a common European defence being built than no common defence at all. And, as I've said above, I would like better that common defence to be built in the frame of NATO, however, if people don't let us doing so, then we should still do it even if it's outside the frame of NATO. Of course, that's not the ideal solution, but it's still better than the current situation.

Actually, the real question is : Would the United States accept to share the commandment of NATO with a United Europe ?

 

[Hotpoint]

@Europeans (I'm offended): I was told a while back that a strong EU doesn't mean an enemy of the US. I just realized that I was told a lie. Europeans seem to have no care (at least here) for alliance with the United States,

For the most part Europeans consider that the United States, or rather the Bush administration, has broken faith with us rather than the other way round and that the strain on the Alliance isn't our fault.

Does the phrase "You are either with us or against us" ring a bell?

 

[CurtSibling]

@Zarn:

Do you consider your fellow Americans to value alliances with Europe?

I have not seen much evidence of this since 2001...

Are you carrying out some historical revision?
Do you think our memories do not stretch more than 3 years?

 

[ComradeDavo]

There might be a difference between what it is, and what I think it should be .

Ah fair enough. Personally, I think it should be a political union, and thus have it's own defence force seperate from NATO.

@Europeans (I'm offended): I was told a while back that a strong EU doesn't mean an enemy of the US. I just realized that I was told a lie. Europeans seem to have no care (at least here) for alliance with the United States, even if it means destroying an alliance with a couple of other nations as well. I hope the rest of Europe has more sense than this. I hope your politicians have more sense as well.

Well the US doesn't care much what we Europeans think anymore (just look at the Iraq war to see the massive divide, only Blair was for it and he did not have the bacxking of the people). So why should we stay in a millitary organisation with them when that organisations prime aim (to prevent an invasion by USSR) has been achieved? Much more sense to have our own millitary group looking after our own intrests.

 

[Hotpoint]

So why should we stay in a millitary organisation with them when that organisations prime aim (to prevent an invasion by USSR) has been achieved?

There's an old joke about NATO that it was there to keep the Americans in, the Russians out and the Germans down

 

[Zarn]

@Hotpoint: We feel you turned you back on us. If your allies refuse to even consider to do something about a dictator and to an extent even defend him, wouldn't you be cheesed off?

@ Curt: The problem is neither side is seeing any value in an alliance. It is apparent that neither Americans or Europeans remember anything before these past few years. Sure, you can see the ignorance over here, but can you see it over there?

 

[Hotpoint]

@Hotpoint: We feel you turned you back on us. If your allies refuse to even consider to do something about a dictator and to an extent even defend him, wouldn't you be cheesed off?

Alliance does not mean unwavering unconditional support and if it does then why did the USA stab Britain, France and Israel in the back during the Suez crisis?

Most of the EU was willing to intervene if there was a valid UN Resolution to do so, the inability of the US to provide a decent enough case for war to achieve one was the real problem.


BTW the issue for many ordinary Europeans with Iraq wasn't support of Saddam, or leftist anti-americanism it was support of the principles of international law and order.