The European Parliament's plans to resuscitate the European Constitution was thrown in to disarray yesterday when the much awaited Duff/Voggenhuber report on the constitution's 'period of reflection' was opposed by national Parliaments. Ever since May and June of 2005 when the European Union's plans were comprehensively thrown into orbit by their rejection in France and Holland those who would have the Constitution brought into law have pinned their hopes on the European Parliament to jump start the ratification process.
Everything was going to plan, and the Duff/Voggenhuber report was to lead the way. The report calls for the recreation of the Constitution and a pan European referendum to overrule the voices of those countries that are sceptical. This referendum is suggested to take place on the same day as the next European elections in 2009.
All this however has been undermined by an unprecedented letter sent by the leaders of three Parliaments, the Austrian, the German and the Finnish. These parliaments are known as the "troika of the coming council presidencies".
The letter which was written on the 13th and posted on the 16th of January, three days before the resolution was to be debated during the Strasbourg plenary session.
In it the presidents of the three Parliaments attacked the European Parliament, suggesting that it was acting in an overbearing and presumptuous manner. The report calls for "the European Parliament and national parliaments jointly organise conferences - Parliamentary Forums - in order to stimulate the debate and to shape, step by step, the necessary political conclusions". They comment on this that "there is neither a need nor a mechanism to find a joint strategy of national parliaments on how to engage in a lasting debate." Alexis Wintoniak, the head of the Austrian Parliamentary President said that "though the European Parliament has every right to decide what it wants to do, we have made clear what we feel is possible and have made our position clear to the European Parliament for several months. One of the signatories, Paavo Lipponen, the Finnish Parliamentary President was seeing Mr Borrell the EP President on the 18th to voice his concerns.
Astonishingly, the very next day after the letter of protest was sent, Jo Leinen MEP, Chairman of the European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee and a major force in the EU's integrationist agenda, directly contradicted the national Parliaments concerns in a letter to Mr Borrell. Two days before the vote he hubristically wrote, "On Thursday(sic) 18th January 2006, the European Parliament will adopt the resolution submitted in the report Duff/Voggenhuber and thus confirm its will that in the framework of the present period of reflection parliamentary forums be organised, jointly by the European Parliament and the national parliaments".
Nigel Farage Co President of the Independence and Democracy Group who brought the issue to light said, "It is wonderful to see national parliaments asserting their independence in this manner. However it is typical of the arrogance of the European elite personified by Jo Lienen that he utterly ignores and contradicts the legitimate concerns of the member states."
Mr Wintoniak made the problem very clear, when he pointed out that the situations in different nation sates are very diverse. "In Austria we ratified the Parliament, in Holland they rejected the Constitution and in the UK there has been no movement". He asked whether the European Parliament really wants to reopen discussions in Austria, when the Austrian Parliament voted 182 to one in favour of the Constitution?
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Mirror slates ID cards - Maybe my tenner is safe
It seems that the governments attempt to brand us all with their silly plastic and chip device may be coming unstuck. The LSE has produced a report that suggests that the unwanted objects will cost us the miserly sum of £500 per head. Cheap to guarantee you an identity you have had for free since birth.
According to the pollsters support for the blasted tags drops of to almost minimal when the cost rises over £100.
Ooops.
Worse, the left leaning academic institution even calls for the Home Secrettary's head over the case.
Quite
According to the pollsters support for the blasted tags drops of to almost minimal when the cost rises over £100.
Ooops.
Worse, the left leaning academic institution even calls for the Home Secrettary's head over the case.
Dr Edgar Whitley of the LSE said: "We have been surprised at how little consistent or reliable information exists about the Government's proposals. Claims are routinely made for the scheme - and then just as quickly are abandoned or contradicted." His colleague professor Ian Angell said: "We don't know what to believe any more. Contradictions, guesswork and wishful thinking on the part of the Home Office make a mockery of any pretence that this scheme is based on serious reasoning." The report says the financial arrangements for bringing in the cards - which could cost everyone in Britain £500 - are "almost entirely secret". And it adds: "We are mystified as to why no Government department has signed up to the scheme or published material on costs and benefits.
Quite
The White Flag doctrine, or this bloke wants to run our Foriegn policy
What would you say if somebody turned up from down the road and told you that most of the people hereabouts have decided that he would run your relations with people in streets that do not abut yours. Oh yes and though he was convcerned about the thugs who lived a couple of hundred yards away there was nothing that could be done about them. Worse the thugs had been threatening to burn down a friends house, and had were working on a way to do it.
You, I hope would tell them where to go.
Sadly of course our dire defence minister has done just the opposite when he welcomed the comments of Javier Solana the European Foriegn Minister wannabe.
"EU not planning military action against Iran" says the Telegraph headline, which in itself must go along with dog bites man as a shocker.
They might as well say "Eu wants to integrate".
Whatever Solana'a comments on todays Dimbleby programme were ridiculous. His comment, "The Iranians will feel that they are isolated in the international community and that it is much better for them to return to the table of negotiation," is absurd. This is the country that threatened to wipe Isreal off the map, they don't give a flying fish.
Oh but any attenmpt on the part of Isreal to defend itself whilst Europe wrings its hand, now that would be serious. He played down the possibility of an Israeli led offensive in the region.
"I don’t think they will dare do that. That would be a tremendous breach of the confidence and trust of the international community," he said.
So let me get this straight. Europe will do nothing to defend you, but if you defend yourself you are to be condemned. Meanwhile we hope the guys grining over there infront of the big nuclear reactor will behave themselves.
This is moral cowardice on a grand scale, and we will all be the worse for it.
You, I hope would tell them where to go.
Sadly of course our dire defence minister has done just the opposite when he welcomed the comments of Javier Solana the European Foriegn Minister wannabe.
"EU not planning military action against Iran" says the Telegraph headline, which in itself must go along with dog bites man as a shocker.
They might as well say "Eu wants to integrate".
Whatever Solana'a comments on todays Dimbleby programme were ridiculous. His comment, "The Iranians will feel that they are isolated in the international community and that it is much better for them to return to the table of negotiation," is absurd. This is the country that threatened to wipe Isreal off the map, they don't give a flying fish.
Oh but any attenmpt on the part of Isreal to defend itself whilst Europe wrings its hand, now that would be serious. He played down the possibility of an Israeli led offensive in the region.
"I don’t think they will dare do that. That would be a tremendous breach of the confidence and trust of the international community," he said.
So let me get this straight. Europe will do nothing to defend you, but if you defend yourself you are to be condemned. Meanwhile we hope the guys grining over there infront of the big nuclear reactor will behave themselves.
This is moral cowardice on a grand scale, and we will all be the worse for it.
Holy F$%€K
A glrious row has broken out amongst arbitors of the Sharia. Rashad Hassan Khalil, formerly Dean of Sharia at Cairo's Al Azhar University has proclaimed in a fatwa (legal opinion)that "being completely naked during the act of coitus annuls the marriage".
This has caused consternation. We must here point out that Al Azhar University iis like Oxford/Cambridge/Harvard and the Sorbonne rolled into one, it is the very apex of Islamic education. Anyhow another scholar Abdel Muti opinined that, "Nothing is prohibited during marital sex, except, of course, sodomy". Which certainly leaves other areas open for exploration. However the man responsible for the University's fatwas Abdullah Megawar, has stepped into the breach with this reasoned and simple compromise, "married couples could see each other naked but should not look at each other's genitalia and suggested that they cover up with a blanket during sex".
It must be such fun to be Islamic.
PS Megawar - Yes that does spell Mega War, is responsible to the Al-Azhar Fatwa that stated that it was right and a dutyfor Muslims of any country to go to Iraq to fight against the coalition.
This has caused consternation. We must here point out that Al Azhar University iis like Oxford/Cambridge/Harvard and the Sorbonne rolled into one, it is the very apex of Islamic education. Anyhow another scholar Abdel Muti opinined that, "Nothing is prohibited during marital sex, except, of course, sodomy". Which certainly leaves other areas open for exploration. However the man responsible for the University's fatwas Abdullah Megawar, has stepped into the breach with this reasoned and simple compromise, "married couples could see each other naked but should not look at each other's genitalia and suggested that they cover up with a blanket during sex".
It must be such fun to be Islamic.
PS Megawar - Yes that does spell Mega War, is responsible to the Al-Azhar Fatwa that stated that it was right and a dutyfor Muslims of any country to go to Iraq to fight against the coalition.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Bloggerheads hyperbolises the hyperbole
Furher to my feelingthat the Swiss chap who is doing the Council of Europe's investigation in the CIA prisons comes this piece from Bloggerheads. Quoting a Swiss newsppaer's reciept of leaked fax from the Egyptian Foriegn Minister to his Ambassador in LOndon (in glorious machine translation) "the message experienced from own sources that actually 23 Iraqi and Afghan citizens on the base Mihail Kogalniceanu in the proximity (Romanian; Anm. D Talk. ) City Constanza at the black sea were cross-examined. There are similar centercenter centers in the Ukraine, in the Kosovo, in Macedonia and Bulgaria". Ok.
So in these transit camps itis very possible that omngoing invstigations, or cross examinations took place.
But to provide the headline, "US torture camps in Europe: the proof!", does rather stretch the evidence. That the US has transit camps, there is no denial. But my dears "Torture camps the Proof" is pushing it a bit far don't you think?
There again who I am I to blame them, sfter all they are just following up the headline on the Auistrailian ABC Radio, "Swiss paper claims proof of secret US torture camps".
Still no evidence of torture guys.
So in these transit camps itis very possible that omngoing invstigations, or cross examinations took place.
But to provide the headline, "US torture camps in Europe: the proof!", does rather stretch the evidence. That the US has transit camps, there is no denial. But my dears "Torture camps the Proof" is pushing it a bit far don't you think?
There again who I am I to blame them, sfter all they are just following up the headline on the Auistrailian ABC Radio, "Swiss paper claims proof of secret US torture camps".
Still no evidence of torture guys.
Europe "complicit in CIA gaols" shocker
It appears that the Swiss chap, Senator Dick Marty, set up by the Council of Europe has accused European Countries of assisting the CIA in the 'secret torture death houses' row.
But reading this Reuters reports I cannot work out what the fellow is saying.
He is "personally convinced of the existence of the detention centres", OK where? Ah, he "had yet to come up with concrete proof".
Americans he claims "ran centres in eastern Europe where suspects where interrogated, tortured or transported to other countries", thus they could havce been stop over points, there is no reason to believe from this that they were more likly to be toture centres than transit stops.
He goes on ""It's not like Guantanamo Bay," he said, but more like "empty rooms where people have been interrogated or tortured or taken somewhere else".
So first there is the point that he has no evidence for toture, neither in the geographical land mass of Europe, nor elsewhere for these suspects, just the attributed statements of an Egyptian cleric, who after release claims to have been tortured. We he would wouldn't he?
However he seems to take it as a given that detainees have been tortured, tortured mind you, at Gitmo. Agaion, this is beyond his experience and investigative remit. His evidence?
No I doubt he has any.
But reading this Reuters reports I cannot work out what the fellow is saying.
He is "personally convinced of the existence of the detention centres", OK where? Ah, he "had yet to come up with concrete proof".
Americans he claims "ran centres in eastern Europe where suspects where interrogated, tortured or transported to other countries", thus they could havce been stop over points, there is no reason to believe from this that they were more likly to be toture centres than transit stops.
He goes on ""It's not like Guantanamo Bay," he said, but more like "empty rooms where people have been interrogated or tortured or taken somewhere else".
So first there is the point that he has no evidence for toture, neither in the geographical land mass of Europe, nor elsewhere for these suspects, just the attributed statements of an Egyptian cleric, who after release claims to have been tortured. We he would wouldn't he?
However he seems to take it as a given that detainees have been tortured, tortured mind you, at Gitmo. Agaion, this is beyond his experience and investigative remit. His evidence?
No I doubt he has any.
They used to do pretty impressive light shows at Nuremburg
It appears that the Germans have cancelled the big opening gala for the World Cup. Which will no doubt be a good thing. I have never understood what those great pompus firework and pc fests were all about. I watch the Olympics to watch sportsmen and women do their stuff, and the World Cup to see England lose inthe second round.
If you want to watch kiddies sing dance and wave flags around whilst superannuated pop stars attempt to rekindle their glory years then Live 8 is the place, not a sports event.
It appears that nobody wanted to go and watch the event that had spiralled to a whopping 17 million quid just to enjoy Solsbury Hill.
That being said, they used to do pretty impressive light shows at Nuremburg.
If you want to watch kiddies sing dance and wave flags around whilst superannuated pop stars attempt to rekindle their glory years then Live 8 is the place, not a sports event.
It appears that nobody wanted to go and watch the event that had spiralled to a whopping 17 million quid just to enjoy Solsbury Hill.
That being said, they used to do pretty impressive light shows at Nuremburg.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
France pays homage to Islam
Who was the first man to claim that the “French are also sincere Muslims”? Who attempted to bring forth the Arabs to rise up in harmony with the French to aid the French in their opposition to the Anglo-Saxons? No not de Villepin, and his lachrymose prose but his great hero, Napoleon Bonaparte.
In an extended doctoral thesis that became a book, “Edge of Empire,” published last August, Maya Janasoff, now assistant professor of British history at the University of Virginia, brings us to the attention of the behavior of Napoleon when he set out to conquer Egypt. I commented upon the review below.
It must first be remembered that his purposes in attacking Egypt were to strangle Britain’s commerce and thus facilitate the invasion of England. Indeed when his troops left Toulon on France’s Mediterranean coast he called them “one of the wings of the army of Angleterre.”
Having overthrown the conquered Malta and thrown out the Knights who had guarded it against all comers, (particularly non Christian all comers) for the previous 500 years he set sail on his flagship the L’Orient. This ship that was soon to be turned into flaming matchsticks by Admiral Nelson at the Battle of the Nile, housed what was to become Egypt’s first Arabic printing press. The first document to be printed on it was to become known as Napoleon’s “Proclamation to the Egyptians.” These are extracts translated, from the contemporary Egyptian historian, Abd al-Rahman al-Jabarti by Dr Saladin Boustany, now director of the Al Arab publishing house in Cairo.
“O Egyptians! You have been told that I have come to this land with the intention of eradicating you religion. But that is a clear lie; do not believe it…. I… worship God, glory be to him, and respect his prophet and the great Quran… O you shaykhs, judges, imams, jurbaiyya, and leading men of the country that the French are also sincere Muslims.”
In evidence for this sincerity he goes on, the French “entered Rome and destroyed the throne of the Pope, who had always urged Christians to combat Islam. Then they marched to Malta, whence they expelled the knights, who claimed that God, exalted is He, sought of them that they fight the Muslims…”
According to another eyewitness he topped and tailed the proclamation with the immortal and significant phrase, “God is great and Mohammed is a prophet." According to Islam to say that, is to become a Muslim. In their eyes he was converting to Islam by that very proclamation, and by the tone of the proclamation he was doing it for the whole of France. Indeed one of his generals, Jacques ‘Abdallah’ Menou did convert and Bonaparte promised the conversion of the entire army (with the provisos that they were to be allowed to continue drinking wine and could keep their foreskins). None of this convinced the Caliph in Constantinople or many locals who launched a Fatwa against the French.
Napoleon no doubt thought that he was very clever, trying to bring the Muslim world out in opposition to the British, but first his defeat of the Egyptians, then his pandering to them is seen across the Muslim world as the spark that lit the first stirrings of Pan Arab nationalism and the growth of militant Islam. One last thing, as all this was happening it is reported that a holy man was wandering around the streets of Cairo who claimed a vision in which Mohammed met up with Destiny. Mohammed was raging that the French were all over Egypt, but Destiny was able to calm him, “console yourself, I have decided that these conquerors will become Muslims.
In an extended doctoral thesis that became a book, “Edge of Empire,” published last August, Maya Janasoff, now assistant professor of British history at the University of Virginia, brings us to the attention of the behavior of Napoleon when he set out to conquer Egypt. I commented upon the review below.
It must first be remembered that his purposes in attacking Egypt were to strangle Britain’s commerce and thus facilitate the invasion of England. Indeed when his troops left Toulon on France’s Mediterranean coast he called them “one of the wings of the army of Angleterre.”
Having overthrown the conquered Malta and thrown out the Knights who had guarded it against all comers, (particularly non Christian all comers) for the previous 500 years he set sail on his flagship the L’Orient. This ship that was soon to be turned into flaming matchsticks by Admiral Nelson at the Battle of the Nile, housed what was to become Egypt’s first Arabic printing press. The first document to be printed on it was to become known as Napoleon’s “Proclamation to the Egyptians.” These are extracts translated, from the contemporary Egyptian historian, Abd al-Rahman al-Jabarti by Dr Saladin Boustany, now director of the Al Arab publishing house in Cairo.
“O Egyptians! You have been told that I have come to this land with the intention of eradicating you religion. But that is a clear lie; do not believe it…. I… worship God, glory be to him, and respect his prophet and the great Quran… O you shaykhs, judges, imams, jurbaiyya, and leading men of the country that the French are also sincere Muslims.”
In evidence for this sincerity he goes on, the French “entered Rome and destroyed the throne of the Pope, who had always urged Christians to combat Islam. Then they marched to Malta, whence they expelled the knights, who claimed that God, exalted is He, sought of them that they fight the Muslims…”
According to another eyewitness he topped and tailed the proclamation with the immortal and significant phrase, “God is great and Mohammed is a prophet." According to Islam to say that, is to become a Muslim. In their eyes he was converting to Islam by that very proclamation, and by the tone of the proclamation he was doing it for the whole of France. Indeed one of his generals, Jacques ‘Abdallah’ Menou did convert and Bonaparte promised the conversion of the entire army (with the provisos that they were to be allowed to continue drinking wine and could keep their foreskins). None of this convinced the Caliph in Constantinople or many locals who launched a Fatwa against the French.
Napoleon no doubt thought that he was very clever, trying to bring the Muslim world out in opposition to the British, but first his defeat of the Egyptians, then his pandering to them is seen across the Muslim world as the spark that lit the first stirrings of Pan Arab nationalism and the growth of militant Islam. One last thing, as all this was happening it is reported that a holy man was wandering around the streets of Cairo who claimed a vision in which Mohammed met up with Destiny. Mohammed was raging that the French were all over Egypt, but Destiny was able to calm him, “console yourself, I have decided that these conquerors will become Muslims.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Gott almighty
Now I always knew that Richard Gott was an Soviet Spy, (or I suppose more properly 'an agent of influence') and thus was hardly worth taking seriously, but this really astounded me. It shouldn't I suppose, after all he did want my world to be destroyed and conquered by the architects of the Gulag. (Why does the Guardian keep on paying him?) However in this book review, of Maya Janasoff's fascinating Edge of Empire: Conquest and Collecting on the Eastern Frontiers of the British Empire, 1750-1850, he seems to come to the conclusion that we should have been finished off at leats 150 years earlier, indeed by the French revolution.
"Britain was largely engaged - in Ireland, South Africa and the West Indies as well as in India - in what was essentially a "counter-revolutionary" war against Jacobinism. In fighting against France, the country that had launched the Declaration of the Rights of Man, the British were laying the groundwork for a permanently counter-revolutionary empire that would keep those rights low on the agenda."
Has the man never heard of the massive increases in human rights occasioned by, to pick one, the abolition of the slave trade, or did he not notice that, having announced that all the slaves we free the French quickly rounded up Toussaint L'Ouverture's rebellion and consigned many of them to death. The man really is a shower.
"Britain was largely engaged - in Ireland, South Africa and the West Indies as well as in India - in what was essentially a "counter-revolutionary" war against Jacobinism. In fighting against France, the country that had launched the Declaration of the Rights of Man, the British were laying the groundwork for a permanently counter-revolutionary empire that would keep those rights low on the agenda."
Has the man never heard of the massive increases in human rights occasioned by, to pick one, the abolition of the slave trade, or did he not notice that, having announced that all the slaves we free the French quickly rounded up Toussaint L'Ouverture's rebellion and consigned many of them to death. The man really is a shower.
Wishful thinking
It seems William Hague is living in the past, or maybe it is a sign of things to come.
www.williamhague.org.uk has as its front page,
The Rt Hon William Hague MP
Leader of the Conservative Party
Hat Tip, Mr Fawkes
www.williamhague.org.uk has as its front page,
The Rt Hon William Hague MP
Leader of the Conservative Party
Hat Tip, Mr Fawkes
Friday, January 06, 2006
prolix: blog: The obvious link
The new(ish) Prolix has pointed out something rather interesting. According to Charlie Kennedy, he gave up the booze two months ago. What else happened at this time...
Think about it
Think about it
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Now here is a biography to write
I am happily chugging my way through "To Rule the Waves" a rather splendid rendition of the history of the Royal Navy and its vital importance in the creation of Britain, its empire and the system of free trade by Arthur Herman, when I came across this on page 242.
"John Parkins, the pilot seaman who ended up commanding the brig Endeavor as a lieutenant and then the frigates Turk and Arab as a post captain, until ill health forced him out in 1805. Remarkable enough because Parkins spent his entire career as a Royal Navy officer in the West Indies, without once visiting England. But remarkable, too, because Parkins was black, the son of a slave and very probably a former slave himself".
Now a bit more research suggest a couple of things, firstly it appears his name was Perkins not Parkins,
"1801 Capt. J. PERKINS, Jamaica. on 16 April 1801 the French garrison evacuated the island of St. Eustatia, carrying with them their field pieces and as much plunder as their ships could carry. Capt. PERKINS and a detachment of the 3rd regiment of Buffs immediately took possession of the island together with island of Saba. The ordnance captured on the island consisted of 48 pieces of ordnance with 338 barrels of gunpowder".
According to The Wooden World: An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy" by NAM Rodger,
"in 1775, John Perkins was the "pilot extra" of the flagship of the Jamaica squadron. He must have been an experienced local commercial master or mate. Within a few years he was commanding the Punch, a schooner-rigged tender. In 1782, Sir Peter Parker commissioned him lieutenant in command of the Endeavor brig. In 1784, Rodney added guns to make Endeavor a commander's command and temporarily promoted him to commander. Because of the shenanigans, the promotion was not confirmed and Perkins had to wait till 1797 to advance to commander. In 1800, Perkins was made post and successively commanded the Arab and the Tartar. The first was a 22-gun "post ship" while the second was a 32-gun, 12-pounder frigate. Perkins went ashore due to "ill-health" in 1805 and died in 1812".
An extraordinary story and a testament to the burgeoning meritocracy that the Royal Navy of the time displayed. As a post captain he would have had white officers serving under him. So somebody, go get that publisher's deal.
"John Parkins, the pilot seaman who ended up commanding the brig Endeavor as a lieutenant and then the frigates Turk and Arab as a post captain, until ill health forced him out in 1805. Remarkable enough because Parkins spent his entire career as a Royal Navy officer in the West Indies, without once visiting England. But remarkable, too, because Parkins was black, the son of a slave and very probably a former slave himself".
Now a bit more research suggest a couple of things, firstly it appears his name was Perkins not Parkins,
"1801 Capt. J. PERKINS, Jamaica. on 16 April 1801 the French garrison evacuated the island of St. Eustatia, carrying with them their field pieces and as much plunder as their ships could carry. Capt. PERKINS and a detachment of the 3rd regiment of Buffs immediately took possession of the island together with island of Saba. The ordnance captured on the island consisted of 48 pieces of ordnance with 338 barrels of gunpowder".
According to The Wooden World: An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy" by NAM Rodger,
"in 1775, John Perkins was the "pilot extra" of the flagship of the Jamaica squadron. He must have been an experienced local commercial master or mate. Within a few years he was commanding the Punch, a schooner-rigged tender. In 1782, Sir Peter Parker commissioned him lieutenant in command of the Endeavor brig. In 1784, Rodney added guns to make Endeavor a commander's command and temporarily promoted him to commander. Because of the shenanigans, the promotion was not confirmed and Perkins had to wait till 1797 to advance to commander. In 1800, Perkins was made post and successively commanded the Arab and the Tartar. The first was a 22-gun "post ship" while the second was a 32-gun, 12-pounder frigate. Perkins went ashore due to "ill-health" in 1805 and died in 1812".
An extraordinary story and a testament to the burgeoning meritocracy that the Royal Navy of the time displayed. As a post captain he would have had white officers serving under him. So somebody, go get that publisher's deal.
Cart before the horse
The Latvian government is cock a hoop about a victory that they have scored against the European Union. In Latvia they crow the single currency will be called the ‘eiro’, not ‘euro’ as the EU institutions wanted. As of now, the only country not to go by the common name is Greece, for what must be obvious reasons.
But hold on there, the Latvians have not adopted the Euro, and as I repeat they do not have public support for the Euro. The most recent polling figures that I have come across being 49.1% in opposition whilst only 38.2% are in favour.
So it seems that they must first defeat their own people before they can really celebrate their victory over Brussels.
But hold on there, the Latvians have not adopted the Euro, and as I repeat they do not have public support for the Euro. The most recent polling figures that I have come across being 49.1% in opposition whilst only 38.2% are in favour.
So it seems that they must first defeat their own people before they can really celebrate their victory over Brussels.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
First quotation of the year
Straight from theland of my fathers, gods own county comes this prize comment
Simon Oxley (BBC 3 Counties Radio) "You know if you go out tonight in Watford you won't have to buy a drink, don't you?"
Adrian Boothroyd (Watford manager) "I wouldn't be buying any anyway; I'm from Bradford"
Simon Oxley (BBC 3 Counties Radio) "You know if you go out tonight in Watford you won't have to buy a drink, don't you?"
Adrian Boothroyd (Watford manager) "I wouldn't be buying any anyway; I'm from Bradford"
Monday, January 02, 2006
Are the Slovenes the future?
A friend, who must have been bored over the break has just sent me this on linguistic brevity in the EU.
Update
As has been pointed out, not least by the first comment, there is an error in that most Magyars would consider their language to be in the Finno-Ugric family of languages.
Most Succinct Language of the Brussels Club
Regarding the "contents"-pages of the Proceedings of the December 2005 plenary, I was most interested (which isn't saying much) by the differing lengths of the contents-entries, as given in the 20 languages used.
The entries are presumably equivalent, and yet the number of lines each occupies varies by more than 50%.
In the 25 nations of western and central Europe, dominated by the Brussels-network, 14 official languages are Indo-European, 4 are Finno-Ugric/Baltic, 1 is Arabic (Maltese) and 1 is Turkic (Magyar - referred to, in the said Proceedings, as "Hungarian") Ireland, Belgium, Cyprus, Austria and Luxemburg, of course, all mainly use languages spoken by larger nations.
Of the Indo-European languages, 5 are Germanic, 4 are Slavic, 4 are Latinic and 1 is Hellenic.
Counting the lines occupied by each entry, I found that the average length was 39.1 lines, with all the Slavic entries shorter than the average and all but one of the Latinic entries (Spanish) longer than the average. Indeed, the average Slavic entry was a bouyant 36 lines, and the average Latinic entry was a ponderous 41.
The reasonably snappy, Germanic average - 37.8 - was spoilt by German and Dutch, which boiled over into an obese 42 and 43 lines, respectively. Without German and Dutch, the rest of the Germanic group (English, Danish and Swedish) romp home with a very sleek 34.66.
Top of the league was Slovene, with a super-trim 32, and bottom was Greek with an appalling 49 - a full 53.13% longer than the streamlined winner. Italian was the next worst at 45 lines (140.63% of the most concise entry) Also performing poorly was French with a rambling 43.
Other, especially respectable performances came from English (33 lines) Danish (34) and Czech (35)
Clearly, those who dream of a single, European language will have to take account of the enormous savings in print-costs afforded by a tongue as pithy as Slovene, which can pip even its nearest rival (English) by a profitable 3.13%.
Dobrodoslica, Slovensk, future language of the Brussels administration!
Update
As has been pointed out, not least by the first comment, there is an error in that most Magyars would consider their language to be in the Finno-Ugric family of languages.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Feast Day of the Holy Innocents
A thought for today
Paul Belien over at the Brussels Journal managed to brighten up Christmas with this horrifying example of the way in which the European Union and its myrioad of quangos and committees wish to restrict freedom.
The EU Network of Independent Experts on Fundamental Rights has decided in its wisdom to agrue that a doctor's freedom of concience, at laest in the area of abortion is important but,
"Indeed, the right to religious conscientious objection may conflict with other rights, also recognized under international law. In such circumstances, an adequate balance must be struck between these conflicting requirements, which may not lead to one right being sacrificed to another."
Or in otherwise the group rights of women to be able to have an abortion outrank the individual right of a doctor to refuse, due to his or her concience to perform it.
At what point do these people think that their writ ends? If they can force people to kill, which according to some the act of abortion is then they are forcing those people to break what they see to be the Hippocratic Oath.
"I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art".
Paul Belien over at the Brussels Journal managed to brighten up Christmas with this horrifying example of the way in which the European Union and its myrioad of quangos and committees wish to restrict freedom.
The EU Network of Independent Experts on Fundamental Rights has decided in its wisdom to agrue that a doctor's freedom of concience, at laest in the area of abortion is important but,
"Indeed, the right to religious conscientious objection may conflict with other rights, also recognized under international law. In such circumstances, an adequate balance must be struck between these conflicting requirements, which may not lead to one right being sacrificed to another."
Or in otherwise the group rights of women to be able to have an abortion outrank the individual right of a doctor to refuse, due to his or her concience to perform it.
At what point do these people think that their writ ends? If they can force people to kill, which according to some the act of abortion is then they are forcing those people to break what they see to be the Hippocratic Oath.
"I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art".
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Europe worried about the US, a post war thing?
In a fascinating excerpt from L’Apocalpse de Notre Temps, by Henri Rollin (no relation I am sure), the Transatlantic Intelligencer brings us this. The setting is a boat of Norway, the date is July 1901, and the speaker is Kaiser Wilhelm II, Kaiser Bill himself,
"The Americans: a vital question for the future of Europe and the world…. It takes precedence over all other questions and leaves all merely European disagreements in the shadows. Their [“the Americans”] meddling in European affairs is closer than one generally thinks. The idea of a European Zollverein [customs union] will become indispensable. The sooner the better. Every question or problem of a European power vis-à-vis the United States becomes a European question, a European problem, a European matter of interest. Thus, it will be necessary that the attitude of England becomes clear and explicit. England will have to choose sides…"
Another at the table confirmed this,
"The need to form in the future a European Zollverein, a “customs league” against the United States…, in order to safeguard the interests and guarantee the liberty of the commerce of the continent to the detriment of the development of America…. In such a case, England would be required without delay to choose between two clearly opposed policies: either adhere to the bloc and place itself on the side of Europe against the United States or come to an understanding with the latter against the continental powers".
No I know it seems a bit redundent to point this out, but I think that it bears repeating that the answer to that question is pretty clear, twice in the last hundred years. But of course just like the Constinentals and their response to referenda answers, we are being asked the question again. I hope and pray that we stick to our previous answer, for our good, and the good of the world.
I think William Pitt said it,
"Let us hope that England, having saved herself by her energy, may save Europe by her example".
"The Americans: a vital question for the future of Europe and the world…. It takes precedence over all other questions and leaves all merely European disagreements in the shadows. Their [“the Americans”] meddling in European affairs is closer than one generally thinks. The idea of a European Zollverein [customs union] will become indispensable. The sooner the better. Every question or problem of a European power vis-à-vis the United States becomes a European question, a European problem, a European matter of interest. Thus, it will be necessary that the attitude of England becomes clear and explicit. England will have to choose sides…"
Another at the table confirmed this,
"The need to form in the future a European Zollverein, a “customs league” against the United States…, in order to safeguard the interests and guarantee the liberty of the commerce of the continent to the detriment of the development of America…. In such a case, England would be required without delay to choose between two clearly opposed policies: either adhere to the bloc and place itself on the side of Europe against the United States or come to an understanding with the latter against the continental powers".
No I know it seems a bit redundent to point this out, but I think that it bears repeating that the answer to that question is pretty clear, twice in the last hundred years. But of course just like the Constinentals and their response to referenda answers, we are being asked the question again. I hope and pray that we stick to our previous answer, for our good, and the good of the world.
I think William Pitt said it,
"Let us hope that England, having saved herself by her energy, may save Europe by her example".
Friday, December 16, 2005
Pissing on Blair's fire
Just as dear Tone was about to announce his latest cave in, 11 billion of the rebate back I understand, this little bombshell dropped.
The last press conference that I know about here at the European Summit descended into Irish and UK journalists, bored to death by minor European issues badgering him about the thought that the UK had had an informer at the very top of the IRA/Sinn Fein for over 20 years. The guy himself, Denis Donaldson was convicted of bombing in 1972. If all this is true this fellow must have been of immense influence and power within the Republican movement and of enormous use to the legal civil authorities.
So why are we living in abject surrender to those self same republicans?
Update
Great commet on Slugger'O Toole
Will any members of the republican movement
not
working for the brits, please stand up?
Still, there is a kind of symmetry to the whole affair, since I’m convinced Peter Hain is on the payroll of the Shinners.
The last press conference that I know about here at the European Summit descended into Irish and UK journalists, bored to death by minor European issues badgering him about the thought that the UK had had an informer at the very top of the IRA/Sinn Fein for over 20 years. The guy himself, Denis Donaldson was convicted of bombing in 1972. If all this is true this fellow must have been of immense influence and power within the Republican movement and of enormous use to the legal civil authorities.
So why are we living in abject surrender to those self same republicans?
Update
Great commet on Slugger'O Toole
Will any members of the republican movement
not
working for the brits, please stand up?
Still, there is a kind of symmetry to the whole affair, since I’m convinced Peter Hain is on the payroll of the Shinners.
Slovenian Woolgathers explained
Below is the explanation for the bizarre comment made by Caroline Jackson in her Times article earlier this week. It comes in the shape of a spoof press release which she circulated amongst those MEPs who plan to join her in defying David Cameron.
From: JACKSON Caroline
Sent: 14 December 2005 14:21
To: KIRKHOPE Timothy; MCMILLAN-SCOTT Edward; BOWIS John; STEVENSON Struan; BUSHILL-MATTHEWS Philip; CHICHESTER Giles; BEAZLEY Christopher J. P.; ASHWORTH Richard; PURVIS John ASSISTANT; ATKINS Robert; ELLES James; HOLTUM James; BIESMANS John
Subject:
A passing sheep has just dropped this in
Press Release
Tory deal with Slovenian Woolgatherers unravels
Ljubljana: Leading members of the Slovenian Woolgatherers party (Kardiganska Wooliova Slovenia) today moved quickly to deny any possibility that they would sign up to any new grouping with renegade Conservatives in the European Parliament. Their spokesman Beta Sodoff explained "We saw the report about this in the London press today. We have had some contacts from a Mr Heaton Hannon but we have nothing in common with these people: we want to be in a powerful position in the parliament, not on the backbenches; we believe in reforming the EU from within , not in fighting to get out. They should take a stitch out of our own tapestry as we say in Slovenia: calm down and think what they are doing". The Slovenian press reported today that two other Slovenian parties had also been approached by a Mr Helmer Hannon ( believed to be twin brother of Mr Heaton Hannon) but had resisted his pleas for them to form a new alliance in Europe. They were the Slovenian Cellists and the Spaghettists ("I Spaghettisti"). The latter are formed from the remaining Italian minority in Slovenia and are described by observers as "on the outer fringe of the lunatic fringe". Latest reports from Bratislava suggest that the Hannon group has now switched its attention to canvassing the right wing Slovakian Philatelists for their support
14 December 2005
Oh, that explains it then.
From: JACKSON Caroline
Sent: 14 December 2005 14:21
To: KIRKHOPE Timothy; MCMILLAN-SCOTT Edward; BOWIS John; STEVENSON Struan; BUSHILL-MATTHEWS Philip; CHICHESTER Giles; BEAZLEY Christopher J. P.; ASHWORTH Richard; PURVIS John ASSISTANT; ATKINS Robert; ELLES James; HOLTUM James; BIESMANS John
Subject:
A passing sheep has just dropped this in
Press Release
Tory deal with Slovenian Woolgatherers unravels
Ljubljana: Leading members of the Slovenian Woolgatherers party (Kardiganska Wooliova Slovenia) today moved quickly to deny any possibility that they would sign up to any new grouping with renegade Conservatives in the European Parliament. Their spokesman Beta Sodoff explained "We saw the report about this in the London press today. We have had some contacts from a Mr Heaton Hannon but we have nothing in common with these people: we want to be in a powerful position in the parliament, not on the backbenches; we believe in reforming the EU from within , not in fighting to get out. They should take a stitch out of our own tapestry as we say in Slovenia: calm down and think what they are doing". The Slovenian press reported today that two other Slovenian parties had also been approached by a Mr Helmer Hannon ( believed to be twin brother of Mr Heaton Hannon) but had resisted his pleas for them to form a new alliance in Europe. They were the Slovenian Cellists and the Spaghettists ("I Spaghettisti"). The latter are formed from the remaining Italian minority in Slovenia and are described by observers as "on the outer fringe of the lunatic fringe". Latest reports from Bratislava suggest that the Hannon group has now switched its attention to canvassing the right wing Slovakian Philatelists for their support
14 December 2005
Oh, that explains it then.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
European Parliament Round, part II in an occasional series
Great fuss amongst the poles
Bogdan Golik sits as an MEP for Samoobrona, (the self defence league) and was, this week accused of rape. According to Jos Colpin, spokesman for the Belgian public prosecutor's office, a complaint had been filed by French prostitute. The prosecutors however questioned the credibility of the allegation but that was now an investigation into the case.
Golik claims that he is the victim of a conspiracy. "this incident is just a provocation resulting from, among the others, actions undertaken by him against Russia-Germany gas pipeline project".
Other Polish members have been milling around gossiping about the affair. His party colleague Ryszard Czarnecki commented "I will not be ashamed in the EP after what has happened. Neither I nor the remaining 52 Polish MEPs have reason to be ashamed. We work hard, we are active and appreciated by others. As one of the British weekly put it, we are 'loud and proud' in the EP. One black sheep - if the charges are corroborated - cannot change this image. The incident of MEP from Poland will be perceived as an individual case of someone who has more hormones than grey cells". Meanwhile socialist MEP, Genowefa Grabowska made light of the affair, "This came like a bolt from the blue. This is the problem of the whole EP. The matter has to be discussed by the Parliament as well as the Socialist Group and the decisions must be taken... We had different larks before but not such scandals. This is only our second year in the EU. I am afraid to think what else might happen in the years to come..."
Speaking to somebody far too well informed I heard a somewhat different story. Golik it seems had picked up a coloured French prostitute near the Gare du Nord, the notorious Brussels red light district. They went somewhere and agreed a price. Then he decided to dispense with the condom, and continued. When the deed was done, she, as is normal I understand, then demanded twice the money, as bareback riding is dear than covered. He refused. She made off with his mobile phone and put in the charge.
My informer's sage advice, "Gare du Nord!, Cheapskate, he should have gone to Avenue Louise, they are much better there and they would never take you to the police".
Sitting in a cab last night with a Dutch Socialist MEP the conversation turned to the absurdity of the current Tory predicament. The subject broadened out into the insufferable self-importance of most MEPs, as opposed to their actual irrelevance. As he said "I am 57, I tell my staff not to take everything to seriously, to be honest, they might as well not turn up to work at all nobody would ever notice".
He further illustrated his point, "Our party website back in the Netherlands gets 30,000 hits per month; the section for MEPs gets 300".
Bogdan Golik sits as an MEP for Samoobrona, (the self defence league) and was, this week accused of rape. According to Jos Colpin, spokesman for the Belgian public prosecutor's office, a complaint had been filed by French prostitute. The prosecutors however questioned the credibility of the allegation but that was now an investigation into the case.
Golik claims that he is the victim of a conspiracy. "this incident is just a provocation resulting from, among the others, actions undertaken by him against Russia-Germany gas pipeline project".
Other Polish members have been milling around gossiping about the affair. His party colleague Ryszard Czarnecki commented "I will not be ashamed in the EP after what has happened. Neither I nor the remaining 52 Polish MEPs have reason to be ashamed. We work hard, we are active and appreciated by others. As one of the British weekly put it, we are 'loud and proud' in the EP. One black sheep - if the charges are corroborated - cannot change this image. The incident of MEP from Poland will be perceived as an individual case of someone who has more hormones than grey cells". Meanwhile socialist MEP, Genowefa Grabowska made light of the affair, "This came like a bolt from the blue. This is the problem of the whole EP. The matter has to be discussed by the Parliament as well as the Socialist Group and the decisions must be taken... We had different larks before but not such scandals. This is only our second year in the EU. I am afraid to think what else might happen in the years to come..."
Speaking to somebody far too well informed I heard a somewhat different story. Golik it seems had picked up a coloured French prostitute near the Gare du Nord, the notorious Brussels red light district. They went somewhere and agreed a price. Then he decided to dispense with the condom, and continued. When the deed was done, she, as is normal I understand, then demanded twice the money, as bareback riding is dear than covered. He refused. She made off with his mobile phone and put in the charge.
My informer's sage advice, "Gare du Nord!, Cheapskate, he should have gone to Avenue Louise, they are much better there and they would never take you to the police".
Sitting in a cab last night with a Dutch Socialist MEP the conversation turned to the absurdity of the current Tory predicament. The subject broadened out into the insufferable self-importance of most MEPs, as opposed to their actual irrelevance. As he said "I am 57, I tell my staff not to take everything to seriously, to be honest, they might as well not turn up to work at all nobody would ever notice".
He further illustrated his point, "Our party website back in the Netherlands gets 30,000 hits per month; the section for MEPs gets 300".
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Silly old bat
I tried, I tried but I couldn't help myself, Caroline Jackson, Tory MEP for Cornwall, if the flags in her office are anything to go by, is one self important fool. She may have once been described as the "most powerful Conservative woman in the UK" but she seems to have lost her once significant marbles. I cannot believe I am saying that because for all the years I have known her she has been a committed and hardworking MEP. OK a bit of a wet when it comes to Europe, but hard working and at times very funny. However her Thunderer piece in today's Times is just appalling.
Cameron's first big bloomer
"A SECOND-ORDER issue”: thus the Tory leadership grandly brushes aside objections from its own MEPs to David Cameron’s plan to pull them out of their alliance in the European Parliament with the centre-right European People’s Party grouping. But if this is only second-order business, why bother? And can anything to do with Europe be a second- order issue for the Tories?
A second order issue? Yes Mrs Jackson it is a second order issue because despite what your years in the palaces of vanities that are the Brussels and Strasbourg Parliaments has obscured for you is that MEPs are very low down the food chain when it comes to national party politics. I ask you, how many people do you know that could name their MEP, for that matter apart from maybe Glenys Kinnock ('cos she was married to Neil) and Michael Cashman ('cos he was the gay doctor in Eastenders) can you even name one?
Mr Cameron will miss a wonderful opportunity to attack Tony Blair on the budget and CAP reform when he deliberately forgoes the opportunity to meet leaders of the EPP and their allies at their pre-summit gatherings. He needs to get to know people like Merkel, de Villepin and Berlusconi.
Mr Cameron will miss nothing of great importance by not traipsing to the Château of Meise just outside Brussels to hob-knob with the great and the good of the EPP. The meeting is for EPP leaders, he would be going as a valued, but guest but no more - because as you know the Tories are part of the ED, so he would be a second class citizen at this august gathering.
Oh and I think that we really know all we need to know about the Mr Berlusconi, (who by the time Cameron has the chance to win an election in the UK will be out of a job, and quite possibly in gaol), and de Villepin (who from his performances at the trade talks proves he understands nothing about how an economy should be run and is only interested in feathering his farmers nests to the detriment of the worlds poor, and in thwarting the US in every way possible). Merkel? Well I think that from the hectoring and bullying tone of her letter last week it is maybe appropriate that she might want to get to know him but I doubt the other way round.
How she thinks that without meeting these types will stop him from criticising Blair I really don't know, but I suppose she has more experience than me.
God knows who his alternative allies are. Aides are said to be shaking the hedges of eastern Europe: so far the only possibles may be Polish and Czech peasant nationalists, three eccentric Swedes, a French protectionist Eurosceptic, and two MEPs from the Netherlands’ extreme Christian party, which wants to stop Sunday bicycle riding. Mr Cameron has vowed to work with the Government in the British national interest. How can he do so as part of this barmy army? Then again the Cameron strategy ignores the fact that MEPs make European laws — are these laws of “second order” importance? Working with the EPP we can win crucial votes. We will be a lot less use to those we represent, lined up only with assorted Estonian Rightists and Slovenian Woolgatherers.
"Polish and Czech peasant nationalists". I take it that she is here referring to the current government of Poland the Law and Justice party here and the Czech opposition, the ODS. Now hasn't she just suggested that he should get on with his allies in the EPP-ED Group. Er ODS, the party of President Vaclav Klaus and the urbane Jan Zahradil MEP will be delighted to know that the ever so important Mrs Caroline Jackson regards them as peasants. I am sure that Radek Sikorski, the new Polish Defence minister and former AEI scholar will be equally delighted by the epithet.
One of the eccentric Swedes is Lars Wohlin, former governor of Sweden's central bank, not a noted occupation for an eccentric. Another is Nils Lundgren the former chief economist at Nordea, Sweden's largest bank - equally daffy I suppose.
I am unaware if the Tories have been talking to the Christunie, but asking them today about this has received a "no way" answer. I suspect that wouldn't get on a bike themselves on a Sunday, but as to banning them nah. The Estonian Rightists mentioned would be, I am making a wild stab here the party that sits with the Lib Dems currently who yesterday said that they would be interested in further approaches from the Tories. Lord alone knows what she is talking about when she mentions the Slovenes.
When and if Mr Cameron enters No 10 he will find that European politics involves building alliances. Oddly, he seems not to understand the Tory party’s relationship with the EPP, to which he says repeatedly that his MEPs “belong”. In fact we sit as allies with the EPP in what is cumbrously called the EPP-ED group, and vote according to our own whips when we wish. Although the EPP core is federalist, this is not a label that can be applied to other EPP-ED allies: the Scandinavian Conservatives and Gaullists.
Aha, well I think that Mr Cameron has a very good idea about building European alliances. Indeed maybe his formative political experience comes close to explaining his current position. Now we all know that the EPP issue is a bit of a dog whistle to the Tory right, "you can trust me on Europe, I took us out of the EPP". But dig a little deeper to understand his position. Since his election to leadership one thing that has been mentioned a couple of times is the time when he stood behind Norman Lamont as a callow youth when Britain was forced out of the ERM. This is ancient history now of course, but nobody will deny that that event destroyed any economic credibility that the Tories then held. Now what is little remembered is that the Tories had only recently joined the EPP group at that time. Chancellor Kohl had welcomed them in, but when the British government asked for support from him and his EPP colleagues they left Mr Major and Lamont hanging in the wind. Cameron was his advisor at the time and had, I understand been charged with some of the negotiations with the EPP colleagues. The betrayal of this recently built alliance by Kohl and friends was complete. Since then the Tories have suffered splits divisions and defeats. Much of the malaise facing the Tory party can be traced back to this event. So why on earth should Cameron trust them now?
If Mr Cameron does withdraw the British Conservatives from their alliance with the EPP I am certain that he will be back again in a few years, trying to negotiate readmission. So whatever happens I intend staying with the EPP to keep the place warm for my party when it returns to its senses.
Here Mrs Jackson's arrogance just bubbles over. Since she ceased to be Chairman of the Environment Committee last year she has concentrated on golf - is this her, she lives in Oxfordshire I think in her husbands old Wantage constituency). The main achievement is a pretty good drop in her handicap. I understand that at one point she said, "Don't call me in September. Golf month". She really thinks that she will be reselected by the Tory activists after this, well she has another thing coming I suspect. Maybe she will join her husband in Labour, though she doesn't mention his defection on her website, or maybe she will just fade away.
The author is a (maybe was a)Tory MEP for the South West of England
Whatever happens this story just doesn't seem to go away. Cameron needs to get over to Brussels and fast and bash some sense in this tinpot fantacists befiore it gets serious.
Cameron's first big bloomer
"A SECOND-ORDER issue”: thus the Tory leadership grandly brushes aside objections from its own MEPs to David Cameron’s plan to pull them out of their alliance in the European Parliament with the centre-right European People’s Party grouping. But if this is only second-order business, why bother? And can anything to do with Europe be a second- order issue for the Tories?
A second order issue? Yes Mrs Jackson it is a second order issue because despite what your years in the palaces of vanities that are the Brussels and Strasbourg Parliaments has obscured for you is that MEPs are very low down the food chain when it comes to national party politics. I ask you, how many people do you know that could name their MEP, for that matter apart from maybe Glenys Kinnock ('cos she was married to Neil) and Michael Cashman ('cos he was the gay doctor in Eastenders) can you even name one?
Mr Cameron will miss a wonderful opportunity to attack Tony Blair on the budget and CAP reform when he deliberately forgoes the opportunity to meet leaders of the EPP and their allies at their pre-summit gatherings. He needs to get to know people like Merkel, de Villepin and Berlusconi.
Mr Cameron will miss nothing of great importance by not traipsing to the Château of Meise just outside Brussels to hob-knob with the great and the good of the EPP. The meeting is for EPP leaders, he would be going as a valued, but guest but no more - because as you know the Tories are part of the ED, so he would be a second class citizen at this august gathering.
Oh and I think that we really know all we need to know about the Mr Berlusconi, (who by the time Cameron has the chance to win an election in the UK will be out of a job, and quite possibly in gaol), and de Villepin (who from his performances at the trade talks proves he understands nothing about how an economy should be run and is only interested in feathering his farmers nests to the detriment of the worlds poor, and in thwarting the US in every way possible). Merkel? Well I think that from the hectoring and bullying tone of her letter last week it is maybe appropriate that she might want to get to know him but I doubt the other way round.
How she thinks that without meeting these types will stop him from criticising Blair I really don't know, but I suppose she has more experience than me.
God knows who his alternative allies are. Aides are said to be shaking the hedges of eastern Europe: so far the only possibles may be Polish and Czech peasant nationalists, three eccentric Swedes, a French protectionist Eurosceptic, and two MEPs from the Netherlands’ extreme Christian party, which wants to stop Sunday bicycle riding. Mr Cameron has vowed to work with the Government in the British national interest. How can he do so as part of this barmy army? Then again the Cameron strategy ignores the fact that MEPs make European laws — are these laws of “second order” importance? Working with the EPP we can win crucial votes. We will be a lot less use to those we represent, lined up only with assorted Estonian Rightists and Slovenian Woolgatherers.
"Polish and Czech peasant nationalists". I take it that she is here referring to the current government of Poland the Law and Justice party here and the Czech opposition, the ODS. Now hasn't she just suggested that he should get on with his allies in the EPP-ED Group. Er ODS, the party of President Vaclav Klaus and the urbane Jan Zahradil MEP will be delighted to know that the ever so important Mrs Caroline Jackson regards them as peasants. I am sure that Radek Sikorski, the new Polish Defence minister and former AEI scholar will be equally delighted by the epithet.
One of the eccentric Swedes is Lars Wohlin, former governor of Sweden's central bank, not a noted occupation for an eccentric. Another is Nils Lundgren the former chief economist at Nordea, Sweden's largest bank - equally daffy I suppose.
I am unaware if the Tories have been talking to the Christunie, but asking them today about this has received a "no way" answer. I suspect that wouldn't get on a bike themselves on a Sunday, but as to banning them nah. The Estonian Rightists mentioned would be, I am making a wild stab here the party that sits with the Lib Dems currently who yesterday said that they would be interested in further approaches from the Tories. Lord alone knows what she is talking about when she mentions the Slovenes.
When and if Mr Cameron enters No 10 he will find that European politics involves building alliances. Oddly, he seems not to understand the Tory party’s relationship with the EPP, to which he says repeatedly that his MEPs “belong”. In fact we sit as allies with the EPP in what is cumbrously called the EPP-ED group, and vote according to our own whips when we wish. Although the EPP core is federalist, this is not a label that can be applied to other EPP-ED allies: the Scandinavian Conservatives and Gaullists.
Aha, well I think that Mr Cameron has a very good idea about building European alliances. Indeed maybe his formative political experience comes close to explaining his current position. Now we all know that the EPP issue is a bit of a dog whistle to the Tory right, "you can trust me on Europe, I took us out of the EPP". But dig a little deeper to understand his position. Since his election to leadership one thing that has been mentioned a couple of times is the time when he stood behind Norman Lamont as a callow youth when Britain was forced out of the ERM. This is ancient history now of course, but nobody will deny that that event destroyed any economic credibility that the Tories then held. Now what is little remembered is that the Tories had only recently joined the EPP group at that time. Chancellor Kohl had welcomed them in, but when the British government asked for support from him and his EPP colleagues they left Mr Major and Lamont hanging in the wind. Cameron was his advisor at the time and had, I understand been charged with some of the negotiations with the EPP colleagues. The betrayal of this recently built alliance by Kohl and friends was complete. Since then the Tories have suffered splits divisions and defeats. Much of the malaise facing the Tory party can be traced back to this event. So why on earth should Cameron trust them now?
If Mr Cameron does withdraw the British Conservatives from their alliance with the EPP I am certain that he will be back again in a few years, trying to negotiate readmission. So whatever happens I intend staying with the EPP to keep the place warm for my party when it returns to its senses.
Here Mrs Jackson's arrogance just bubbles over. Since she ceased to be Chairman of the Environment Committee last year she has concentrated on golf - is this her, she lives in Oxfordshire I think in her husbands old Wantage constituency). The main achievement is a pretty good drop in her handicap. I understand that at one point she said, "Don't call me in September. Golf month". She really thinks that she will be reselected by the Tory activists after this, well she has another thing coming I suspect. Maybe she will join her husband in Labour, though she doesn't mention his defection on her website, or maybe she will just fade away.
The author is a (maybe was a)Tory MEP for the South West of England
Whatever happens this story just doesn't seem to go away. Cameron needs to get over to Brussels and fast and bash some sense in this tinpot fantacists befiore it gets serious.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Best thing since sliced ciabatta
I have just been sent this by a chum, one Marian Tupy of the Cato Institute. It seems that Mnsr Le Bon is unaware that Marion is a Czech himself and thus knows a little about bread and other baked goods.
The article referred to is to be found here, and a good and insightful article it is too.
Subject: Marian Tupy & the French price of bread
Mr. Tupy,
In one of your brilliant research articles on "Who Pays for Farm Subsidies?" you write that "the prices of bread in France and Germany are 45 percent higher than in the United States".
What kind of an idiot are you - how can you possibly compare the quality and artisanship of French bread with the industrial plastic material that is peddled as bread in the US ? Europeans gladly pay for quality and artisanship - unlike America where the masses live off low quality fast food and highly industrial processed food which goes completely against European culture and norms.
You are absolutely unqualified to write about Europe and instead of complaining about subsidies for small European farmers somebody should look into who is subsidizing your salary to write such silly articles.
Go and find yourself a real job instead of living off this American propaganda money from the CATO institute,
best rgds
Jean Le Bon
As a poor benighted denezin of the subsiding continent I would just like to point out that in my humble opinion, plastic white bread cannot be bettered for use in the creation of that paradigm of food, the bacon butty.
And as for process I am sure that Knorr, Danone and other such European muliples would reject the need for the European peasantry to be forced to spend more of their overtaxed income on food than is absolutely necessary. Now I am a great fan of the slow food movement, unpasturised cheeses are marvellous and a little dod of andouillette is pure heaven. But sod off Mr Le Bon.
The article referred to is to be found here, and a good and insightful article it is too.
Subject: Marian Tupy & the French price of bread
Mr. Tupy,
In one of your brilliant research articles on "Who Pays for Farm Subsidies?" you write that "the prices of bread in France and Germany are 45 percent higher than in the United States".
What kind of an idiot are you - how can you possibly compare the quality and artisanship of French bread with the industrial plastic material that is peddled as bread in the US ? Europeans gladly pay for quality and artisanship - unlike America where the masses live off low quality fast food and highly industrial processed food which goes completely against European culture and norms.
You are absolutely unqualified to write about Europe and instead of complaining about subsidies for small European farmers somebody should look into who is subsidizing your salary to write such silly articles.
Go and find yourself a real job instead of living off this American propaganda money from the CATO institute,
best rgds
Jean Le Bon
As a poor benighted denezin of the subsiding continent I would just like to point out that in my humble opinion, plastic white bread cannot be bettered for use in the creation of that paradigm of food, the bacon butty.
And as for process I am sure that Knorr, Danone and other such European muliples would reject the need for the European peasantry to be forced to spend more of their overtaxed income on food than is absolutely necessary. Now I am a great fan of the slow food movement, unpasturised cheeses are marvellous and a little dod of andouillette is pure heaven. But sod off Mr Le Bon.
Can you show me the way to the grandstand
Last night two Parliamentary Committees met simultaneously. The MEP attendance at these committees was revealing in the way in which our so called representatives prioritise their work.
The first Committee Meeting was the Budgetary Control (COCOBU). This meeting was discussing the EU Budget discharge for 2004. Attending this meeting were Mr Barroso the Commission President, the Court of Auditors who famously refuse to sign off the accounts and 18 MEPs, out of 70 who have membership of the Committee, less than a quarter turned up to what is essentially the job of the Parliament, to act as the budgetary control function in the EU. This was the first time that Barroso had appeared in front of a Parliamentary Committee ever, and he was there to attempt to explain how the EU budget was so riddled with fraud.
The Second Committee meeting was Legal Affairs/Foreign Affairs joint meeting discussing the alleged CIA jails in Eastern Europe. At this meeting there was standing room only, one person present guessed that over 100 MEPs had turned up. Of course this story has the added frisson of being a direct attack on the USA but is based upon press stories from one NGO which have not been substantiated and about which the EP can do exactly nothing (confirmed by the preliminary advice from the EP Legal Service).
These people are a shower.
One good thing did come out of the COCOBU meeting however, and something that will please the good people behind Farmsubsidy.org (support this organisation as much as you can they deserve your help). Mr Barroso made a commitment to move towards disclosure on recipients of Agricultural subsidies throughout the EU after questioning
The first Committee Meeting was the Budgetary Control (COCOBU). This meeting was discussing the EU Budget discharge for 2004. Attending this meeting were Mr Barroso the Commission President, the Court of Auditors who famously refuse to sign off the accounts and 18 MEPs, out of 70 who have membership of the Committee, less than a quarter turned up to what is essentially the job of the Parliament, to act as the budgetary control function in the EU. This was the first time that Barroso had appeared in front of a Parliamentary Committee ever, and he was there to attempt to explain how the EU budget was so riddled with fraud.
The Second Committee meeting was Legal Affairs/Foreign Affairs joint meeting discussing the alleged CIA jails in Eastern Europe. At this meeting there was standing room only, one person present guessed that over 100 MEPs had turned up. Of course this story has the added frisson of being a direct attack on the USA but is based upon press stories from one NGO which have not been substantiated and about which the EP can do exactly nothing (confirmed by the preliminary advice from the EP Legal Service).
These people are a shower.
One good thing did come out of the COCOBU meeting however, and something that will please the good people behind Farmsubsidy.org (support this organisation as much as you can they deserve your help). Mr Barroso made a commitment to move towards disclosure on recipients of Agricultural subsidies throughout the EU after questioning
Monday, December 12, 2005
By Gum
In it's page two editorial today, Swedish mass market daily Expressen actuallty seems to get it. Well at least part of it.
“The reason why the USA is winning”
The article asks the basic question,
"Why does the USA get so many Nobel prizes in the natural sciences, and is it a problem that Europe don’t?"
Good question. To my pleasant suprise it seems to almost get the right answer as well.
"The great advantage with the American system is that it rewards young talents, and Europe will never catch up as long as it doesn’t change its policy."
Now may I make a modest proposal, stop attacking entrepreneurship by supporting such regressive legislation as the Chemicals directive, REACh and other stuff. Take a long hard look at a social model that means that more than 50% of the working population are employed by the state, and support moves to remove the dead hand of Brussels from business. In fact Expressen could do worse than transfer its allegiance to the Juniliste in the forthcoming election.
Ok, maybe that wouyd be asking a bit too much.
“The reason why the USA is winning”
The article asks the basic question,
"Why does the USA get so many Nobel prizes in the natural sciences, and is it a problem that Europe don’t?"
Good question. To my pleasant suprise it seems to almost get the right answer as well.
"The great advantage with the American system is that it rewards young talents, and Europe will never catch up as long as it doesn’t change its policy."
Now may I make a modest proposal, stop attacking entrepreneurship by supporting such regressive legislation as the Chemicals directive, REACh and other stuff. Take a long hard look at a social model that means that more than 50% of the working population are employed by the state, and support moves to remove the dead hand of Brussels from business. In fact Expressen could do worse than transfer its allegiance to the Juniliste in the forthcoming election.
Ok, maybe that wouyd be asking a bit too much.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Struan Stevenson sticks his brogues into Tory mess
Straun Stevenson MEP, who paints himself as a Eurosceptic so as to ensure a high placement on the Tory list in Scotland has entered the crowded lists of the EPP debate.
Quoted in the Sunday Herald, this Vice-president of the EPP-ED comes up with what I might generously describe as the worst possible solution. He favours "forming a new party after the next European elections",
“We would have to sit round the table on a weekly basis with these fascists and nutters that nobody else will sit with. I tell you now that I refuse to do that. I don’t care who’s ordering me to do that. I won’t come back and stand for election as a Conservative in Scotland when I’m sitting in a group with Le Pen. I’m sorry, but I’m just not prepared to do it.”
Right, where to start? Setting up a group after the 2009 elections would mean that people could legitmately attack the Tories for being allied to the EPP, which you must recall supports the Constitution, the Euro membership for all, a European Public Prosecutor, greater power forthe ECJ etc. No matter how much the Tories state that they will leave after the election people won't believe them. They have proised as much before. In the meantime over 2 million pounds of their money (ok taxpayers money granted to the Tories) will have been handed over to the EPP to fight federalist campaigns.
Other ideas, suggested by Hague this week suggest leaving in a few months aafter doing the groundwork to set up a group. Even leaving now and sitting as Non Iscrit (NI) would give the Tories the opportunoity to create a group, at least other parties such as the ODS an Justice and Law might believe that they meant it this time. He knows that the NI is not a group, he knows that they don't have group meetings in any meaningful way, he is being deliberately misleading in calling it a group.
He goes on however,
"Stevenson, Scotland’s senior Tory MEP, added that it was important Cameron maintained strong relations with like-minded, centre-right parties across Europe, “and not divorce himself from them within hours of becoming leader of the Conservatives”."
Like minded! In what way are these people like minded to the vast majority of Tory members who would like to have no political truck with them? In many ways, economically at least the Tories have more in common with sectionsof the Liberal group in the Parliamentt than they do with the EPP. They could work closely with the German FPD, the Dutch VVD or the Flemish VLD more comfortably and with a liker mind than with the CDU, the CD&V or other EPP members.
Stevenson burnishes his scep credentials with trenchant articles in the European Journal, but when push comes to shove the kilted wonder is as bad as the rest of them.
Quoted in the Sunday Herald, this Vice-president of the EPP-ED comes up with what I might generously describe as the worst possible solution. He favours "forming a new party after the next European elections",
“We would have to sit round the table on a weekly basis with these fascists and nutters that nobody else will sit with. I tell you now that I refuse to do that. I don’t care who’s ordering me to do that. I won’t come back and stand for election as a Conservative in Scotland when I’m sitting in a group with Le Pen. I’m sorry, but I’m just not prepared to do it.”
Right, where to start? Setting up a group after the 2009 elections would mean that people could legitmately attack the Tories for being allied to the EPP, which you must recall supports the Constitution, the Euro membership for all, a European Public Prosecutor, greater power forthe ECJ etc. No matter how much the Tories state that they will leave after the election people won't believe them. They have proised as much before. In the meantime over 2 million pounds of their money (ok taxpayers money granted to the Tories) will have been handed over to the EPP to fight federalist campaigns.
Other ideas, suggested by Hague this week suggest leaving in a few months aafter doing the groundwork to set up a group. Even leaving now and sitting as Non Iscrit (NI) would give the Tories the opportunoity to create a group, at least other parties such as the ODS an Justice and Law might believe that they meant it this time. He knows that the NI is not a group, he knows that they don't have group meetings in any meaningful way, he is being deliberately misleading in calling it a group.
He goes on however,
"Stevenson, Scotland’s senior Tory MEP, added that it was important Cameron maintained strong relations with like-minded, centre-right parties across Europe, “and not divorce himself from them within hours of becoming leader of the Conservatives”."
Like minded! In what way are these people like minded to the vast majority of Tory members who would like to have no political truck with them? In many ways, economically at least the Tories have more in common with sectionsof the Liberal group in the Parliamentt than they do with the EPP. They could work closely with the German FPD, the Dutch VVD or the Flemish VLD more comfortably and with a liker mind than with the CDU, the CD&V or other EPP members.
Stevenson burnishes his scep credentials with trenchant articles in the European Journal, but when push comes to shove the kilted wonder is as bad as the rest of them.
Well obviously
"[TW] said no but I go ahead with it because I believe that at the time I commit these offences, I believe that she was promiscuous …" he said. "She don't know us, I don't know her, like she was not related to us and she was not wearing any purdah … like she was not … covered her face, she was not wearing any headscarf and she started drinking with us and she was singing.
"First off, I was actually, I was not taking my medication so I was under the influence of voices and secondly I believe at the time when I commit these offences that she had no right to say no."
The girl ws fourteen, the voices in the head were a post conviction claim.
Reported in the Sydney Morning Herald
Hat Tip, the excellent Free Thoughts
"First off, I was actually, I was not taking my medication so I was under the influence of voices and secondly I believe at the time when I commit these offences that she had no right to say no."
The girl ws fourteen, the voices in the head were a post conviction claim.
Reported in the Sydney Morning Herald
Hat Tip, the excellent Free Thoughts
A Diplomatic Hero for our Times - I give you Charles Crawford.
Reported in Today's Sunday Times is hard evidence that despite years of chipping at the foundations the UK still produces in some of its senior public service positions some very fine people.
In Irag we had the Colonel of the Royal Irish now in the the 'Corpse Diplomatic' we read signs of life.
Mr Crawford, H.E. The Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Warsaw sent out an email suggesting an approach from the Foriegn Secretary or the Prime Minister to his counterparts at next week's Brussels summit. The email was sent to Kim Darrch CMG formerely the Director General of the Foriegn Office's European Union Policy and now the head of the European Secretariat in the Cabinet Office and the Prime Minister's EU adviser. It was cc'd to Nicola Brewer who replaced him at the FCO. No lightweights they.
Though it is long it is worth reading in full,
From: Charles.Crawford
Sent: 08 December 2005 05:36
To: KDarroch; Nicola.Brewer
Subject: LOOSEN THOSE EU BUDGET TALKS - LET'S END THE MISERY
Kim/Nicola,
This Budget thing is already dragging on too long. So here is a draft speech for the Foreign Sec or PM to use next week to bring it to a rapid and successful conclusion:
"OK, partners, here is my Budget final offer (Puts a large naff kiddies alarm clock on the table).
We all know that the hypocrisy and absurdity of this process are passing any reasonable limit.
I am being asked to give more UK taxpayers money to an EU which for years can not produce properly audited accounts. Mon ami Jacques with the support of most of you is nagging me to give the EU more money while the refusing to surrender an inch or even a centimetre on the CAP - a programme which uses inefficient transfers of taxpayers money to bloat rich French landowners and so pump up food prices in Europe, thereby creating poverty in Africa, which we then fail to solve through inefficient but expensive aid programmes. The most stupid, immoral state-subsidised policy in human history, give or take Communism.
As for the new member states, we like you so much that we are proposing in the Budget a huge new transfer of funds to you on a scale which will give your people the greatest boost in 1000 years. I will be attacked by my scary new teenage Tory opposition for building roads and hospitals in Poland and Hungary, rather than in poor areas of the UK. We - unlike most other old EU MS sitting here - have opened our labour markets. HMG have created more jobs for Poles in the past year than the Polish Government. Yet not one of you nor a single newspaper in any of your capitals has expressed a single word of gratitude or appreciation for the UK position in all this. So much for solidarity.
Shame on you all. Enough is enough.
In a moment I will press the button on this vulgar clock, made cheaply and well in China. It will ring loudly in exactly an hour's time.
At that point I will ask everyone round the table whether they accept our current offer. Yes, or No.
If anyone says No, we end the meeting. The EU will move on to a complete mess of annual budgets. Basically suits us - we'll pay less, and the rebate stays 100% intact. My ratings will go up.
However, despite the rudeness and ingratitude of the new member states as expressed here today, we in London do want to help them So if the Budget deal does end in an hour's time, we will take action alone.
I have here with me a draft press release which says the following:
Following the failure of the EU Budget talks today because most EU member states refused to accept a generous, innovative new budget proposed by HMG, the UK Gov announces that it is going to set aside a good chunk of the money it was prepared effectively to deduct from its rebate under the current proposals, 5 billion pounds, to set up a new Strategic European Development Fund - the Mother of All Know How Funds, but on steroids.
This Fund will be accessible for those of the V4 plus Balts who agree to join its programme - if they all feel too humiliated by our lack of EU solidarity to join, that's great - we'll keep the money for ourselves. If only some of them join, that's great too- those who do will get proportionately more.
The Fund will cut out all the bollocky EU bureaucracy which comes with the current spending round, which means that for every pound we pay into the EU pot for Structural Funds for new MS about a [make up a suitable percentage] goes in sticky transaction costs, local and Brussels corruption, overhead and other rubbish, and so does not benefit the intended recipients.
The Fund will go for any sensible strategic development idea that comes along, with emphasis on R&D and Innovation, plus reform of the region's abysmal legal systems, the main Communist - era legacy problem in Europe. But if you want to build some new roads, that's OK too.
The Fund will be managed according to state of the art transparency and efficiency:
Internet procurement
90% money spent to require matching private sector funds, so as to encourage new private investment on a vast scale
top-level auditing
explicit buy-in by recipient governments to compensate the fund on a 'triple damages' basis for any losses proved by independent auditors to be due to official local corruption, and to prosecute the people concerned
up-front urgent action by recipient partner governments to set up their own streamlined procedures and new laws to allow this money to be spent fast
oversight by independent all-party experts and bankers/business leaders in each country to ensure scrupulous honesty and agree national priorities
hard targets set for spending with regular public updates
hundreds of short-term fellowships to enable the brightest and best from these countries to see EU best practice in action in the UK
[Aside: PM Marcinkiewicz: you asked me recently to help with ELT in Polish schools - spend 100 million of the Fund on this, so that every kid learns English, plus save money by shutting down French and German language classes!]
and so on
This Fund mean that the UK's money goes much further, much faster and much more efficiently into the regions concerned than it possibly could under any EU programme.
Five billion pounds spent this way equals far more than 10 billion spent through the EU, by building in good incentives at every level to encourage openness, free enterprise, creativity and honesty.
The Fund will give the UK and British expertise and the English language together a dominant economic, political and intellectual position in the most dynamic region of Europe for decades to come, forcing legal and business reform on a huge scale according to the purest Anglo-Saxon principles.
And it will be incredibly popular in the countries concerned, since it will force the region's governments sitting shiftily round this table to be far more honest and accountable than they are at the moment.
More! The roaring success of the Fund will set in motion the accelerating downsizing of all EU-level spending and a fundamental rethink of global aid philosophy. UK voters and voters all across the EU will love it because it spends their money well, plus highlights the wastefulness of what the EU is doing at the moment and cuts out completely the blathering European Parliament. Wider public pressure for reforms along UK lines will become irresistible.
Basically, a terrific deal for the UK, for the modern European ideal of well-coordinated light-touch integration, and for the populations of the countries concerned.
End of draft press release.
We nonetheless remain willing to sacrifice all that in the interests of discredited, inefficient, socialistic, EU 'solidarity' - if that is what you really all prefer - to sign up for the latest offer for the Budget which is on the table.
Over to you, mes chers amis!
(Presses button on alarm clock. Silence. Broken only by loud ticking)
I have a suitable alarm clock if that helps.
Charles
Charles Crawford
HMA Warsaw
Priceless
In Irag we had the Colonel of the Royal Irish now in the the 'Corpse Diplomatic' we read signs of life.
Mr Crawford, H.E. The Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Warsaw sent out an email suggesting an approach from the Foriegn Secretary or the Prime Minister to his counterparts at next week's Brussels summit. The email was sent to Kim Darrch CMG formerely the Director General of the Foriegn Office's European Union Policy and now the head of the European Secretariat in the Cabinet Office and the Prime Minister's EU adviser. It was cc'd to Nicola Brewer who replaced him at the FCO. No lightweights they.
Though it is long it is worth reading in full,
From: Charles.Crawford
Sent: 08 December 2005 05:36
To: KDarroch; Nicola.Brewer
Subject: LOOSEN THOSE EU BUDGET TALKS - LET'S END THE MISERY
Kim/Nicola,
This Budget thing is already dragging on too long. So here is a draft speech for the Foreign Sec or PM to use next week to bring it to a rapid and successful conclusion:
"OK, partners, here is my Budget final offer (Puts a large naff kiddies alarm clock on the table).
We all know that the hypocrisy and absurdity of this process are passing any reasonable limit.
I am being asked to give more UK taxpayers money to an EU which for years can not produce properly audited accounts. Mon ami Jacques with the support of most of you is nagging me to give the EU more money while the refusing to surrender an inch or even a centimetre on the CAP - a programme which uses inefficient transfers of taxpayers money to bloat rich French landowners and so pump up food prices in Europe, thereby creating poverty in Africa, which we then fail to solve through inefficient but expensive aid programmes. The most stupid, immoral state-subsidised policy in human history, give or take Communism.
As for the new member states, we like you so much that we are proposing in the Budget a huge new transfer of funds to you on a scale which will give your people the greatest boost in 1000 years. I will be attacked by my scary new teenage Tory opposition for building roads and hospitals in Poland and Hungary, rather than in poor areas of the UK. We - unlike most other old EU MS sitting here - have opened our labour markets. HMG have created more jobs for Poles in the past year than the Polish Government. Yet not one of you nor a single newspaper in any of your capitals has expressed a single word of gratitude or appreciation for the UK position in all this. So much for solidarity.
Shame on you all. Enough is enough.
In a moment I will press the button on this vulgar clock, made cheaply and well in China. It will ring loudly in exactly an hour's time.
At that point I will ask everyone round the table whether they accept our current offer. Yes, or No.
If anyone says No, we end the meeting. The EU will move on to a complete mess of annual budgets. Basically suits us - we'll pay less, and the rebate stays 100% intact. My ratings will go up.
However, despite the rudeness and ingratitude of the new member states as expressed here today, we in London do want to help them So if the Budget deal does end in an hour's time, we will take action alone.
I have here with me a draft press release which says the following:
Following the failure of the EU Budget talks today because most EU member states refused to accept a generous, innovative new budget proposed by HMG, the UK Gov announces that it is going to set aside a good chunk of the money it was prepared effectively to deduct from its rebate under the current proposals, 5 billion pounds, to set up a new Strategic European Development Fund - the Mother of All Know How Funds, but on steroids.
This Fund will be accessible for those of the V4 plus Balts who agree to join its programme - if they all feel too humiliated by our lack of EU solidarity to join, that's great - we'll keep the money for ourselves. If only some of them join, that's great too- those who do will get proportionately more.
The Fund will cut out all the bollocky EU bureaucracy which comes with the current spending round, which means that for every pound we pay into the EU pot for Structural Funds for new MS about a [make up a suitable percentage] goes in sticky transaction costs, local and Brussels corruption, overhead and other rubbish, and so does not benefit the intended recipients.
The Fund will go for any sensible strategic development idea that comes along, with emphasis on R&D and Innovation, plus reform of the region's abysmal legal systems, the main Communist - era legacy problem in Europe. But if you want to build some new roads, that's OK too.
The Fund will be managed according to state of the art transparency and efficiency:
Internet procurement
90% money spent to require matching private sector funds, so as to encourage new private investment on a vast scale
top-level auditing
explicit buy-in by recipient governments to compensate the fund on a 'triple damages' basis for any losses proved by independent auditors to be due to official local corruption, and to prosecute the people concerned
up-front urgent action by recipient partner governments to set up their own streamlined procedures and new laws to allow this money to be spent fast
oversight by independent all-party experts and bankers/business leaders in each country to ensure scrupulous honesty and agree national priorities
hard targets set for spending with regular public updates
hundreds of short-term fellowships to enable the brightest and best from these countries to see EU best practice in action in the UK
[Aside: PM Marcinkiewicz: you asked me recently to help with ELT in Polish schools - spend 100 million of the Fund on this, so that every kid learns English, plus save money by shutting down French and German language classes!]
and so on
This Fund mean that the UK's money goes much further, much faster and much more efficiently into the regions concerned than it possibly could under any EU programme.
Five billion pounds spent this way equals far more than 10 billion spent through the EU, by building in good incentives at every level to encourage openness, free enterprise, creativity and honesty.
The Fund will give the UK and British expertise and the English language together a dominant economic, political and intellectual position in the most dynamic region of Europe for decades to come, forcing legal and business reform on a huge scale according to the purest Anglo-Saxon principles.
And it will be incredibly popular in the countries concerned, since it will force the region's governments sitting shiftily round this table to be far more honest and accountable than they are at the moment.
More! The roaring success of the Fund will set in motion the accelerating downsizing of all EU-level spending and a fundamental rethink of global aid philosophy. UK voters and voters all across the EU will love it because it spends their money well, plus highlights the wastefulness of what the EU is doing at the moment and cuts out completely the blathering European Parliament. Wider public pressure for reforms along UK lines will become irresistible.
Basically, a terrific deal for the UK, for the modern European ideal of well-coordinated light-touch integration, and for the populations of the countries concerned.
End of draft press release.
We nonetheless remain willing to sacrifice all that in the interests of discredited, inefficient, socialistic, EU 'solidarity' - if that is what you really all prefer - to sign up for the latest offer for the Budget which is on the table.
Over to you, mes chers amis!
(Presses button on alarm clock. Silence. Broken only by loud ticking)
I have a suitable alarm clock if that helps.
Charles
Charles Crawford
HMA Warsaw
Priceless
Friday, December 09, 2005
Foreigners Office strikes again
The Organization of the Islamic Conference, has just finished an extroadinary two day meeting in Mecca, hosted bythe King of Suadi Artabia. The FO came up with this as a response.
'As EU Presidency, Britain strongly supports the call by the Muslim leaders, at the OIC summit hosted by Saudi Arabia, for a forward-looking vision for the Muslim world.
'The whole international community stands with them in their staunch rejection of those who distort the noble faith of Islam. We join them in celebrating the values of Islamic civilisation. Their values are our values.
'We share their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism and their determination to combat it. "
It is truely great that the 57 Muslim countries agreed to support moderation and fight terror, Which is no doubt why the new Iranian President who was one of the Islamic leaders who unanimously called for moderation and an end to terrorism today called for Isreal to be "moved to Europe". That is all Jews to be expelled from the Holy land.
So my dear British diplomats, I take it that it isn't this part of their values that you believe our our values, I hope?
'As EU Presidency, Britain strongly supports the call by the Muslim leaders, at the OIC summit hosted by Saudi Arabia, for a forward-looking vision for the Muslim world.
'The whole international community stands with them in their staunch rejection of those who distort the noble faith of Islam. We join them in celebrating the values of Islamic civilisation. Their values are our values.
'We share their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism and their determination to combat it. "
It is truely great that the 57 Muslim countries agreed to support moderation and fight terror, Which is no doubt why the new Iranian President who was one of the Islamic leaders who unanimously called for moderation and an end to terrorism today called for Isreal to be "moved to Europe". That is all Jews to be expelled from the Holy land.
So my dear British diplomats, I take it that it isn't this part of their values that you believe our our values, I hope?
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Tory turmoil in the European Parliament
It has taken me a while to get this little piece together, so please bear with me. The history of the Conservative Party and the centrist German led Europäischen Volkspartei/European Democrats is long and somewhat tortuous. Suffice to say that the current deal was hammered out in 1999 by William Hague in Malaga, the further hammered at regular intervals since and currently the links are as thin, though less precious than beaten gold.
Since the Tory leadership double whammy of David Cameron in the UK and Timothy Kirkhope in Brussels there have been all sorts of carry on.
Cameron as is well known pledged to take the Tories out of the ultra federalist grouping, for which he has a strong mandate. Indeed this policy seems to be the only specific policy made during the campaign.
The original promise was made very early in the campaign and was confirmed at party conference to amongst others Martin Callanan, Tory MEP for the North East. The election of a clean slate in the Brussels delegation of people opposed to the policy of the new Tory leader (Kirkhope leader, Sir Robert (Bob) Atkins deputy and Philip Bushill Mathews as treasurer) promises to create a serious headache for Cameron. In an arch press release the Tory MEPs issued a press release on Kirkhope’s success, “Timothy Kirkhope victorious in Conservative MEPs' leadership election”. Anybody who is in on Brussels gossip will raise their eyebrows at the usage of that word when attached to Kirhope’s name. 'Bob' Atkins has been spinning so furiously that he has forgotten what he has said on or off the record, with similar comment both atributed and unattributed depnding on which paper you read. His arrogance knows no bounds. Given the scale of Cameron's victory and his cast iron promise to leave is it sensible for Bob to say, "Sir Robert Atkins, said Mr Cameron could not take an "arbitrary" decision.
"He has to come and talk to us and discuss his plans,"
Is that a fact Bob?
Anyhow by yesterday morning six of the delegation were circulating a letter claiming that they would not leave the blessed EPP. Another story had Kirkhope requesting of Hans Gert Poettering that he get Angela Merkle to write to Cameron. The letter was paraphrased to me thus,
“Dear David,
Congratulations on your victory. Well done. Looking forward to seeing you at the next EPP-ED conference. If you are not there do not expect any invitations to the Reich Chancellery.
With fondest regards,
Angela”
Apart from the fatuity of such a letter in itself, the thought that Merkle would refuse to meet Cameron, if Cameron and the Tories look like they are capable of winning a general election, given the parlous state of her own administration is preposterous, but the EPP must go on.
Meanwhile sets and subsets of the political nonentities that are Tory MEPs had set about briefing and unbriefing against each other and themselves. One Edward McMillan Scott, currently the EPP-ED Vice President of the Parliament was heard to tell Nigel Farage of UKIP,
“There are four of our members you could have tomorrow. Hannan, Heaton Harris Helmer and Callanan”.
Bushill Matthews took up the cudgels on behalf of the EPP in a Reuters piece (lifted by the FT including the erroneous claim that Geoffrey Van Orden was the Deputy Leader of the delegation) when he claimed that staying was a hard commitment that each Tory had given before the Euro elections. Whilst this is strictly true – all Tory MEPs were forced to sign a letter by then Tory Chairman Liam Fox, to the extent that the page of the manifesto explicitly committing themselves to the EPP deal, some had explicitly written that they did so under duress. Indeed the EPP commitment was the only aspect that they had to agree to in the whole manifesto, no such commitment was required about key policy planks such as opposition to the Euro or the European Constitution,. Of course Liam Fox repudiated this commitment during his candidacy for Tory leadership in one of his own policy pronouncements, showing he didn’t believe it himself.
Giles Chichester, now Chairman of the influential Industry Committee told one friend that he saw no real problem with leaving the EPP, whilst Nirj Deva was going round telling people “That’s it, we are leaving”.
James Elles, former EPP-ED Vice President and head of the internal EPP think tank the European Ideas Network was seen today, hugger mugger with senior German EPP member Elmar Brok, with Brok saying
“…but we have always supported ever closer union…” Elles was sagely agreeing with him.
Now that Hague has been given the job of shadow Foreign Secretary the problem lands into his in tray. Contrary to rumour, former MEP and withdrawalist Teresa Villiers has not been gifted the job of Shadow Minister for Europe, which would have signalled a very hard line.
In the meantime what is Kirkhope to do. He wants to stay in the EPP. His party boss wants to leave. If they don’t leave the seven who voted against Kirkhope could well leave the group. Though Kirkhope could withdraw the delegation whip, he would find it impossible to make it stick as they are merely doing what 68% of the party faithfull had just voted for. If they leave the EPP, then there is a different split with the old, bold or just venal staying within the EPP. They would be easier to discipline, but of course he majority of MEPs have sympathy with them, including the delegation leader Kirkhope.
All this is causing great hoots of hilarity in Brussels as we move towards Christmas. Best of all it has been pointed out that if the Tories do indeed leave the EPP without setting up a new group they would sit with the Non Iscrits. Due to the vagaries of the alphabetical seating system the seats would go,
Kilroy Silk,
Kirkhope,
Le Pen,
Now that is a photo op Timothy must be dreading.
Since the Tory leadership double whammy of David Cameron in the UK and Timothy Kirkhope in Brussels there have been all sorts of carry on.
Cameron as is well known pledged to take the Tories out of the ultra federalist grouping, for which he has a strong mandate. Indeed this policy seems to be the only specific policy made during the campaign.
The original promise was made very early in the campaign and was confirmed at party conference to amongst others Martin Callanan, Tory MEP for the North East. The election of a clean slate in the Brussels delegation of people opposed to the policy of the new Tory leader (Kirkhope leader, Sir Robert (Bob) Atkins deputy and Philip Bushill Mathews as treasurer) promises to create a serious headache for Cameron. In an arch press release the Tory MEPs issued a press release on Kirkhope’s success, “Timothy Kirkhope victorious in Conservative MEPs' leadership election”. Anybody who is in on Brussels gossip will raise their eyebrows at the usage of that word when attached to Kirhope’s name. 'Bob' Atkins has been spinning so furiously that he has forgotten what he has said on or off the record, with similar comment both atributed and unattributed depnding on which paper you read. His arrogance knows no bounds. Given the scale of Cameron's victory and his cast iron promise to leave is it sensible for Bob to say, "Sir Robert Atkins, said Mr Cameron could not take an "arbitrary" decision.
"He has to come and talk to us and discuss his plans,"
Is that a fact Bob?
Anyhow by yesterday morning six of the delegation were circulating a letter claiming that they would not leave the blessed EPP. Another story had Kirkhope requesting of Hans Gert Poettering that he get Angela Merkle to write to Cameron. The letter was paraphrased to me thus,
“Dear David,
Congratulations on your victory. Well done. Looking forward to seeing you at the next EPP-ED conference. If you are not there do not expect any invitations to the Reich Chancellery.
With fondest regards,
Angela”
Apart from the fatuity of such a letter in itself, the thought that Merkle would refuse to meet Cameron, if Cameron and the Tories look like they are capable of winning a general election, given the parlous state of her own administration is preposterous, but the EPP must go on.
Meanwhile sets and subsets of the political nonentities that are Tory MEPs had set about briefing and unbriefing against each other and themselves. One Edward McMillan Scott, currently the EPP-ED Vice President of the Parliament was heard to tell Nigel Farage of UKIP,
“There are four of our members you could have tomorrow. Hannan, Heaton Harris Helmer and Callanan”.
Bushill Matthews took up the cudgels on behalf of the EPP in a Reuters piece (lifted by the FT including the erroneous claim that Geoffrey Van Orden was the Deputy Leader of the delegation) when he claimed that staying was a hard commitment that each Tory had given before the Euro elections. Whilst this is strictly true – all Tory MEPs were forced to sign a letter by then Tory Chairman Liam Fox, to the extent that the page of the manifesto explicitly committing themselves to the EPP deal, some had explicitly written that they did so under duress. Indeed the EPP commitment was the only aspect that they had to agree to in the whole manifesto, no such commitment was required about key policy planks such as opposition to the Euro or the European Constitution,. Of course Liam Fox repudiated this commitment during his candidacy for Tory leadership in one of his own policy pronouncements, showing he didn’t believe it himself.
Giles Chichester, now Chairman of the influential Industry Committee told one friend that he saw no real problem with leaving the EPP, whilst Nirj Deva was going round telling people “That’s it, we are leaving”.
James Elles, former EPP-ED Vice President and head of the internal EPP think tank the European Ideas Network was seen today, hugger mugger with senior German EPP member Elmar Brok, with Brok saying
“…but we have always supported ever closer union…” Elles was sagely agreeing with him.
Now that Hague has been given the job of shadow Foreign Secretary the problem lands into his in tray. Contrary to rumour, former MEP and withdrawalist Teresa Villiers has not been gifted the job of Shadow Minister for Europe, which would have signalled a very hard line.
In the meantime what is Kirkhope to do. He wants to stay in the EPP. His party boss wants to leave. If they don’t leave the seven who voted against Kirkhope could well leave the group. Though Kirkhope could withdraw the delegation whip, he would find it impossible to make it stick as they are merely doing what 68% of the party faithfull had just voted for. If they leave the EPP, then there is a different split with the old, bold or just venal staying within the EPP. They would be easier to discipline, but of course he majority of MEPs have sympathy with them, including the delegation leader Kirkhope.
All this is causing great hoots of hilarity in Brussels as we move towards Christmas. Best of all it has been pointed out that if the Tories do indeed leave the EPP without setting up a new group they would sit with the Non Iscrits. Due to the vagaries of the alphabetical seating system the seats would go,
Kilroy Silk,
Kirkhope,
Le Pen,
Now that is a photo op Timothy must be dreading.
Diplomatic truths
Verity over at Albion's Seedlings has had a Monty Python moment with their High Commission to London. She had called to ask whether she could moe to India, only to be told that she couldn't.
"Foreigners can't settle in India! No, no, no! You can't just settle in another country!"
Me: "Of course, you can. With permission."
"No, you can't."
Reasonably enough, I responded, "Well, what about the 500,000 Indians who are settled in Britain, then?"
To which he responded, "They're illegal."
I was so stunned I was silenced for a minute. "What? They're not illegal!"
"Yes they are."
Priceless, go read the rest
"Foreigners can't settle in India! No, no, no! You can't just settle in another country!"
Me: "Of course, you can. With permission."
"No, you can't."
Reasonably enough, I responded, "Well, what about the 500,000 Indians who are settled in Britain, then?"
To which he responded, "They're illegal."
I was so stunned I was silenced for a minute. "What? They're not illegal!"
"Yes they are."
Priceless, go read the rest
Friday, December 02, 2005
Oh Really
"The Dutch rejected the Constitution by 61.7% of the votes and the French by 54.8%. Turnout was high in both cases (63 and 70% respectively). On the other hand, the Spanish, the first to vote, gave the new Constitutional Treaty their overwhelming support (76.7%), as did the citizens of Luxembourg, 56.52% of whom said 'Yes'."
This is how the European Parliament has presented the current state of play in the Constitution.
Please note that, the turnout was high in the No votes, but there is no mention of the turnout in the Spanish vote (it was 42%).Better still is the suggestion that the Luxembourg vote was 'overwhelming'. 56%, overwhelming, yeah right.
This is how the European Parliament has presented the current state of play in the Constitution.
Please note that, the turnout was high in the No votes, but there is no mention of the turnout in the Spanish vote (it was 42%).Better still is the suggestion that the Luxembourg vote was 'overwhelming'. 56%, overwhelming, yeah right.
So you don't like it that way.What if I say it like this?
Guy Verhofstalin, (©Paul Belien), , the Belgian former liberal and Prime Minister has written an extraordinary piece for this week’s European Voice (sub only). The piece, entitled “Forging ‘United States of Europe’ is key to the future,” is a telling contribution to the post Constitutional, post democratic European Union. First he describes the threats as he sees them to a European hegemony, “it is already clear that in four years’ time the world will have four major powers: the US, China, India and Japan”.
The answer to Guy is obvious, a ‘United States of Europe’. What is interesting of course is that what he is proposing betrays a striking resemblance to the Europe that was supposed to be created by the unlamented European Constitution. The key areas in which the EU should become one?
“Social protection and taxation…research and development…transEuropean information networks…single European Area of justice and security…joint armed forces…foreign policy”.
Well I suppose you cannot fault the ambition. His analysis however is rent through with the arrogance of office. Is it reasonable to hear lectures like this from the political leader of a country that flip/flopped its way through the ratification procedure of the European Constitution? One must recall that despite his enormous enthusiasm for the Treaty his country is yet to ratify it, having rejected a referendum on the grounds that they were frightened of the result.
Having had a rejection from the people the response of the euro elite like Verhofstadt is not, “Ok we hear you we will restrain our ambitions”, but an arrogant and blind statement that the people in their wisdom are wrong, “a ‘United States of Europe’ is the only option,” he blithely says.
Rubbish. There are many options, discarding the dead hand of bureaucracy being one. Maybe listening to the democratic voices of the people would be another.
Verhofstadt is both a symptom and a cause of the malaise his article misdiagnoses. He is a man of the past trying to ensnare and disrupt the future
The answer to Guy is obvious, a ‘United States of Europe’. What is interesting of course is that what he is proposing betrays a striking resemblance to the Europe that was supposed to be created by the unlamented European Constitution. The key areas in which the EU should become one?
“Social protection and taxation…research and development…transEuropean information networks…single European Area of justice and security…joint armed forces…foreign policy”.
Well I suppose you cannot fault the ambition. His analysis however is rent through with the arrogance of office. Is it reasonable to hear lectures like this from the political leader of a country that flip/flopped its way through the ratification procedure of the European Constitution? One must recall that despite his enormous enthusiasm for the Treaty his country is yet to ratify it, having rejected a referendum on the grounds that they were frightened of the result.
Having had a rejection from the people the response of the euro elite like Verhofstadt is not, “Ok we hear you we will restrain our ambitions”, but an arrogant and blind statement that the people in their wisdom are wrong, “a ‘United States of Europe’ is the only option,” he blithely says.
Rubbish. There are many options, discarding the dead hand of bureaucracy being one. Maybe listening to the democratic voices of the people would be another.
Verhofstadt is both a symptom and a cause of the malaise his article misdiagnoses. He is a man of the past trying to ensnare and disrupt the future
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Blogroll Admin
How lazy can one get, two blogs which I regularly visit via the blogroll changed their addresses months ago, but the effort to alter the blogroll just seems too much hassle Nosemonkey at the Sharpener, pointed this out yeserday as a universal disease and I have nbeen ashamed into action. Anyhow the two alterations are the EU Law Blog, which I can recomend wholeheartedly to anyone with an interest in the growth and developement in you guessed it EU Law.
The other is Draxblog, the webhome of Dragan Antulov, discussing Croatian, Northern Balkan and other such issues. For some reason he has a fetish about Croatian Big Brother, but we all have our foibles.
The other is Draxblog, the webhome of Dragan Antulov, discussing Croatian, Northern Balkan and other such issues. For some reason he has a fetish about Croatian Big Brother, but we all have our foibles.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Almunia joins the forces of post-Democratic Europe
Joaquín Almunia, the Spaniard who is currently the Commissioner in charge of Economic and Monetary Affairs was in the European Parliament today and announced his commitment to the democratic ideals of Europe by dismissing the position of the new Polish Government on holding a referendum on the Euro.
“Reacting to questions about the new Polish government's idea of a referendum on joining the euro, Mr Almunia said citizens had known about the commitment to adopt the single currency when they voted to join the EU: "There is no need to ask the citizens again."”
By that logic Mr Almunia, once a decision has been made then no need for review, no need for a look at the evidence, no need indeed for elections.
“Reacting to questions about the new Polish government's idea of a referendum on joining the euro, Mr Almunia said citizens had known about the commitment to adopt the single currency when they voted to join the EU: "There is no need to ask the citizens again."”
By that logic Mr Almunia, once a decision has been made then no need for review, no need for a look at the evidence, no need indeed for elections.
When is a Constitution not a Constitution?
When it is being "poilitically approved".
The Finnish Government are in a quandry. Not wanting to stick their necks out and ratify the Constitution, after all that would be rude to the people of France and Holland, but at the same time wanting to prove their faith in the Euro religion. The Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, has mooted tha the Finnish parliament's approval in 2006 could have a positive effect on the atmosphere over the constitution.
He went on to muse generally about the "right political momentum", without definig what on earth this "momentum" could be.
The poor fellow is at sixes and sevens it seems. Finland will be taking over the Presidency of the Union in 2007 when everybody in Brussels hopes that that awkward bugger Chirac is out ofthe way and the French can have another chance. The last thing that the Finns want is not to have at the very least "politically approved" the document by then.
The Finnish Government are in a quandry. Not wanting to stick their necks out and ratify the Constitution, after all that would be rude to the people of France and Holland, but at the same time wanting to prove their faith in the Euro religion. The Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, has mooted tha the Finnish parliament's approval in 2006 could have a positive effect on the atmosphere over the constitution.
He went on to muse generally about the "right political momentum", without definig what on earth this "momentum" could be.
The poor fellow is at sixes and sevens it seems. Finland will be taking over the Presidency of the Union in 2007 when everybody in Brussels hopes that that awkward bugger Chirac is out ofthe way and the French can have another chance. The last thing that the Finns want is not to have at the very least "politically approved" the document by then.
Margot wobbles
The EBAF
Margot Wallström seems to be faltering. Last night she gave an interview to Swedish TV (SVT's Agenda Europa program) in which she calls for the 'period of reflection' to be extended for several years. Hitherto her plans had been for the rejected Constitution to be discussed at the final summit of the Austrian Presidency in June of this year.
This wobble in the headlights of public opinion will not go down well in the European Parliament, where they are building up to vote on the
Duffenhuber report, which calls for the initiative to be given to the Parliament, as the only institution so cut off from reality that it believes that it can force the Constitution through, without reference to public opinion.
Margot Wallström seems to be faltering. Last night she gave an interview to Swedish TV (SVT's Agenda Europa program) in which she calls for the 'period of reflection' to be extended for several years. Hitherto her plans had been for the rejected Constitution to be discussed at the final summit of the Austrian Presidency in June of this year.
This wobble in the headlights of public opinion will not go down well in the European Parliament, where they are building up to vote on the
Duffenhuber report, which calls for the initiative to be given to the Parliament, as the only institution so cut off from reality that it believes that it can force the Constitution through, without reference to public opinion.
More Baltic notes
Further to my report in October it seems that the luminaries of the Baltic states are still living in cloud cuckoo land. According to Finance MinisterAiver Sõerd in today'sÄripäev , "Both, the state as well as private business must continue with the aim to be fully prepared to adopt euro from the beginning of 2007,"
The hectoring tone might be understandable when you remember that the latest opinion polls [put opposition to the Euro at 48% and support at 47%.
As Bloomberg states,
"In Estonia, a poll showed more than half the population opposed euro membership, according to an AFP report last week. And only 38 percent of people in the 10 new countries expect ``positive consequences'' from the euro, down 6 points from last year, according to a European Commission report last week.
Quite reasonably, many analysts have concluded that eastern European leaders aren't planning to walk up this particular aisle. ``The EU attracted accession states on account of the relative prosperity it enjoyed through the 1990s,'' said Stephen Lewis, chief economist at Monument Securities Ltd. in London, in a note to investors. ``More recently, the euro zone has, rightly or wrongly, become a byword for economic stagnation. It is not surprising, therefore, that the forward momentum of European integration has been lost.''
Meanwhile Estonian Socialist MEP, Toomas Hendrik Ilves the former Foreign Minister, has come up with some prize drivel masquerading as an attack on the Estonian PM. Writing in this weekend's Päevaleht, he attempts to dissect Estonia's current existence. "The main reason for Estonian problems is - being self-centred and unable to perceive the broader context of processes".
So it seems that the bottom line is that in his eyes the government are to be condemned for lacking in a communitarian spirit, and being solely concentrated on Estonian interests. Now there is a failing in a politician.
"The Prime Minister must 'establish' himself as the leader of European issues," emphasises Mr Ilves as he smells the EU pork barrel. The government might consider employing experts from other countries in order to make better use of the "EU assistance money".
My round up finishes with the latest news out of Lithuania, where despite the Government's commitment to Euro entry in 2007 the polls are now looking very bad. Indeed one taken in early November by the Vilmoris Institute states that more than half of Lithuanians reject Euro membership. Only 34% claimed to support entry. However the government are still planning to join, without a referendum in the beginning of 2007.
The hectoring tone might be understandable when you remember that the latest opinion polls [put opposition to the Euro at 48% and support at 47%.
As Bloomberg states,
"In Estonia, a poll showed more than half the population opposed euro membership, according to an AFP report last week. And only 38 percent of people in the 10 new countries expect ``positive consequences'' from the euro, down 6 points from last year, according to a European Commission report last week.
Quite reasonably, many analysts have concluded that eastern European leaders aren't planning to walk up this particular aisle. ``The EU attracted accession states on account of the relative prosperity it enjoyed through the 1990s,'' said Stephen Lewis, chief economist at Monument Securities Ltd. in London, in a note to investors. ``More recently, the euro zone has, rightly or wrongly, become a byword for economic stagnation. It is not surprising, therefore, that the forward momentum of European integration has been lost.''
Meanwhile Estonian Socialist MEP, Toomas Hendrik Ilves the former Foreign Minister, has come up with some prize drivel masquerading as an attack on the Estonian PM. Writing in this weekend's Päevaleht, he attempts to dissect Estonia's current existence. "The main reason for Estonian problems is - being self-centred and unable to perceive the broader context of processes".
So it seems that the bottom line is that in his eyes the government are to be condemned for lacking in a communitarian spirit, and being solely concentrated on Estonian interests. Now there is a failing in a politician.
"The Prime Minister must 'establish' himself as the leader of European issues," emphasises Mr Ilves as he smells the EU pork barrel. The government might consider employing experts from other countries in order to make better use of the "EU assistance money".
My round up finishes with the latest news out of Lithuania, where despite the Government's commitment to Euro entry in 2007 the polls are now looking very bad. Indeed one taken in early November by the Vilmoris Institute states that more than half of Lithuanians reject Euro membership. Only 34% claimed to support entry. However the government are still planning to join, without a referendum in the beginning of 2007.
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Dumb Britain
Tonight on a celebrity version of the weakest link we were treated to this gem
Anne Robinson : "What sort of rhyme is this the start of,
'There was a young girl from Crewe'?"
Gail Porter : "An ode".
Anne Robinson : "What sort of rhyme is this the start of,
'There was a young girl from Crewe'?"
Gail Porter : "An ode".
Tehran's beam
In a piece of chutzpah worthy of note it appears that the British Ambassador to Tehran, Sir Richard Dalton, has been summoned to their foreign ministry to be dressed down.
"Director General of Iran's Foreign Ministry for West Europe Affairs, Ebrahim Rahimpour, expressed concern about the violation of the rights of minorities especially Muslims residing in Britain and other EU states".
What might be relevant in this attack is that three days ago the British Embassy in its position of EU presidency launched an attack on Iran's human rights record.
A sort list of Irans violations of basic human rights can be found here, the UN declaration of the 2nd November
"The continuing harassment, intimidation and persecution of human rights defenders, non-governmental organizations, political opponents, religious dissenters, political reformists, journalists, parliamentarians, students, clerics, academics and web bloggers, including through undue restrictions on the freedoms of assembly, opinion and expression, the use of arbitrary arrest, targeted at both individuals and their family members and the unjustified closure of newspapers and blocking of Internet sites, as well as the absence of many necessary conditions for free and fair elections, including by the arbitrary disqualification of large numbers
of prospective candidates, including all women, during the Presidential elections of June 2005;"
or maybe,
"The continuing use of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment such as flogging and amputations;"
or could it be,
"The continued carrying out of public executions, including multiple public executions and, on a large scale, other executions in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, and, in particular, deplores the execution of persons who were below 18 years of age at the time their offence was committed,
... in spite of the announcement of a moratorium on juvenile executions;"
or just possibly,
"The continuing discrimination, and other human rights violations against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, recognized or otherwise, including Arabs, Kurds, Baluchi, Christians, Jews and Sunni Muslims, the escalation and increased frequency of discrimination and other human rights violations against the Bahá’ì, including cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, the denial of freedom of religion or of publicly carrying out communal affairs, the disregard of property rights, the destruction of sites of religious importance, the
suspension of social, educational and community-related activities and the denial of access to higher education, employment, pensions, adequate housing and other benefits and recent violent crackdowns on Kurds;"
Hat Tip Iran News Blog
"Director General of Iran's Foreign Ministry for West Europe Affairs, Ebrahim Rahimpour, expressed concern about the violation of the rights of minorities especially Muslims residing in Britain and other EU states".
What might be relevant in this attack is that three days ago the British Embassy in its position of EU presidency launched an attack on Iran's human rights record.
A sort list of Irans violations of basic human rights can be found here, the UN declaration of the 2nd November
"The continuing harassment, intimidation and persecution of human rights defenders, non-governmental organizations, political opponents, religious dissenters, political reformists, journalists, parliamentarians, students, clerics, academics and web bloggers, including through undue restrictions on the freedoms of assembly, opinion and expression, the use of arbitrary arrest, targeted at both individuals and their family members and the unjustified closure of newspapers and blocking of Internet sites, as well as the absence of many necessary conditions for free and fair elections, including by the arbitrary disqualification of large numbers
of prospective candidates, including all women, during the Presidential elections of June 2005;"
or maybe,
"The continuing use of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment such as flogging and amputations;"
or could it be,
"The continued carrying out of public executions, including multiple public executions and, on a large scale, other executions in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, and, in particular, deplores the execution of persons who were below 18 years of age at the time their offence was committed,
... in spite of the announcement of a moratorium on juvenile executions;"
or just possibly,
"The continuing discrimination, and other human rights violations against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, recognized or otherwise, including Arabs, Kurds, Baluchi, Christians, Jews and Sunni Muslims, the escalation and increased frequency of discrimination and other human rights violations against the Bahá’ì, including cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, the denial of freedom of religion or of publicly carrying out communal affairs, the disregard of property rights, the destruction of sites of religious importance, the
suspension of social, educational and community-related activities and the denial of access to higher education, employment, pensions, adequate housing and other benefits and recent violent crackdowns on Kurds;"
Hat Tip Iran News Blog
Tory women get the vote
I predict disaster. This is the thin end of the wedge, civilisation as we know it is coming to an end.
"Females had never been allowed into the snooker room or men's bar and had had no voting rights since its opening in 1889 as the Constitutional Club.
But the club's committee voted to give women equal voting rights and to raise their annual subscription from £2 to £12".
Don't do it ladies of Scarborough, reject their tokenistic gesture for what it is, a transparent attempt to cream cash from you. Nothing to do with equal rights at all.
"Females had never been allowed into the snooker room or men's bar and had had no voting rights since its opening in 1889 as the Constitutional Club.
But the club's committee voted to give women equal voting rights and to raise their annual subscription from £2 to £12".
Don't do it ladies of Scarborough, reject their tokenistic gesture for what it is, a transparent attempt to cream cash from you. Nothing to do with equal rights at all.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Is Islam bad for your Health?
In what seems to a medical first we have a pendant to cases of tennis elbow and joggers nipple, I bring you 'devotees knee'.
According to an article in the Copenhagen post, culled from the Jyllands-Posten, it appears that devout Muslims are prey to debilitating pains due to theposture they take up suring prayer.
Teddy Jacobsen, a Danish physiotherapist comments,
"Some injuries in the back and knee are directly linked to the prayer posture, while others are not allowed to heal because they are strained five times a day during prayer,"
hat tip, http://fjordman.blogspot.com/
According to an article in the Copenhagen post, culled from the Jyllands-Posten, it appears that devout Muslims are prey to debilitating pains due to theposture they take up suring prayer.
Teddy Jacobsen, a Danish physiotherapist comments,
"Some injuries in the back and knee are directly linked to the prayer posture, while others are not allowed to heal because they are strained five times a day during prayer,"
hat tip, http://fjordman.blogspot.com/
Shit happens
Now this is very strange
"The greater Athens area's water and sewerage utility (EYDAP) on Monday confirmed reports that it was considering a plan to transport sewage sludge accumulated at a seaside treatment plan to the African country of Sudan."
Now I know that the Sudan is desperately in need of all sorts of imports, but I would think that they have plenty of this of their own.
"The greater Athens area's water and sewerage utility (EYDAP) on Monday confirmed reports that it was considering a plan to transport sewage sludge accumulated at a seaside treatment plan to the African country of Sudan."
Now I know that the Sudan is desperately in need of all sorts of imports, but I would think that they have plenty of this of their own.
Monday, November 14, 2005
An offer they just cannot refuse.
Now here is an offer. You may continue living in your own homes, but you cannot build or repair your religious buildings. You must pay a significant tax if you wish to remain as you are. However you do have the option of joining those who will take control of everything you currently own.
Tempted? Well that is the offer recently made by the Iranian, so called moderate, spritual leader when he spoke about Isreal.
In a devastating critique by Amir Tahiri, Khamenehi is reportd as saying in an Eid sermon that,
"Iran rejected the two-states formula proposed by the US, and would fight for the creation of a single state encompassing Israel and the Palestinian territories. In such a state, power would be in the hands of Muslims, although some Jews would be allowed to remain, under unspecified conditions."
No need to specify, when Islamic custom, history and jurisprudence Dhimmitude is the obvious conditions.
As John Eposito (no Islamaphobe he) puts it 'Islam: the straight path',
"As Islam penetrated new areas, people were offered three options: (1) conversion, that is, full membership in the Muslim community. with its rights and duties; (2)acceptance of Muslim rule as 'protected' people and the payment of a poll tax; (3) battle or the sword if neither the first nor second option was accepted".
Or with a bit of pithy detail Robert Spencer describes,
"In 1892 a Persian (thus Iranian) decree reemphasised, among other niggling regulations designed to reinforce a staus of subservience, that Jews "must not wear fine clothes...[and] are forbidden to wear matching shoes...a Jewish creditor of a Muslim must claim his debt in a quivering and resp[ectful manner...If a Muslim insults a Jew, the latter must drop his head and remain silent...It is forbidden for him to have a house higher than his Muslim neighbour",
Hat tip, the Norm
Tempted? Well that is the offer recently made by the Iranian, so called moderate, spritual leader when he spoke about Isreal.
In a devastating critique by Amir Tahiri, Khamenehi is reportd as saying in an Eid sermon that,
"Iran rejected the two-states formula proposed by the US, and would fight for the creation of a single state encompassing Israel and the Palestinian territories. In such a state, power would be in the hands of Muslims, although some Jews would be allowed to remain, under unspecified conditions."
No need to specify, when Islamic custom, history and jurisprudence Dhimmitude is the obvious conditions.
As John Eposito (no Islamaphobe he) puts it 'Islam: the straight path',
"As Islam penetrated new areas, people were offered three options: (1) conversion, that is, full membership in the Muslim community. with its rights and duties; (2)acceptance of Muslim rule as 'protected' people and the payment of a poll tax; (3) battle or the sword if neither the first nor second option was accepted".
Or with a bit of pithy detail Robert Spencer describes,
"In 1892 a Persian (thus Iranian) decree reemphasised, among other niggling regulations designed to reinforce a staus of subservience, that Jews "must not wear fine clothes...[and] are forbidden to wear matching shoes...a Jewish creditor of a Muslim must claim his debt in a quivering and resp[ectful manner...If a Muslim insults a Jew, the latter must drop his head and remain silent...It is forbidden for him to have a house higher than his Muslim neighbour",
Hat tip, the Norm
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Heh!
This has got to be one of the best in a long time. Nutwit Australian Green politician Thom Lyons, has got himself tied in knots, and gloriously ridiculed by Tex at Whacking Day.
This is a lesson in how not to respond to criticism, either web based or otherwise.
People laugh at you.
Hat tip, the blithering one
This is a lesson in how not to respond to criticism, either web based or otherwise.
People laugh at you.
Hat tip, the blithering one
Friday, November 11, 2005
"I think that with 5% unemployment and 4% growth you can create some quite good results"
Bill Kristol, the editor of the Weekly Standard and leading figure in the 'vast right wing conspiracy' was speaking at an event in Brussels organised by the German Marshall Fund.
After a broad exegesis of current trends in conservative thinking in the US the event was opened up for questions.
He was immediately assailed by some Commission official, who after the usual flummery attacked the US's double deficit, suggesting that the US economy was heading toward a form of economic meltdown. His response was like a slow steamroller, imperceptibly building to a devastating double punch line, when it comes to the running of an economy he said "I think that with 5% unemployment and 4% growth you can create some quite good results. I think it is really great that the European Central Bank has kept interest rates so high to stop any chance of economic growth here".He went on to discuss the similarities between the Truman presidency and the Bush presidency, interestingly following up the comments I heard last week about Colin Powell. Whilst agreeing with the feeling that it was odd that Europe liked Powell so much, while Powell himself was less enamoured he gave us an anecdote. It transpires that under the first three years of the Truman Presidency there were four Secretaries of Defense, "Powell visibly cheered up when told that one secretary of Defense, committed suicide by jumping from a 12th floor window".
After a broad exegesis of current trends in conservative thinking in the US the event was opened up for questions.
He was immediately assailed by some Commission official, who after the usual flummery attacked the US's double deficit, suggesting that the US economy was heading toward a form of economic meltdown. His response was like a slow steamroller, imperceptibly building to a devastating double punch line, when it comes to the running of an economy he said "I think that with 5% unemployment and 4% growth you can create some quite good results. I think it is really great that the European Central Bank has kept interest rates so high to stop any chance of economic growth here".He went on to discuss the similarities between the Truman presidency and the Bush presidency, interestingly following up the comments I heard last week about Colin Powell. Whilst agreeing with the feeling that it was odd that Europe liked Powell so much, while Powell himself was less enamoured he gave us an anecdote. It transpires that under the first three years of the Truman Presidency there were four Secretaries of Defense, "Powell visibly cheered up when told that one secretary of Defense, committed suicide by jumping from a 12th floor window".
The mother of all evils
I have been remmiss in not posting this before, as its import is vast.
It appears that the Iranian President isn't merely gunning for Isreal, but he is going for an all out war against the Anglosphere.
According to Ahmadinejad's chief strategic guru Hassan Abbassi,
"But it is not only the US that Abbasi wants to take on and humiliate. He has described Britain as "the mother of all evils". In his lecture he claimed that the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, and the Gulf states were all "children of the same mother: the British Empire." As for France and Germany, they are "countries in terminal decline", according to Abbasi.
"Once we have defeated the Anglo-Saxons the rest will run for cover," he told his audience."
I suppose we should be flattered.
hat tip, Regieme Change Iraq
It appears that the Iranian President isn't merely gunning for Isreal, but he is going for an all out war against the Anglosphere.
According to Ahmadinejad's chief strategic guru Hassan Abbassi,
"But it is not only the US that Abbasi wants to take on and humiliate. He has described Britain as "the mother of all evils". In his lecture he claimed that the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, and the Gulf states were all "children of the same mother: the British Empire." As for France and Germany, they are "countries in terminal decline", according to Abbasi.
"Once we have defeated the Anglo-Saxons the rest will run for cover," he told his audience."
I suppose we should be flattered.
hat tip, Regieme Change Iraq
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Fat buffoon speaks out - it is appalling economic policies that are to blame
Claude Moraes, know for no apparent reason inthe European Parliament as Claude More-Arse is pontificating about the disturbances in France. Lets have a lok at what he is saying.
"unrest among French immigrants was bound to be more acute than in London or in Dutch cities because unemployment among some ethnic groups in France can be 5 or 6 times higher than the national average."
This may or not be true, I have not seen the evidence.
But what it seems to miss out is that France's own unemoployment is massively greater than the UK's or indeed Holland's. There again I wouldn't use Holland as an exemplar of racial harmony following the Van Gogh killing and the torching of schools and mosques after that hiorrific event. A country where politicians are kept in prison for their own saftey. Any how, carry on Claude.
"The UK has continued to grapple with tough integration problems but France has one of the worst records of labour market discrimination in Western Europe. This is because they have opted for an assimilationist model which says "everyone is French, everyone's the same".
Meanwhile unrest in England and the disaffection of young musilms in the UK meant that 50 odd people were blown apart on the London underground just a few short months ago. Has this man see the beam in his own eye?
But don't worry there is a knight in shining armour that can make everything better, yup you guessed it , the EuropeanUnion can pour balm on the troubled waters of France,
"The EU can help France root out the cause of unrest after this crisis by pressing the French government to implement a legal framework that will allow immigrants into the labour market, and together, highlighting the best examples of jobs, housing, policing and education integration".
That is it the panecea, the sugar pill, the excuse not to think off anything more useful. With one bound of Eu inspiredrhetoric he was free and able to concentrate on those important things in his life like, cultural events surrounding the world cup.
"unrest among French immigrants was bound to be more acute than in London or in Dutch cities because unemployment among some ethnic groups in France can be 5 or 6 times higher than the national average."
This may or not be true, I have not seen the evidence.
But what it seems to miss out is that France's own unemoployment is massively greater than the UK's or indeed Holland's. There again I wouldn't use Holland as an exemplar of racial harmony following the Van Gogh killing and the torching of schools and mosques after that hiorrific event. A country where politicians are kept in prison for their own saftey. Any how, carry on Claude.
"The UK has continued to grapple with tough integration problems but France has one of the worst records of labour market discrimination in Western Europe. This is because they have opted for an assimilationist model which says "everyone is French, everyone's the same".
Meanwhile unrest in England and the disaffection of young musilms in the UK meant that 50 odd people were blown apart on the London underground just a few short months ago. Has this man see the beam in his own eye?
But don't worry there is a knight in shining armour that can make everything better, yup you guessed it , the EuropeanUnion can pour balm on the troubled waters of France,
"The EU can help France root out the cause of unrest after this crisis by pressing the French government to implement a legal framework that will allow immigrants into the labour market, and together, highlighting the best examples of jobs, housing, policing and education integration".
That is it the panecea, the sugar pill, the excuse not to think off anything more useful. With one bound of Eu inspiredrhetoric he was free and able to concentrate on those important things in his life like, cultural events surrounding the world cup.
Hungary binges on deficit
Woe betide any country that claims that it can achieve that nivana of the terminally blind, euro zone entry.
It appears that Hungary, already wobbling only a short while ago has really gorged on Government spending. Thus when it is supposed to have reined in spending to under 2% it has in fact ballooned to 6.1%.
Oh well that'll be 2012 at the earliest for them then. Worse they seem to be being bitch slapped by the ineffectual Almunia for the pleasure.
"The commission "will be very strict" in its next recommendation "and we hope the Hungarian authorities will comply", he said."
Ooo, hark to him.
It appears that Hungary, already wobbling only a short while ago has really gorged on Government spending. Thus when it is supposed to have reined in spending to under 2% it has in fact ballooned to 6.1%.
Oh well that'll be 2012 at the earliest for them then. Worse they seem to be being bitch slapped by the ineffectual Almunia for the pleasure.
"The commission "will be very strict" in its next recommendation "and we hope the Hungarian authorities will comply", he said."
Ooo, hark to him.
Is there more to life than shoes?
New on the sidebar / a question for the fairer sex I suspect, but imformed and vicious about the European Parliament. ('n other stuff)
Monday, November 07, 2005
Confirmation of attacks in Brussels and Berlin
Paul Belien in the Brussels Journal collates the evidence about attacks that have started in the "Capital of Europe".
"Last night five cars were torched in Berlin. The cars were set alight in five different streets of Moabit, an immigrant neighbourhood of Berlin, and the Tiergarten area, only a few kilometres away from the seat of the German government".
He goes on,
"In Brussels, too, five cars were destroyed by fire last night. The cars were parked in Sint-Gillis, one of Brussels’ Muslim quarters. Sint-Gillis is the area surrounding Brussels’ Midi Station, where the Eurostar trains from London arrive. It is barely three kilometres from the European Parliament".
Gloriously of course nothing is officially being talked about here in the Palace of Vanity. Nothing official, however the coffee bars are ablaze with rumour.
"Last night five cars were torched in Berlin. The cars were set alight in five different streets of Moabit, an immigrant neighbourhood of Berlin, and the Tiergarten area, only a few kilometres away from the seat of the German government".
He goes on,
"In Brussels, too, five cars were destroyed by fire last night. The cars were parked in Sint-Gillis, one of Brussels’ Muslim quarters. Sint-Gillis is the area surrounding Brussels’ Midi Station, where the Eurostar trains from London arrive. It is barely three kilometres from the European Parliament".
Gloriously of course nothing is officially being talked about here in the Palace of Vanity. Nothing official, however the coffee bars are ablaze with rumour.
Love it or Leave it
Tomorrow one of the French Presidential Candidates Philippe de Villiers for the MPF, (Mouvement pour la France),will be leading a demonstration against the riots afflicting his country (and now starting in Brussels, Denmark and Berlin) with a slogan
"LA FRANCE, TU L'AIMES OU TU LA QUITTES"
France - Love it or leave it.
The demonstration will take place at 14.15 outside the French Parliament. This follows a letter that was sent to the French Prime Minister, de Villepin
Rough translation,
"I demand that you take your response to the current situation to a new level, as it is now apparent that the country is engaging in something as near as possible to an ethnic civil war.
In the case of such a war, you must use the army.
You should use the army to use the army in the suburbs to conduct sweeps the apartments and cellars of those responsible to search for those weapons that have been used to fire at the police and other services over the past three nights.
He also called on the PM to cut all welfare payments to families in the suburbs who allow there children to go out at night to burn cars and buses".
Meanwhile small towns of less than 20,000 are now suffering car burnings and gangs of angry youth. Al Jezeera is describing this as the "New Intifada". Of course it is not that serious, but slowly6, maybe mainstream European opinion might start oppose serious questions about the policies that have allowed an alien mass into its midst. A mass that in its essentials is inimical to western tolerant culture.
"LA FRANCE, TU L'AIMES OU TU LA QUITTES"
France - Love it or leave it.
The demonstration will take place at 14.15 outside the French Parliament. This follows a letter that was sent to the French Prime Minister, de Villepin
Rough translation,
"I demand that you take your response to the current situation to a new level, as it is now apparent that the country is engaging in something as near as possible to an ethnic civil war.
In the case of such a war, you must use the army.
You should use the army to use the army in the suburbs to conduct sweeps the apartments and cellars of those responsible to search for those weapons that have been used to fire at the police and other services over the past three nights.
He also called on the PM to cut all welfare payments to families in the suburbs who allow there children to go out at night to burn cars and buses".
Meanwhile small towns of less than 20,000 are now suffering car burnings and gangs of angry youth. Al Jezeera is describing this as the "New Intifada". Of course it is not that serious, but slowly6, maybe mainstream European opinion might start oppose serious questions about the policies that have allowed an alien mass into its midst. A mass that in its essentials is inimical to western tolerant culture.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Colin Powell hated Europe
Interesting comments yesterday from a senior member of the Project for a New American Century. Discussing the EU’s military ambitions, he scoffed at he idea that Colin Powell had been in any way on Europe’s side. “Despite what the Europeans seemed to think, Powell was never in favour of the European position”, he said, “In fact he did not like Europe at all, he hated being NATO commander”.
This it seems was mainly down to the way that the EU members of NATO would come to every policy discussion with a pre-defined joint position, or in some cases a pre defined split, rather than arriving at the discussion table with any form of open mind. This would make strategy discussions dry and unproductive and merely statements of solid position.
This in turn would mean meetings were sterile and unproductive
This it seems was mainly down to the way that the EU members of NATO would come to every policy discussion with a pre-defined joint position, or in some cases a pre defined split, rather than arriving at the discussion table with any form of open mind. This would make strategy discussions dry and unproductive and merely statements of solid position.
This in turn would mean meetings were sterile and unproductive
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