EU planning to 'own and operate’ spy drones and air force
Wow, so now you claim to know my mind better than myself - outstanding!
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You don't like the ''fella'' thing do you Roland
Never mind always a pleasure to hear from you.
Last edited by TomJoad; 2nd Aug 2013 at 09:35.
Golf:
The UK can in or out of EU as UK so desires, that doesn't necessarily change the Transatlantic link, nor bilateral relations. I am not sure I understand the assertion of "enthusiasm" in the US for the UK to join an EU that is a superstate composed of what are now member states. Where is that enthusism rooted? Do you have any links? 
Worried? Given the wide variety of nations with whom we've worked over the years, I don't see that as a worry. Figure out mutual interests and press on. It would save us a bit of money if NATO were to disband, though part of the cost of that would be loss of access to some geography and nicely located bases.
That said: an old history prof had an interesting analytical model that showed "culturally diverse" empires as self-imploding.
His examples were:
Roman Empire
Ottoman Empire
Soviet Empire
Austro Hungarian Empire
Very likely, in his view: The United States. (He framed the point, due to size of US being about the size of Europe ... with America as an Empire).
Yes, and the core problem with that is locational, see above. Even so, the rhetoric for NATO to no longer exist, once the Wall fell, began in the US and still has its proponents. Not a lot of them, at present, but that theme has not disappeared. The out of area ops are a mixed bag, in terms of results, the core advantage being preformed coalition protocols and standards, as well as some core C4I already in existence. That, and habitual relationships.
Economics and politics overlap a lot. How positive has the economic integration been? Doesn't that depend on whom you ask? Seems to me, from the outside, a very mixed bag. As above, the Bundesbank acted as the economic anchor for the great Euro move (and I seem to recall about 11 currencies were at that point already indexed to the Deutschmark anyway, to include the Italian lira ...)
So, what acts as the political anchor? I'd be interested to have that explained.
Without that anchor (polotical and cultural) the military structure that serves that new political entity cannot arise.
You seem to acknowledge most of what I wrote but my secondary point was that the US enthusiasm for the UK being in/staying in the EU may have the intentention of coercing us into staying neatly put.
Be that as it may, what the US should be worried about is a politically and militarily unified Europe that is culturally, economically and aspirationally diverse.
That said: an old history prof had an interesting analytical model that showed "culturally diverse" empires as self-imploding.
His examples were:
Roman Empire
Ottoman Empire
Soviet Empire
Austro Hungarian Empire
Very likely, in his view: The United States. (He framed the point, due to size of US being about the size of Europe ... with America as an Empire).
It will be Defence/Warfare by committee and I shouldn't count on us getting to the right match at the right time; and if we did, expect lots of pleading for injury time. You could find yourselves on your own, in practical terms.
I personally see closer integration of Europe by the politically smart buggers as a catalyst for greater internal unease and, perhaps, public insurrection within the component Nations. How stable and secure would that be?
So, what acts as the political anchor? I'd be interested to have that explained.
Without that anchor (polotical and cultural) the military structure that serves that new political entity cannot arise.
Last edited by Lonewolf_50; 5th Aug 2013 at 15:14.
If we can stop the transatlantic bickering for a while, and get back to the point....
I personally, and I suspect the vast majority of its citizens, do not want to see EU armed forces or police. The only people who wish to see this come about are a small number of politicians and intelligentsia who see it as just another step on the road to the construction of their EU super state. They have a habit of ignoring the wishes of the citizens (after all, they don't know what's in their best interest), and such inconveniences as votes that go against them - working on the principle that they will keep asking the question until they get the answer they want.
I personally, and I suspect the vast majority of its citizens, do not want to see EU armed forces or police. The only people who wish to see this come about are a small number of politicians and intelligentsia who see it as just another step on the road to the construction of their EU super state. They have a habit of ignoring the wishes of the citizens (after all, they don't know what's in their best interest), and such inconveniences as votes that go against them - working on the principle that they will keep asking the question until they get the answer they want.
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I suspect that if they (the euro intelligentsia) really push for this then it would seal the deal for a UK in/out referenda. Perhaps we should support the idea then afterall
Last edited by TomJoad; 5th Aug 2013 at 17:17.
You forgot to mention the European Air Transport Command (EATC) just across the carpark from MCCE that is controlling combined German, Dutch, Belgian and French AT assets (soon to be joined by Spain and possibly Italy) and doing it very well. So well in fact that 2Gp could learn a thing or two and has been recently visited by the RAF to look at potential possibilities.
I had the misfortune to speak to a certain Sqn Ldr in FH at a secret AT base in Oxfordshire a year ago. When mentioning EATC, his reply was 'Never heard of them, they can't be that important'.... Oh really.....
I had the misfortune to speak to a certain Sqn Ldr in FH at a secret AT base in Oxfordshire a year ago. When mentioning EATC, his reply was 'Never heard of them, they can't be that important'.... Oh really.....
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You forgot to mention the European Air Transport Command (EATC) just across the carpark from MCCE that is controlling combined German, Dutch, Belgian and French AT assets (soon to be joined by Spain and possibly Italy) and doing it very well. So well in fact that 2Gp could learn a thing or two and has been recently visited by the RAF to look at potential possibilities.
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Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50
Where is that enthusism rooted? Do you have any links?
EU exit would put US trade deal at risk, Britain warned | World news | The Guardian
Britain could miss out on billions of pounds of U.S. investment if it leaves the EU, Obama officials warn | Mail Online
US publicly voices concerns over Britain leaving EU - Telegraph
Daily Telegraph
The Obama administration has warned British officials that if the UK leaves Europe it will exclude itself from a US-EU trade and investment partnership potentially worth hundreds of billions of pounds a year, and that it was very unlikely that Washington would make a separate deal with Britain.
The Obama administration has warned British officials that if the UK leaves Europe it will exclude itself from a US-EU trade and investment partnership potentially worth hundreds of billions of pounds a year, and that it was very unlikely that Washington would make a separate deal with Britain.
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Finally someone has come up with a sensible use for drones
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-11...music-festival
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-11...music-festival
