> It is necessary to show that the conflict between the "old Europe" and the
US not merely over tactics.
Time will tell. It's certainly a lot deeper than any of us suspected.
> Is the conflict between France and the US is so
fundamental to the expansion of French capitalism that France may attempt "a
Pearl Harbour"? Use or threaten to use nukes against the US?
Heavens no! That's not what I suggested. My point was that the US wasn't going to attempt to control its allies by direct use of militray force against them, so that the US naval presence in the Indian Ocean and the Mediterrean isn't a real lever against Europe or Japan. Nor are US bases on European or Japanese soil. The US needs subtler means os contriol, Control over Middle Eastern oil would be one such.
> As for Japan, Japan needs the US power in the Pacific to counter China and
N.Korea.
Sure, and?
>>(assuming such stranglehold is desirable from the US viewpoint.)
>Why assume it is not? Because the US is such good pals with Europe?
What is this entity called "Europe"? Does Europe exist is an independent centre of power today?
It's getting to be one. There'[s a definite slow progress towards variour form sof unification -- the EU, the Euro, etc. and the US's uniltaerlaism is creating a pressure towards an independent foreign policy/
>> One would also have to explain why Europe and Japan can not get their oil
>>supplies from Russia.
>Actually I have been speculating, since the recent nadir in US-European
>relations, that in the medium term, the current NATO may give way to a
Paris->Berlin-Moscow axis, based on Russian oil, German economic might, and
the >French Bomb (course the Russians have the Bomb too, but their
technology is >primitive).
> What do they lose if Saddam is removed? Chirac has suggested that Saddam
agree to go in exile.
Europe doesn't care about Sddam. It does car about keeping the US from setting up a satapy in the Middle East.
>If I were GWB and his advisers, I'd be seriously concerned about this. The
US >has antagonized Russia by cozying up to the 'stans; it has obviously
seriously >daamged relations with the French and ther Germans, and the
parties may see >that they have more in common with each other than with the
US, especially >inits current unilateralist mode.
> Surely France, Germany and Russia have many things common with the US,
differences over tactics not withstanding.
Are you seriously suggestoing that the US sayiong My Way or the Highway is just a difference over tactics?
>I wouldn't expect "old Europe" to try to completew ith the US as an
>imperialist >hyperpower, but rather to pursue a very independent path.
>Why does European capitalism require an independent path?
Because it doesn't want to be a wholly owned subsidary of US capitalsim. But you err if you reduce foreign policy disputes to economic ones. Politics matters here too.
jks
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