Don’t want to be a pain in the ass but I’m really not looking forward to let an Arab state become member of the EU. The way I’m looking at the EU, is a new state, not some economic union or international organisation à la UN.

I don’t agree with the part of Russia and Turkey being European states (culturally). Too much differences. And Russia is way too big to become a member. I support the 12 new memberstates joining the EU, eventually even backward countries like Albania will become member, but Turkey is a problem on its own. I’d rather have Israel as a member than Turkey to be honest, let alone a Palestinian state, even though I think they should have a state on their own.

What I hope is relations between the EU and Israel will normalise, so that Israel can focus totally on its own domestic problems. And if Israel would become a NATO-member, I honestly believe they would feel a bit safer. The problem now is that there’s just one nation that’s supporting Israel’s actions, the US. Even the UK stands by the EU-position. Israel as a NATO-member wouldn’t feel itself that isolated anymore, ofcourse, that would mean that Europe should also take responsabilities in its NATO actions. Israel would be forced to take decissions multilaterally, but on the other hand, wouldn’t be left alone.

Israel

Sauron, the E in the EU stands for European. AFAIK, Israel, geographically at least, is not a European state. (Culturally Israel certainly is European, but so are Australia and Canada.) Neither is Turkey or Russia. Of these three countries, Israel is probably the only one which I think should have a chance to apply for a membership, though I don’t think Brussels is really waiting to get a new “borderconflict”, with the Palestinians.
But if we would allow Israel to join, next ones will be Morocco, Lybia …

Maybe a trade union between Israel and the EU would be a good start. Or a small military cooperationship to patrol the Mediterranian.

But what about Israel joining NATO. How would that help? Maybe that would scare of other states in the neighbourhood, so Israel would be able to live in an “artificial peace”. It’s not exactly the peace everyone has hoped for (like the Oslo-treaties in the early nineties), but it might prevent new suicide attacks.I think NATO could do a more useful job protecting Israeli borders. Has this actually ever been an idea, to let Israel join NATO?

Apart from that, Israel is already a member of many other, less important European organisations like the OSCE and the Council of Europe.

Phantom, I do read enough to know about California’s problem. I read about Davis and his bad decissions. I know California has problems with people moving towards other states because taxes are too high. I was not objecting to Arnie though, but Larry Flint.

Originally posted by PhantomII
Actually Garry, if you’d care to learn something, Arnold is actually in favor of gay rights. At least according to a huge write up about him in USA Today.

Geforce I love your reactions to all of this. You actually think you know just who is and who is not qualified to be the governor of a state you will never live in and for that matter a country you have nothing to do with, at least in terms of citizenship.

I’ve done quite a bit of reading up on Arnold’s history, and he’s not the muscle-bound idiot you are trying to make him out to be.

He’s very intelligent, has a degree in business and international economics, has had a pretty good career not only as an actor but as a political activist as well.

All in all I’d say he’s pretty qualified for the job. The state of California is in dire need of some help, and in more than just one or two ways.

If it makes you feel any better Arnold is a bit more towards the left end of the Republican party, than many of your “favorite” Republicans here in the Sattes.

That’s one reason (in addition ot the obvious love he and his wife have for one another) I don’t feel his decision to run has had serious repercussions with his wife’s family, who were always a bit more towards the right side of the Democratic side anyway, at least compared to certain Democratic politicians I can think of….

Personally I’m hoping for Arnold Scwarzenegger (pardon the spelling) to win. That state needs some serious help….

Germany indeed needs some economical reform. It used to be the “engine” of the EU, now it functions like an engine missing some important spare parts. Germany’s problem start with education. Compared to any other EU-country, Germany comes far behind, even behind some of the candidate memberstates like Poland and Hungary. Children are not obliged to go to school, they have a “free education”, which means they’ll go to school from 9 am till 1 o clock in the afternoon, then they thunder home to play videogames and watch cartoons. Eventually, Germans will become from the most productive the most lazy workers, beating the Greeks (sorry! :)).

If we are talking about economic powers we should have
1. US
2. EU (sorry folks, or at least the Eurozone)
3. Japan

1. Norway
2. Iceland
3. Australia
4. Belgium
5. Canada
6. Sweden + Finland + Denmark
7. United States
8. the Netherlands
9. United Kingdom
10. France

Well, they can base them on a US Carrier! Ofcourse, to make space, they should drop some Hornets into the sea, but who cares :D.

According to rumour he slept with quite a few directors and producers to get into the business…

Some things I really don’t want to know Garry. 😀