RE: SCREW NATO — Old Europe responds

Hey Frank,

<<3) The demand for military help from Turkey wasn’t presented as coming from Turkey around here, but from the US. To be more precise, it was presented like this “The US requested support from NATO to protect Turkey in case of a war against Iraq”.>>

Ok, but after this US-demand Turkey itself made the same demand and the Belgian reaction stayed the same.

4) No country has the right to tell us what we have to do, especially in such dubious situations!

Ok, but Frande, Belgium and Germany won’t take their responsbility in making the world a safer place. The US and UK are doing that and what are WE doing ? We do not only fail to participate but we also are obstructing them.

And personally, I’m not backing a such demand in such conditions: Why? Because there is no war at the moment, and moving troops and hardware over there would be an act of war. If Turkey is attacked, let’s move. They are part of nato, and have to be defended. If the UN says to nato to enforce peace in Iraq, let’s go.

If Turkey is attacked it is already too late. Please tell me Frank, if Iraq fires the first day of the war a few scuds at Turkey in what way will you stop those knowing that the Dutch/German are still in western Europe because we obstructed that operation ?

You know Frank, it is not only that. It is also giving aur country a very bad name in the eyses of our allies. They ask some help from us and we refuse. What is in that case the point in staying in the alliance. I guess most of the British here still remember the stupid error (as stupid as this one now) we made in 1991 when we refused to deliver ammo to the UK troops in the Gulf. Do you really think they forget something like this ??? In case you don’t remember it was Guy Coeme who was the fool in 91 and afterwards we had to apologise.

greetings
mark

RE: SCREW NATO — Old Europe responds

Even if Israel would allow the Palestines to have their own state that doesn’t mean an end of Arab agression towards the Jew state. It seems that in Arab TV-journals they don’t even mention the name Israel but talk about ‘the enemy’. A very worrying thought if you ask me.

Palestine or not, the Arab population would remain hostile against Israel. Giving the occupied territories back would make Israel much too vulnerable against a combined Arab attack. The only reason Israel still exists today is thanks to israels military force, just like NATO’s miltary might stopped the Warchaupact from invading. It wasn’t the UN that stopped the Arabs in 48,67 and 73.

The UN simply doesn’t work. May I end with this ; NATO YES, SCREW THE UN

mark

RE: SCREW NATO — Old Europe responds

Our prime-minister is on his way to New York, not only to talk with Koffi Annan but also (especially) to talk with US investors to invest in our econmy. Well, you know what to do 🙂

As for the US veto concerning the Israeli problem ; this people has the right to exist so protection of the US stays necessary. As you know, geforce, we europeans are not as good in that, looking at what we have done during WW II.
Can I point out to you that when Saddam is gone finding a solution for the Palestinians would be easier knowing that Saddam finances a lot of the terrorism hitting Israel. Ahum… So in one sence or another we are also fighting this war to help the palestinians 😀 (sarcastic)

mark

RE: so funny…

First this ; as a Belgian I wish to apologyse to the Americans here for the mistakes are government makes these days. And though opinionpolls state that a great majority of our population is against war I guess most of them don’t accept this big error made by a minister of foreign affairs who is from the frenchspeaking part of the country.

When looking at the Dutchspeaking newspapers of today most of them are posing big questions at the belgian standpoint while Frenchspeaking papers are supporting the government in its decision.

I must say I was always a bit reluctant to support the US/UK in an attack against Iraq cause of the great risques involved for the worldeconomy. Nobody needes an oncontrolable escalation of the conflict resulting in high oilprices but I have to admit military action is the only effective measure.

If it is up to me economical santions may be taken against our country. I don’t care, it will teach us a valuable lesson. With an economy based on export and the worldtrade we will be on our knees very quickly.

Mark

RE: Good books??

You should try ‘Total War 2006’ written by Simon Pearson who is a former Buccaneer and Tornado navigator and became later on flight commander of 12 sq at Lossiemouth.

In short the book gives a good idea of possible wars to come. NATO deals with a United Islamic World lead by some sort of Osama Bin Laden. BTW the book was written in 1999 thus before the september 11 events.

Mark

PS ; in the book the author predicts that France won the Worldcup in 2002. As you can see soccer is as difficult to predict as futur worldconflicts.