IP: more on Is Europe irrelevant?

[Dave Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Title: approve:imac more on  Is Europe irrelevant?

------ Forwarded Message
From: "Liam  Hemmings" <liam@lhemmings.fsbusiness.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2002 16:59:45 -0000
To: <farber@cis.upenn.edu>
Subject: Re: Is Europe irrelevant?

I'd doubt the veracity of some of the article, it's facts are a bit wonky at times.
 
For example:
 
1. the UK is not the EU's biggest defense spender; it's France.
 
2. UK's involvement marginal? The SAS were the first into Afghanistan. The UK supplies in-flight refuelling to the  US as USAF planes are not compatible with USN. Also supplies photo recon. MI5 agents are on the ground.
 
3.  Remember, The UK shares all military intelligence (and pretty high quality stuff) with the US and Canada and not it's EU neighbours.
 
Maybe the US needs to remember that the people of Europe, particularly the UK have been pretty much unflinching in their support. Personally, as a Brit I feel I have much more in common with the US and its people than I do any other nation.
 
Perhaps the UK should look to joining NAFTA ? But perhaps we need a little credit from the US every now and again - and less sniping at us because we're a small country and you saved us from the Nazis. We are an ally that would never support anti-US terrorism and will put our lives on the line helping the US. But I ask you how many Americans used to donate to NORAID which supported for example the bombing of a mall near my home?