France to Rejoin NATO ?

[tomahawk6]

Essentially France wants NATO without the US which of course would morph into the EU Ministry of Defense. The problem with a EU military it has very little means to deploy beyond the borders of the EU.
I suspect they would also have a hard time logisitcally to deploy forces to other parts of Europe.

If there is NATO why should there be a EU military ? What does Sarkozy see as a fitting job for a French General ? I am not optimistic about the future of NATO because of the poor state of the militaries of the member states. They seem reluctant to put their troops in harms way. As a result most of the heavy lifting is left to the ABCA countries which I dont think is fair. NATO has outlived its purpose. The Russian threat to Europe is gone. Lets move on.


http://www.iht.com/bin/print.php?id=7613101

Sarkozy has been dropping hints that France wants to return to the military command of NATO more than four decades after de Gaulle abruptly abandoned that wing of the alliance.

In the interview, Sarkozy announced for the first time two conditions that would have to be met beforehand: American acceptance of an independent European military capability and a leading French role in NATO's command structures "at the highest level."

 

[GAP]

If North America ops out of NATO, within 2 decades Russia will dominate Europe. Already there are signs of Russia having far more influence either through quiet intimidation or supply of resources (gas) than is healthy....we may very well have to go the way of ABCA

 

[tomahawk6]

I think Putin has figured out the way to dominate Europe is with its oil/gas. If they shut off the pipeline you will see many countries tow the Russian line. At least that is one possible scenario.

 

[aesop081]

The Russian threat to Europe is gone. Lets move on.

The RAF would likely disagree with you

 

[armyvern]

Let France have at 'er; I'm all for ABCA.

 

[Red 6]

I would also disagree that Russia is no longer a threat. They have been flexing their muscle and will do so more frequently as they get more cash from oil and gas revenues. It is a major mistake to assume that 1) The Russians are our friends/allies and that 2) the North Atlantic Alliance has outlived it usefulness/relevance.

 

[George Wallace]

Let France have at 'er; I'm all for ABCA.

That may mean that ABCAN may be sorted out quicker than anticipated.

 

[karl28]

CDN Aviator  

I have to agree with you there about the RAF thinking Russia is a threat  .    I think and this is only my opinion nothing else but I feel with the articles I have read on army.ca about  Russia reforming its military.   I think we very well could be on  door steps of another cold war .

 

[retiredgrunt45]

I'd like to see how thats going to happen, when the country is bankrupted.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/09/21/ap4144493.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/24/wfra124.xml

PARIS - France is bankrupt because of chronic budget deficits, the country's prime minister said Friday, pledging to balance the budget before the end of his term.

"The truth is that I am the head of a state that is in a state of bankruptcy due to its financing plan," Prime Minister Francois Fillon said in the Corsican city of Calvi. Fillon answers to President Nicolas Sarkozy, but heads the French government.

"I am the head of a state that has been in chronic deficit for 15 years," the conservative Fillon remarked, adding, "I am the head of a state that hasn't voted a balanced budget in 25 years."

"This cannot last," he concluded, saying he is obliged to bring the budget into balance before 2012, when France next holds presidential elections.

Sarkozy said he would try to bring the budget deficit down to 2.4 percent this year and erase France's annual deficit by 2010 - a goal shared by the 13 nations that use the euro - but says he cannot guarantee it until 2012.

Sarkozy says he needs more time to implement sweeping reforms to France's labor system. Other European leaders have expressed frustration at the delay and called for more French austerity.


Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

 

[Kirkhill]

I agree with Red 6 and GAP.  Russia is very much a player in Europe.  In some respects moreso now than during the Cold War.  I think they have finally figured out the answer to Stalin's rhetorical question "How many battalions does the Pope have?".    They can be a lot more effective using "capitalism" against us and simultaneously manipulating public opinion - an area they are entirely too well versed in.

The real battle going on in for the Turkish gas and oil line.  If that line can be completed with a supply from Iraq, Saudi and the Gulf States then Russia doesn't get to be the only "secure" supplier of hydrocarbons to Europe.  As noted elsewhere earlier: the longer that the mid-east instability continues, the more money the Russians make and the more influence and control they buy.

As to the French and the Germans - Greening is making a virtue of necessity.  They have no secure energy supplies.  They are already client states of Russia. The French are fans of central electricity and nuclear power because they have no other options.  (80% of their Electrical Power comes from 58 nuclear plants - We generate something like 25%-30% of our electricity from Nukes and a like amount from Hydro)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/06/60minutes/main2655782.shtml

France aspires to the role of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany - the Medicis.  For over two hundred years they peddled influence in Rome on behalf of the Bourbons, squabbling with the Sforzas of Milan acting on behalf of their clients, the Hapsburgs.  France now aims to regain more influence to peddle.  NATO is the Target.  Russia is the Customer.

The good news is that this is not the end of the world.  We know this because while the location of the Court has changed over the millenia the rules of the game haven't and we are still playing - ie we're still here.  The bad news is that we are still playing the same game.