1. Tamar said:

"That is the real price of the refusal of the United States government to destroy the Wahhabi leadership of Arabia and eradicate its evil influences throughout the world."

Yep! Sadly, as the Saudis have noted publicly on several occasions, they have nothing to fear from those at the "White Tent" in Washington D.C.

2. AV said:

This is a comment on the whole article at isralert.com

As much as the idea of a European world power is appealing to the Europeans, I disagree with the outline that you give. Primarily for the reason that the economic situation in Europe, coupled with the rise of a fascist state in Russia will not allow a strong united Europe. Specifically, I direct you to the current state of the dollar that you mention. In actuality, the fact that the euro is rising against the dollar is a very bad thing for Europeans, who gather most of their positive economic development from exports. If you recall your aggregate expendature graph, you will note what an important part exports play. Almost as importantly is the value of the dollar. No matter what you say, the dollar, even though falling in value, is still the main method of monetary exchanges around the world. Due to this, while American exports become more appealing due to their supposed lower costs, Asia and Africa are turning away from Europe to get their high-end products. Yes, the US isn't the super power that it was in the beginning of 2000, but saying that unless the US decides to use nuclear weapons against Iran and Muslim "holy" sites, it will fall to Europe, is a slightly exagerated claim.

The tactical decision for the US is to take a secure stand on promoting the anti-Islamic policies started in Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. The last being added to the ranks of anti-Islamic terrorism fighters within the last few weeks, with the tragic murder of a beloved film director. I believe that the Bush administration understands that, and will not fall victim to British aspirations in the Middle East, and will soon abandon the unfortunates in Saudi Arabia. The best case scenario is a Toynbee-esque falling of the Islamic culture, but this can only happen in our dreams right now. Until that comes to be the actual situation, the US has to take a strong stand on terrorism, and not succumb to pacification pressures (mainly from the EU right now).
Finally I'll address the center of your argument, the new European Constitution. The Draft Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe was "adopted by consensus by the Eropean Convention on 13 June and 10 July 2003" (CONV 850/03). So, this constitution's draft has been in the works for at least a year, and the actual idea has been there since the establishment of the EU. What makes you think that another movement towards this constitution will actually create it? More importantly, what makes you think that if a constitution is created that it will act as a unifier. Remember, old wounds don't heal quickly. France remembers Alsace-Lorraine, Greece is every day reminded about Albania, Italy every day cries for a part of the Duchy of Savoy, not to mention Austria's desire for pan-European grandeur. Remember that history does shape the future, and before this 25 state block will design a single foreign policy, pigs will fly. Another historical example, remember that Austria-Hungary fell because of the Dual Monarchy structure, because Tisza refused to go to war, because decisions were not unanimous, the country, a small portion of Europe was not unites. And now again we have Austria and Hungary togher. We have more than two dozen former rivals on the board again, and I don't think that a Bismarckian European Consitution will lead them to world domination.

Now that I have gotten that off my chest, I do want to complement the lucid style of presentation. Also, from the many valid points made, most enjoyable was definitely the comment about Yassir Arafat being "a freak finally dying from his own indulgences in young boys". On this graceful note, I end.

(cross commented on the Isralert full article)

3. BobW said:

I agree with Avi.

I will add that the EU cannot avoid the US-PR China relationship involving America's largest marketplace in the world (to include financial markets, eg Wall Street, LaSalle Street).

Plus, the EU engines, France and Germany, are in decay because of population decline.The EU is and will continue to witness its geopolitical shrinkage because of its declining population.

The "REAL" meaning of the US body bags from Iraq is that the US military is restructuring. Under current trends, the US and PR China will be the only powers with advanced-level military machines.

Kol tuv,
BobW

4. Ptah said:

A mild disagreement with BobW: I don't think Red China has an advanced-level military machine. I think they will resort to the human-wave tactics that brought them temporary success in Korea, electing to overwhelm our technologically superior forces with massed firepower and massed charges. A standard load-out to a Marine includes only 300 rounds of ammo, so the standard taunt issued to our men in Korea ("We have more people than you have bullets") probably will be true.

The key to realizing this is demographics: couple the one-child policy with ultrasound and easy abortion, the cultural preference for a male heir, and what you get is a statistically significant excess of males over females. This poses a problem for which the solution of putting them into the army and sending them in massed charges is obvious. Remember, they don't have the respect for life we have, which translates to the US preference of using technology rather than flesh in our military.

Any kind of work the US does to develop technology to counteract the RC advantage would involve being able to inflict mass death on such a scale that cries of Geneva convention violations would be immediately raised.

5. BobW said:

Hi Ptah,

Since Deng, China's PLA has been downsizing and upgrading. Although not completed, it is at a near high tech level with high quality skill levels.

For 4 decades PRC has been a nuclear power and this has since transferred from strategic forces down to infantry units.

With a small PLA, China's People's Armed Police neatly fits into the national security pparatus.

China buys the best technology with the second generation being local versions.

Besides nuclear and traditional conventional, they field all the hybreds, eg protection against biologicals, chemicals, etc.

China's demographics are in good shape for the next 20-25 years. Then, after this quarter of a century, you are right. The population is projected to contract. I believe one of their plans is to absorb population from sphere of influence areas, eg Vietnam.

Kol tuv,
BobW