What is happening to Europe?

[Gavin Strachan]

The Visegrad Group (a post Soviet bloc alliance of Poland, Czecho/Slovakia and Hungary) recently announced the militarization of the alliance (apparently independent of, if still in cooperation with the existing NATO alliance).
After decades of clearly defined post WWII blocs the relative "stability" of Europe is seeing increasing changes
in the relationships of EU member states and surrounding countries... anyone here have some opinions or ideas
about how they see these changes affecting Europe in the foreseeable future?

This is more of a cooperation of forces for cost effective purposes as opposed to some kind of defensive or aggressive intent. They really do not have extensive military might (historically pretty poor showing) and I cannot imagine the Russians being overly concerned. NATO is mainly used in campaigns outside of Europe (peacekeeping stuff) now the cold war has ended.

[John McKenna]

The cold war has ended. But, when will the global warming, energy, water and other resource wars begin?
Europe has depleted its natural resources and will have to compete economically, politically and ultimately militarily, perhaps, for its share of the world's remaining stocks in the future. No use relying on our American friends to 'save' us next time.

[John McKenna]

Gavin Strachan >NATO is mainly used outside Europe (peacekeeping stuff)...<
Yes it is, but is it peacekeeping? Or has NATO become the US's UN-sanctioned war-making arm (e.g. Libya, Aghanistan & Yugoslavia)?
And, when UN authority cannot be cajoled it makes a coalition of 'willing' allies (some members of NATO) as in Iraq.
Solitudinem faciunt pacem appellant said Tacitus of Roman imperialism. In these times it could be said of the US/NATO that they declare a free-fire zone and call that peace.

[George Szaszvari]

.... No use relying on our American friends to 'save' us next time.

The way things are going here in the US, the American friends will have their hands full with their own problems. All those who think that Obama and his cronies are benign do-gooders are living in la-la land. And you thought Bush was bad? Check this out.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/government- ... f-law.html

[PeterTurland]

.... No use relying on our American friends to 'save' us next time.

The way things are going here in the US, the American friends will have their hands full with their own problems. All those who think that Obama and his cronies are benign do-gooders are living in la-la land. And you thought Bush was bad? Check this out.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/government- ... f-law.html

Back off George, you seem to think you know the context of which you speak, I have my doubts.

Perhaps you might attempt to explain why, the majority of America disagrees with evolution, as the process by which we all came to exist?

[Rob Thompson]

America currently has or will have soon NDAA (National Defence Authorisation Act), SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and Protect IP, all of which look set to make it very dangerous to live under US foreign policy and use the internet.

[PeterTurland]

My gerbils are better than your gerbils.

[George Szaszvari]

.... No use relying on our American friends to 'save' us next time.

The way things are going here in the US, the American friends will have their hands full with their own problems. All those who think that Obama and his cronies are benign do-gooders are living in la-la land. And you thought Bush was bad? Check this out.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/government- ... f-law.html

Back off George, you seem to think you know the context of which you speak, I have my doubts.

Perhaps you might attempt to explain why, the majority of America disagrees with evolution, as the process by which we all came to exist?

I noticed that within seconds of some postings you have rattled out replies (the value of which I leave to others to judge.)
On this, and at least one other posting I've submitted, I've returned straight to the posting to check it for any necessary editing before allowing it to stand (even then it might need later editing) but lo and behold, you have already posted your deeply considered reply!! Now with a "command" to back off
What's eating you, Peter?

[PeterTurland]

The way things are going here in the US, the American friends will have their hands full with their own problems. All those who think that Obama and his cronies are benign do-gooders are living in la-la land. And you thought Bush was bad? Check this out.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/government- ... f-law.html

Back off George, you seem to think you know the context of which you speak, I have my doubts.

Perhaps you might attempt to explain why, the majority of America disagrees with evolution, as the process by which we all came to exist?

I noticed that within seconds of some postings you have rattled out replies (the value of which I leave to others to judge.)
On this, and at least one other posting I've submitted, I've returned straight to the posting to check it for any necessary editing before allowing it to stand (even then it might need later editing) but lo and behold, you have already posted your deeply considered reply!! Now with a "command" to back off
What's eating you, Peter?

Christmas and the incessant demand of insurance companies, that we fund their status driven brainwashing, to only think economics is about money, instead of being purely about resource management, the fact that around a fifth of our species suffers from an inadequate diet and unclean water, is an insult to science, logic and Christmas.

[George Szaszvari]

America currently has or will have soon NDAA (National Defence Authorisation Act), SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and Protect IP, all of which look set to make it very dangerous to live under US foreign policy and use the internet.

...as well as the dangers of living under US home policy in such circumstances! Hmm, funny how I recollect other ambitious
politicans (some still in living memory) using similar propaganda claims of benevolence for all (except the designated scapegoats)
to dupe the proletariat into helping them achieve totalitarian control.

[John McKenna]

Thought it was going to be a quiet run up to Christmas on the EC forum but the cat's out of the bag now.
PS Would like to say here that Rob Thompson was right in another thread about rubber bullets - found out that baton rounds have been used 60 times in the UK in the last 4 years!

[Arshad Ali]

All those who think that Obama and his cronies are benign do-gooders are living in la-la land.

Who is that stupid?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Thought it was going to be a quiet run up to Christmas on the EC forum but the cat's out of the bag now.
PS Would like to say here that Rob Thompson was right in another thread about rubber bullets - found out that baton rounds have been used 60 times in the UK in the last 4 years!

I was going to mention the football stories involving Suarez and Terry and see what happens, but then thought better of it. Oh. Oops. PS. Can anyone explain to me how reporting in the media can prejudice proceedings in a magistrates' court? I though prejudicial reporting only related to trials involving juries?

[George Szaszvari]

All those who think that Obama and his cronies are benign do-gooders are living in la-la land.

Who is that stupid?

A large proportion of the US electorate, perhaps?

[PeterTurland]

In the midst of all this egotistic argumentifing I have won two games of chess, oo la la.

[Event "FICS rated standard game"]
[Site "FICS, San Jose, California USA"]
[Date "2011.12.21"]
[Time "09:38:40"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Edthra"]
[Black "Korzybski"]
[WhiteElo "1715"]
[BlackElo "1440"]
[TimeControl "1800+10"]
[Mode "ICS"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Nb3 Nf6 7. Bc4 Be7
8. O-O O-O 9. f4 b5 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. f5 Nbd7 12. Qf3 Bc6 13. Bd2 Qc7 14. Nd5
Nxd5 15. exd5 Bb7 16. Na5 Nf6 17. Nc6 Bxc6 18. dxc6 d5 19. Be2 Qxc6 20. c3
e4 21. Qe3 Bc5
{White resigns} 0-1

and

[Event "FICS rated standard game"]
[Site "FICS, San Jose, California USA"]
[Date "2011.12.21"]
[Time "10:44:20"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Korzybski"]
[Black "edsvoboda"]
[WhiteElo "1456"]
[BlackElo "1584"]
[TimeControl "1800+10"]
[Mode "ICS"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bg5 e6 5. e3 Be7 6. Bd3 b6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qc2
Bb7 9. a3 c5 10. b4 cxd4 11. exd4 dxc4 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Bxc4 Bxf3 14. gxf3
Rc8 15. Qd3 O-O 16. Nd2 Qc7 17. Rfc1 Qf4 18. Nf1 Rfd8 19. Rd1 Qc7 20. Rac1
Qd7 21. Bb5 Qd6 22. Ng3 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Qxd4 24. Qxd4 Rxd4 25. Rc8+ Rd8 26. Rc7
Rd1+ 27. Kg2 Nd5 28. Rxa7 Rc1 29. Ne4 Rb1 30. Bd3 Rd1 31. Bc4 f6 32. Bxd5
Rxd5 33. Rxe7 e5 34. Re6 b5 35. Rd6 Rxd6
{Black resigns} 1-0