SLSL, 'UtR' Who won?

[Mutualcode at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/23/2003 8:56:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
paul.mackin at verizon.net writes:


> This would be the U.S. of the present, not of a hundred years ago I
> guess..

True.

> 
> It's been a long time since European rivalry has focused on the
> territorial division of Africa. Now it's over who has more influence
> with the U.S. France thinks it can do better as a dutch uncle (not
> afraid to object to wrong U.S. moves) than as a sycophant as Britain
> tends to be seen as.. Whether its recent stance is working very well
> seems to be in some doubt but time will tell.

It's quite impressive how well the original EU countries are holding
together. I would guess that stable democracies in France and 
Germany have something to do with that.

> 
> An important rivalry between nations is in the world opinion war.
> African opinion and opinion in the Arab/Muslin world is where France is
> presently doing far than Britain   
> 
> 
Blair is out on a limb. I think he's calculating that Britain's influence is
maximized by staying close to the U.S. Both France and Germany are
more dominant from a European perspective, but it's no shame to be
dwarfed by the U.S., since everyone else is, as well. The risk for Blair
is a military intervention that becomes messy. France and Germany 
have insulated themselves from that risk.

Germany is the most unique voice this go-round. With no Soviet 
threat, and bolstered politically by re-unification, it is freer to go
it's own way than it has been since WW II. So far, I am impressed 
by the Germans. They have gained in stature. They are overcoming
their guilt, but not denying it.

respectfully
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