Geoffrey Collier

The USA would like to consolidate the break-up of the former Russian satelitte
states, by integrating them into NATO. With many of those same states now members of the EU, what the American's propose, would merely be an extension of that process; thus allowing them military participation in NATO.
From whom could opposition to that plan be anticipated? Well, we now know,
Germany.

The proposed admission, by the USA, of the Ukraine (not yet in the EU,) and Georgia, into NATO, has produced a rift which could result in a split, if not the disintegration, of NATO. Both those two countries have pro-western governments, and feel that being part of a military alliance, under-written by the United States, would be to the benefit of all.

That opinion is not shared by Germany, who believes it would provoke anger in Russia and that must not be allowed to happen. Chancellor Angela Merkel, argues that the American plan would be to the political and economic detriment of Germany and that must be avoided.

America, with problems of her own, may take the opportunity to withdraw back to Fortress America. Why should she continue to fund the lion's share of NATO's military budget, while enduring German interference of this kind?
Would Britain's military interests be served by being a member of an EU military alliance, dominated by Germany, with antagonistic motives towards the United States?. We must make it clear, that any military alliance, intended only to serve Germany's interests, can hold no benefit for us.

This must be seen within a broader picture. France makes no attempt to conceal her dislike, and contempt, for the United Sates. When the Euro was launched, the French Finance Minister, gleefully proclaimed; now the EU can declare economic war on the United States.

We are not discussing cultural differences, a few nationalists getting excited after too many drinks; we are discussing very pronounced feelings which greatly influence the national economic, political and military policies, of the EU's two largest member states.

With the world economy facing its worst finacial crisis since 1929, we should extricate ourselves from the, 'European scene' as far as practicable. Are we to become locked into a politico-economic grouping, whose priorities we do not share and whose objectives are not our own?