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You insinuate that money is the root of the conflict - it's not. This is part of the Circular Discussions (tm) on this thread. And, I find it very, very insulting. Especially in light of the fact that, contrary to your assertion, many European countries were best economically served by arguing for maintaining the status quo.
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I missed that when I made my last post - and it's worth answering before I abandon this thread.
It was Thoran that made the charge that France, China, and Russia were driven by money in their decision to block US/UK attempts to gain UN authorisation for military action in Iraq - I merely stated that European attitudes towards money are not the same as the US.
Our cultures *do* have a different set of values in that respect - the EU is overwhelmingly left-wing in its thinking and this is demonstrated in its social and foreign policy.
In other words, its wrong to judge us by US values. If you read my post as insinuating that the US motivations for this war were dollar driven - you'd be wrong.
However, I apologise if this is the message that you received: put it down to my poor writing skills.
*I do not doubt the US's good intent as far as Iraq is concerned - but I am worried that the methods being chosen are unwise, insofar as the consequences will come back to haunt the US for years to come.*
With regards to European interests being best served by maintaining the status quo - this is not true either. Colin Powell and President Bush both stated during the initial discussions for military action, that countries which supported him on this issue would be unlikely to lose any existing trade contracts - whereas countries which opposed him might suffer.
The carrot and threat was quite real and clear.
Vote with us and lose nothing, vote against us and be excluded.
Under those circumstances, the charge that you levied towards the EU is really unfair.
Finally, you can call me a 'EuroTwit', but I'm British - and your ally. (Not everyone living in Amsterdam is Dutch. 7,000 US citizens in this city too!) I consider the US a very old friend. A friend that got mugged a couple of years ago and is still suffering from the experience. And I'm concerned about that old friend because he isn't himself these days. And his strange behaviour is beginning to drive away his friends and attract enemies.
And I'm concerned - as a good friend should be...
[ 04-04-2003, 08:27 PM: Message edited by: Skunk ]