January 21, 2003
AT THE YANKEES' SIDE OR THE FROGS' FEET?:
We must choose between Europe and America: EU leaders are deeply suspicious of the gusto with which Mr Blair has aligned himself with George Bush (Nick Clegg, 22 January 2003, Times of London)There are many reasons for the sudden change in the UK's standing in the EU. Some are self-inflicted. British ministers have a grating habit of overstating their case in EU debates. Gordon Brown is famous for lecturing his counterparts into submission. There has been too much baseless hype that the Convention on the Future of Europe, chaired by ValŽry Giscard d'Estaing, is "going Britain's way".Other reasons are beyond the British Government's control. In particular, the ruthless brilliance with which M. Chirac has moved to capitalise on the German government's weakness to reoccupy the EU's centre stage could not have been foreseen. Last week's Franco-German proposal for a dual presidency of the EU, one representing national governments and the other the European Commission, was only the latest in a succession of proposals shaped by M. Chirac's determination to set the EU agenda.
But there are two more profound reasons for the plunge in Britain's status within the EU that should give Tony Blair real cause for concern. First, there is the euro. Last month, the Portuguese Prime Minister, Jose Durao Barroso, voiced in public what EU heads of government have long whispered in private – why should the UK be granted a leadership role as long as it is unwilling to sign up to one of the central tenets of EU membership? As long as EU leaders believed Tony Blair was merely biding his time before putting the issue to a referendum, there was sufficient goodwill to forgive Britain's procrastination. But, as the Continent looks on with perplexity at the gridlock between the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, fears have deepened that Mr Blair has missed his chance.
And then, most important of all, there is Britain's special relationship with the United States. It is difficult to capture the conflicting reactions which Blair's ostentatious loyalty to George Bush's foreign policy elicits within the rest of the EU.
Admiration, to some extent, that there is a European leader trying to exercise a restraining influence on the US administration's apparent unilateral instincts. Envy, too, at the effortlessness with which the London and Washington establishments communicate with each other. But, above all, a deep suspicion that the gusto with which Mr Blair has aligned himself with Mr Bush demonstrates that the UK's reflex is to choose America over Europe. De Gaulle, it is muttered, was right. British Atlanticism will always stand in the way of a true commitment to Europe.
That is the choice England faces: subservience to the Franco-German axis in a United Europe or near-equal status with the U.S. in an Anglosphere. It still seems improbable that the majority of Brits would willingly choose the former. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 21, 2003 4:52 PM
I really don't know if there's any prospect of an "alliance" with the US since most US pols seem pretty apathetic about it.
Posted by: M Ali Choudhury at January 21, 2003 4:51 PMWell, I'm a brit.
At the moment, there are more important things to worry about than
our 'place in Europe', or the ramblings of a Portuguese prime
minister. It is not 'business as usual' and has not been for over a
year. Rather than think in narrow political terms, I am concerned
with protecting myself, my country and everything I believe in. This
is the first type of 'identity' politics I have ever really felt.
The identity I mean is the 'West' (as defined by Huntington and
Scruton), and this includes Europe. For sure I feel closer and more
sympathetic with the 'anglosphere' subset of this civilisation, but I
would hate to lose any of it. I am not a 'New' Labour supporter but I
am full of respect for Tony Blair's forthrightness when it comes to
this fight.
The things that worry me more than the EU just now is the possibility
that, before long (if not already), there will be enough Taliban
soldiers granted ayslum to form a batallion. About 5% of me is, even
now, 'proud' of the fact that again, even now, my country has the
humanity to do this. It's almost ironic in it's affirmation of a
desire for good that the 'West' can possess, almost uniquely. The
other 95% of me is appalled though.
Alastair Sherringham
London
UK
Ali: Most US pols couldn't find Kosovo on a map until they had constituents calling them from there.
Posted by: Tom Roberts at January 21, 2003 8:26 PMTR:
Well OK, but I haven't heard much support for such a scheme (e.g. British admission to NAFTA) from the Heritage, Hoover and Cato think tanks nor from National Review which is where most right-wing US pols get their ideas from.
Probably a non-starter until we get really sick of Europe and Europe becomes a lot more anti-American.
Alistair: More important things to worry about? What could be more important than the impending loss of sovereignty of the United Kingdom. If you think France or Germany give a rat's about "Western Civilization" you're badly mistaken. It is precisely to preserve Western Civilizational values and vision in that neighborhood (Western Europe) that England must avoid being diluted into the Franco-Prussian hemlock cocktail. You've got the most dependable mate imaginable in the US. If England sank tomorrow, the French and Germans would celebrate. We on the other hand, would build monuments to you, write songs, and never forget you. (We'd also send boats over to poke about, don't get me wrong...)
Posted by: george at January 21, 2003 11:49 PM(Spelled your name wrong, my man - sorry, Ala
stair)
Let me quickly respond to George.
Yes, there are more important things to worry about. For all the
faults I see in the current, and projected, state of the European
Union, I find it impossible to concern myself with a Frenchman nuking
London, or a Spaniard deciding Rome needs a smallpox outbreak.
If I think someone is going to stab me, I ignore the fact that I was
just short-changed at the counter, and act to defend myself. This does
not mean I forget about being ripped off.
This is not to say that the EU does not concern me, it does. I will
act and vote accordingly.
--
Alastair
Let me quickly respond to George.
Yes, there are more important things to worry about. For all the
faults I see in the current, and projected, state of the European
Union, I find it impossible to concern myself with a Frenchman nuking
London, or a Spaniard deciding Rome needs a smallpox outbreak.
If I think someone is going to stab me, I ignore the fact that I was
just short-changed at the counter, and act to defend myself. This does
not mean I forget about being ripped off.
This is not to say that the EU does not concern me, it does. I will
act and vote accordingly.
--
Alastair