We go with the Americans and the British (Romanian editorial)

Evenimentul Zilei ^ | 2/18/03 | Cornel Nistorescu

[jalisco555]

Once more, perhaps at a decisive moment, Romania has to choose. Which card will it play these days? With the United States or France and Germany? Our political class expressed its standpoint in parliament. If the Americans request it we will send troops to Iraq! But it is our politicians who beat about the bush as well. We are not and we will not be at war! Moreover, last week a communiqué was issued in which they said that "Romania declares itself again a supporter of the role of the European Union, of NATO and United Nations in defending international security". Frightened probably by the disputes in the Security Council, our politicians said it was time to sweeten the pill. That is we support the Americans but without disappointing those who do not agree to a military intervention in Iraq! This is a pacifism which can be considered as satisfying everybody, but also as being a first step to return to the behaviour of a political whore. This means that it is not still clear in our mind what our national interest is. This time (we were not pressed as we were between the two World Wars) we can choose freely. And we did so by the vote of our MPs. Why are we beating about the bush? We can't afford that anymore! We played with Romania's stand on such matters too many times and we lost. The wounds and the weaknesses left by the communism do not allow us to hesitate anymore. We are not France which, apart from the classical dance on its own in international politics (and nobody calls it a "political whore"), took wagons of money out of Iraq. We do not have a few million Muslims to pretend. We are not a country to play three lovers on the fingers! We do not have the status of a lady with pretensions. We did not have a Napoleon to collect treasures from everywhere. We left Iraq empty-handed and having a debt of 1.7 billion lei to Romania. We are not Germany either. The Russians squeezed us out of our riches while Germany was like a kept mistress after the war (but was not addressed offensive words either). We cannot afford playing the part of cavillers at UN when a totalitarian regime is involved. What do we have to do with the populist theatre of Gerhard Schroeder who, in order not to be ousted because of empty electoral promises and the troubled economic situation in his country, is speculating on his fellow countrymen's fear of war. Shall we play Romania's cards counting on the speech of Foreign Minister Joschka Fisher who won 8 percent of the votes of the German electorate? This means to rely on a guy like Basescu! Heaven forbid!

We can ask ourselves what France and Germany did in 50 years of communism for all the countries in the Eastern bloc. The answer is simple: nothing else than business! To us, who were moaning in the prisons of communism, they sent only friendly greetings. The Germans also did something else. They took their fellow nationals, brought them back home, and left us manage on our own. In what judicial or procedural pretext they got stuck over this period? Communism wrung our neck while the honourable democracies issued communiqués. And now they are surprised that all the countries in the former communist bloc do not give a damn about obsolete stratagems of France and Germany. Only they, in their games behind the scene, can make all sorts of mean calculations though many of their citizens were killed in all sorts of attacks. How many others have to die in the USA, in the Paris subway or in other crowded places so that France and Germany react firmly against the countries which supply terrorism? We can no longer afford going into this game of procedures, of diplomatic duplicity only to be the fools and the sacrificed of the region in the end.

Romania needs stringently the support of the most powerful democracy. And it is about to get a firm support. We have to respond to it in the same way. We go with the Americans and we make efforts to be their alternative for the old Europe. It costs us, but we no longer depend on the French illusionism or the German fears. Besides, we have a chance to demonstrate that we got rid of all the doubts of a country ruled with irresolution. We also have the chance to recover our debt from Iraq. Moreover, we have to imagine that a large part of the most brilliant Romanian young people, who emigrated to the USA and Canada, are about to follow Bush. Romania needs to make a clear choice, either USA or France and Germany. When making this choice we have to take one more thing into account. We are not a priority for the two European countries. They already see us as the fifth wheel of the coach, which cost them enormously (not to say that sometimes they see us as thieves, Gypsies or beggars). Instead, we are really important for the Americans. In this dispute we offer them an alternative to go in the long run with a country which needs the know-how of democracy. Not it is the time to go with the Americans all the way, even if they might be wrong. And with the British too. Now it is the time to take into consideration what the leader of the Conservative Party, Ion Lahovary, the father of Martha Bibescu, once said: "A coalition joined by England always gets a victory". We have had enough failures with France and Germany!

[jalisco555]

We can ask ourselves what France and Germany did in 50 years of communism for all the countries in the Eastern bloc. The answer is simple: nothing else than business!

New Europe sees through the Axis of Weasels.

[livius]

Yes! Is Romania on your flag post, goodnesswins? (I couldn't find the post.)

[livius]

We have had enough failures with France and Germany!

Actually, I think this bears repeating!

[jalisco555]

Communism wrung our neck while the honourable democracies issued communiqués. And now they are surprised that all the countries in the former communist bloc do not give a damn about obsolete stratagems of France and Germany.

So many great lines in this editorial that it's hard to choose a favorite.

[dead]

We can ask ourselves what France and Germany did in 50 years of communism for all the countries in the Eastern bloc. The answer is simple: nothing else than business!

As they are doing with murdering, imprisoning, tyrants today.

Welcome aboard Romania! You'll find us a far truer friend than those eurinal bastards.

[FairOpinion]

And be sure to add Latvia.

I saw the Latvian President (an intelligent, strong lady) on FoxNews and she was saying similar things, in stronger terms. They know what it is to live under a totalitarian regime, which lasted way too long, because the appeasers did nothing to help the E. European countries. She also made it clear that they are with the US all the way.

[bobi]

We can ask ourselves what Romania did in 14 years of democracy for all the countries in the West. The answer is simple: nothing else than prostitution business!

Western Europe has been flooded by Romanian and Bulgarian prostitutes. We are talking tens of thousands.

It is silly for a country like Romania to ask for a membership of the European Union and at the same time undermine European Unification by supporting American foreign policy in Europe and in the rest of the world.

Chirac is simply saying what Mr. Bush sais: "You are with us or against us"

Romania and Bulgaria are either with Europe or America.

Looks like they made their choice and Chirac is making a note of that.

[Kewlhand`tek]

yeah its nice to have support but, countries like romania,latvia,estonia really what can they provide other than moral support 2. it would all three of those countries to equal frances military....but at least they wont surrender lol. if i am wrong then post the military facts of those countries im too lazy to look it up

[Darheel]

"We do not have the status of a lady with pretensions."

lol, welcome to the war!

[aBootes]

This is a pacifism which can be considered as satisfying everybody, but also as being a first step to return to the behaviour of a political whore.

Dang. These guys don't mince words!

[skeeter]

Looks like they made their choice and Chirac is making a note of that.

The thought of Chirac taking notes reminds me of Jack Lemmon taking notes in the "Out of Towners".

[arkfreepdom]

Looks like they made their choice and Chirac is making a note of that.

Chirac and any other French leader is centuries away from threatening any country.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Not it is the time to go with the Americans all the way, even if they might be wrong. And with the British too. Now it is the time to take into consideration what the leader of the Conservative Party, Ion Lahovary, the father of Martha Bibescu, once said: "A coalition joined by England always gets a victory".

[Leisler]

Stuff it. France and Germany, let alone, France, are not "Europe", no more than California and New York are America. Furthermore, and this will bring down the EU, there are no effective political mechanism for smaller states to have equal representation with larger states, like in our Senate which gives each state two votes.

France and Germany tried to lead and no one followed, now, as usual, come the threats and reprisals. How typical.

But anyways, who cares. France and Germany are history, the past, the rearview picture of states receding into the dust of action, energy and courage.

[RAT Patrol]

God bless Romania!

[edwin hubble]

I have the greatest respect for those who lived under the boot of Communism and now have the courage to stand up to a bully like France.

A physics colleague of mine from Romania escaped from his KGB handlers while on at physics conference in 1977 and defected. In the 1980's I stood with him at his naturalization ceremony.

Finally in the 90's he has been able to go home to visit.

[Man of the Right]

The French alliance didn't do Romania much good in World Wars I and II. Heck, the French screwed Romania at the Congress of Berlin as well in 1878. They've learned from experience in eastern Europe.

[FITZ]

what can they provide other than moral support 2. it would all three of those countries to equal frances military....but at least they wont surrender lol. if i am wrong

Equalling France's military wouldn't take much ---the French have never made very good allies in war so they're no big loss now.

[goodnesswins]

WHO has joined the ALLIES FOR LIBERTY & FREEDOM?

THESE ARE the 29 ALLIES for IRAQI people’s (women & children included) FREEDOM

U.S., Britian, Australia, Spain, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Italy, Portugal, Armenia, Lithuania

Slovakia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Quatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Albania, Kuwait, Israel, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Macedonia, Croatia,Azerbaijan, Georgia Republic and Japan

FREE the IRAQI people!!!

	What OTHER countries want the IRAQI citizens FREEDOM?
		ARMENIA
	AZERBAIJAN	GEORGIA Republic
goodnesswins, with technical assistance from abner

[George W. Bush]

We can no longer afford going into this game of procedures, of diplomatic duplicity only to be the fools and the sacrificed of the region in the end.

They've learned the lessons of history. How unfortunate we never stood up to Stalin and freed them from the Soviet bloc at the end of WW II. A terrible mistake. But it is clear that they understand that small nations cannot hope for security by playing short-sighted games. This is why smaller nations throughout Europe will not ratify the new French constitution for the United Europe. They will insist that they be able to ally themselves with the U.S., the only power strong enough to prevail in a real military confrontation and the only country with any power who will, generally, defend democracy and human rights in Europe. It's kind of humbling that they still admire us and want to be our allies even knowing our flaws.

You have to admire the passion the eastern European countries have shown for security and for democracy and human rights. I think that in the current crisis, they would despise themselves if they stood by and let Iraq languish in Saddam's foul clutches. After all, that is what happened to them. They are saying, "Never again. Never again for us and never again for anyone else." It's a wonderfully principled stand.

We should move our bases out of Germany and relocate them where they are needed and appreciated. Their continued presence in Germany only helps to subsidize the failing German socialist state and help the Germans to accumulate the capital with which to control the economy of the EU and be its central bank. I would love to see us take over and renovate the old Soviet bases in eastern Europe and abandon Germany. The cost of moving and renovating would be paid in only a few years due to lower costs of operating in eastern Europe. And our servicemen could live much better there.