Time Europe defended itself -EU military official

Reuters ^ | January 18, 2004

[RWR8189]

SALEN, Sweden, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The European Union's top military official suggested on Sunday that American and European forces should be responsible for their own territorial defence and only cooperate on major crises outside their regions.

Finnish general, Gustav Hagglund, who is chairman of the EU's military committee, told a defence conference it was time Europe shouldered the defence of the continent itself.

"The American and the European pillars (of NATO) would be responsible for their respective territorial defences, and would together engage in crisis management outside their own territories," Hagglund told the conference in Salen, 450 km (280 miles) northwest of Stockholm.

"My prediction is that this will happen within the next decade," he told a news conference later.

U.S. forces would handle high-intensity operations involving terrorism and weapons of mass destruction while Europeans would concentrate on sustained low-intensity crisis management such as conflict prevention, he said.

"That arrangement would divide tasks distinctly between Europe and the United States. The division would be well in line with existing ambitions and capabilities and the different threat scenarios embraced by both sides," he added.

EU leaders agreed in December on arrangements to create a military planning cell that could, under tightly limited circumstances, run military operations when NATO was not involved.

The EU's fledgling rapid reaction force made its debut in peacekeeping operations last April, sending a tiny force to the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, followed by a mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Hagglund, who will be replaced in April by Italian general, Rolando Mosca Moschini, said there was no threat in Europe that the EU now could not handle itself, especially after the bloc takes in 10 new members in May, mainly former communist states from central and eastern Europe.

"We don't know if the United States will have forever the resources, or the interest, to defend Europe," he said.

[Zipporah]

Guess the one world government is at our doorstep. With what Fox has proposed, a pan-American union patterned after the EU, looks like it is just over the horizon.

[Gumption]

"We don't know if the United States will have forever the resources, or the interest, to defend Europe," he said.

That's crazy. We'll always have the resources. I've already lost interest.

[Cobra64]

Finnish general, Gustav Hagglund, who is chairman of the EU's military committee, told a defence conference it was time Europe shouldered the defence of the continent itself.

What a novel idea.

[Pikamax]

"U.S. forces would handle high-intensity operations involving terrorism and weapons of mass destruction while Europeans would concentrate on sustained low-intensity crisis management such as conflict prevention, he said. "

once again we do the rough stuff.

[reed_inthe_wind]

"U.S. forces would handle high-intensity operations involving terrorism and weapons of mass destruction while Europeans would concentrate on sustained low-intensity crisis management such as conflict prevention, he said. "

They just say whatever is on their mind - If there was ever any doubt, make no mistake now, these people have their heads up their a$$.

[Destro]

Actually this is an enemy of World govt. NATO is an ally of world govt.

[meenie]

I think that Europe should be taking care of their defense. Why should we have stayed this long? They should be encouraged instead of derided as being stupid. I think the shoe could be put on the other foot The money we have wasted staying in Europe since the USSR ceased to be a threat could have been spent on more worthwhile causes or applied to our debt. We are running out of resources as our economy now shows.

[Destro]

NATO like all govt funded projects always seeks to out live the reason for its existance. Those generals and others live well and with prestige as members of NATO-can't give that up now when the Cold War ended now can we?

[reed_inthe_wind]

"They should be encouraged instead of derided as being stupid."

But, they are publicly excusing themselves from defending against WMD and terror groups. They blithely assume that someone else will do the heavy work. Or, they believe that this strategy will ensure that they will not be the victims of this type of attack. They see themselves as sophisticated, I see them as conniving.

[68skylark]

This is probably a good idea, but only if the EU is competent to do the job of defending Europe.

If they can't do it, it just means we'll have to go back there in the dark hour of some future crisis and save their sorry backsides once again.

[adam_az]

"U.S. forces would handle high-intensity operations involving terrorism and weapons of mass destruction while Europeans would concentrate on sustained low-intensity crisis management such as conflict prevention, he said. "


That way they can keep pretending to be the good guys, while pointing at us as the bad guys. Nice.

[Kay Ludlow]

Conflict Prevention? Sounds like they'll be doing the heavy lifting (/sarcasm)...

But seriously, what do they mean by that? Peacekeeping? Or only intervening with their people before it goes to violence? Or more likely, whatever they want it to mean at the decisonmaking moment?

[voicereason]

told a defence conference it was time Europe shouldered the defence of the continent itself.

About time too. While we're at it, let's disband NATO as well.

[RobbyS]

Let's get our troops all together out of Europe. Period.

We need a few forward bases.

[squidly]

Why should we have stayed this long?

By keeping our forces in Europe, and by keeping Europe dependent on U.S. military protection, Europe stays weak relative to the U.S., and can't grow into a potential rival. I'm speaking of Germany in particular, and the rest of Europe in general.

In any case, most of Europe, Germany included, lacks the means and the will to increase the size and capability of their militaries to any appreciable extent. This Finnish general is engaging in some long term pipe dreaming.

[Unam Sanctam]

I think that Europe should be taking care of their defense.

I would agree, but they probably wouldn't be willing to spend the necessary money on their own defense.

[jokar]

I think we should maintain a presence for the same reason I think we stay in the UN. "Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.

Keep a European presence but, clean house in the state department so we have our guys on our side, then we can effect EU policy as a sort of insider.