[ScaniaBoy]

Latest news is that Austria caved in - who would have guessed?

EU waits on Ankara's entry talks decision

From that article: Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, had earlier intervened phoning Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan giving America's continued support on a deal.

Quite frankly I do not understand what the US has to do with EU's membership negotiations. (Nor do I consider the EU has any right to interfere in say trade negotiations between the US and Mexico.)

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Quite frankly I do not understand what the US has to do with EU's membership negotiations.

Um, it doesn't. Exactly what we get out of all this trouble is beyond me.

[longtermmemmory]

Colin Powel's strong arm diplomacy helped kill the Annan plan for cyprus. (but that was a bad deal to start)

I think the USA does not really care if Turkey is in or out. The effort is the pay off/bribe.