EU welcomes US space plans, but has concerns

Mars daily ^ | 15 January 2004

[demlosers]

The EU socialists are whining....Waaaaaa!

[OpusatFR]

We are so far behind on a space station that should have been done by now but noooooooo....we had to wait on everybody and their brother so that it could be an international event!

No way. This time make it all American.

[ambrose]

Agreed... we'd be to Mars by now with all the money that has been blown on this Kumbaya "international" space station.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

"There has to be competititon but (there) has to be cooperation as well. We have to work together," he said.

The Indians, Chinese and Russians are whining too

[LibWhacker]

Socialists are always quick to downplay the wonders of competition.

Dear Europe, prepare to eat our dust!

[SunStar]

"Space exploration is an area which lends itself excellently to international scientific cooperation .. So we welcome the call by President Bush for international cooperation," said EU research chief Philippe Busquin.

Some cheese with your whine?

[cwb]

This sums up what they are worried about:

"He pointed out that the US Defense Department is one of the world's major space players, adding that there "is a strong link in the space sector between the civilian research effort and the defence, military space research ability."

[RightWhale]

EU will have the whole ISS to itself by 2010. Surely they can keep the dust bunnies under control without outside assistance.

[Diogenesis]

The EU is once again ONLY interested in murdering Americans, supporting terrorists, enabling slavery,
and whining when Americans stand up.

[af_vet_rr]

If the EU can't run the ISS by itself, it's got no business being in space. Don't we have some spare Saturn Vs sitting around somewhere mothballed we can send up and make a quick and just as efficient space station.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

BUmp!

[americanbychoice]

What they want is for the US to pay the major share of those projects, as usual, and then demand that any benefits are shared equally. Screw them. We have seen this diatribe before. We are still paying the bulk of the European defense, while they cut back on their military spending. We have done it alone before and can do it again, without a knive aimed at our back.

[kevao]

Unilateral Space Exploration Bump.

[americanbychoice]

The red tape involved by the EU would also make it too expensive and we would never be able to get the job done. What's next , Put space under UN control?
Let's wait for beagle 15 and see what comes out of that?

[americanbychoice]

NASA, the US sponsored programs only work because enough money is put into R&D. The ESA project that just failed was grossly underfunded and thus failed. If you don't put enough quality into a program you are just wasting your time. From my perspective, not trusting the EU is a half full glass of water.
A joint program would simply mean that the US would provide the majority of funding and the EU would take credit for it.
I like it the way it is.
They always crow about the EU having more population than the US (for the time being)and will be a major competitor, but even with 450 million inhabitants, and shrinking, The gdp and productivity will always be below the US.
I can hear it now: "We don't have the money to contribute", therefore the US will have to pay the greatest part. No thanks, I like for us to go it alone.
.......and don't tell me that the EU wouldn't provide enough paper obstacles to prevent a joint venture, especially if we are talking Nuclear propellants for spaceships? All of Europe would be on the streets protesting that one.
....and getting paid for that "Save the world" initiative.

[kevao]

What's next , Put space under UN control?

I'd be willing to send Hans Blix into space, at least.

[demlosers]

and don't tell me that the EU wouldn't provide enough paper obstacles to prevent a joint venture, especially if we are talking Nuclear propellants for spaceships? All of Europe would be on the streets protesting that one. ....and getting paid for that "Save the world" initiative.

We certainly are talking about nuclear engines for space at a tune of $3 billion in development and research over the next 5 years: Prometheus the Pardigm Buster. A good reason to keep the weenies away.

[John Will]

Heh, Just the possabitly of American Space Bombers scare them. Let them fade into history.

[Viking2002]

It figures that these weak-kneed bloviators would want to 'internationalize' something that America's been on the cutting edge of for almost half a century. Imagine what would happen if the EU were allowed to intimidate and muscle their way into our space program - impositon of their politically-correct, Socialist worldview on every decision; miserable, sniveling, two-bit countries like France and Germany derailing American initiatives at every turn, simply for their own shriveled self-esteem; every step forward would be pulled two steps back by Nanny State bureaucracy and red tape; and the endless @ss-kissing and appeasement of environmental Chicken Littles and Third-Worlders that would rather see us living in thatch huts, anyway.

Not a chance.