Nov. 29 - It is

Nov. 29 - It is tempting to think the British government is trying to play both sides of the streets, yet equally tempting to think that the British believe they can alter the course for Europe from that set by the French, Belguim and German governments. But the secrecy is worrisome, probably more to the British people than to the US as people there ponder the leaked information that Britain in secret EU army deal.

Britain has taken a dramatic step towards a fully-fledged European army, signing up to Franco-German proposals for a planning headquarters outside Nato, it emerged yesterday.

The deal reached by British, German and French officials in secret talks in Berlin this week establishes an "operational" command in Brussels, allowing the EU to run day-to-day battlefield missions for the first time.

The news apparently leaked before the British government advised Pres. Bush of the move, but officials hint that the deal would be rewritten if the US was adamantly opposed.

I think that fears that this new army will replace NATO should also take into account that Turkey is a member of NATO but has not yet been granted membership in the EU, and the recent terrorist attacks in Turkey highlight the worries of that discrepancy.

And if the British people are adamantly opposed?

Drat, the Sun website is down. Maybe Mark Steyn will address this one soon.

UPDATE: The Sun is calling it a sell-out:

TONY Blair has been accused of betraying Britain's defence by backing a new euro army military planning HQ.

The Tories slammed the move as “catastrophic” for the Nato alliance. The PM struck a deal with Germany and France to boost the European force.

Posted by: Debbye at 09:49 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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