Another sign of U.S. moving toward irrelevance

[HootieMcBoob]

European Union defense ministers have agreed to set up a military rapid reaction force, to be deployed at short notice to conflicts around the world.

<snip>

The development is part of an EU effort to develop an independent defense capacity that can be deployed outside of US-led Nato missions.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4034133.stm

The world will soon no longer need the U.S. Plus the EU is becoming a very strong economy. I see the U.S. slowly going the way of the old Soviet Union that spent itself into irrelevance during the cold war. While the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. were spending all their money on bombs the countries of the EU were investing in education and infrastructure. The U.S. is moving toward becoming a banana republic and the countries of the EU are making themselves more and more independent.

[VivaKerry]

1. No problem. Poppy Bush (literally) has this one covered:

the heroine coming out of afghanistan will saturate the streets in Europe.... it will erode the EU like nobody's business.

[rkc3]

3. If Poppy can keep it out of his grandbabies veins.

[aneerkoinos]

7. Fat chance

Slowly but surely, Europe is adopting harm reduction policies, Dutch model works best and the evidence can no longer be denied (e.g. average age of heroin addicts in Netherlands has risen above 40!!!).

The fight is far from over, biggest obstacle is DEA infested UN, and Sweden is still a bastion of US model (but Sweden is on defencive now), so there remains lot to do, but we are winning.

[Iris]

2. This is actually the one hope I hold.

Not that I'd like to see my country be a Banana Republic, but it just seems the EU is so much more advanced in their thinking when it comes to social issues and it'd be nice if they could spread some of that to our side of the ocean.

[aneerkoinos]

8. You forgot Canada! ;) n/t

[Crunchy Frog]

4. Well, it's about time that they finally cut the cord.

This is probably a healthy catalyst for them. And I really think that the development of other centers of power in the world is for the best. We are obviously unable to handle the absolute power that we think we have.

[Algorem]

5. Maybe the Bushgang is counting on global warming causing the Gulf

Stream to shift,causing ice age in Europe? http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/opinion/story/0,12981,1083413,00.html

[aneerkoinos]

9. This is my biggest fear. n/t

[indepat]

6. This assessment is maybe just a little harsh: Americans on pensions will

likely be able to buy a few more loafs of bread each month than did their Russky counterparts.

[aneerkoinos]

10. Don't count on it

Matters staying as they are, after PO US is going towards massive die-off scenario. Russia has plenty of oil and NG left. I'm not kidding.