16 Mar 10
Originally posted by zeeblebotI do understand. I also understand that Booker chose NOT to mention the prompt response of E.U. countries and DID choose to mention the U.S.'s prompt response.
you don't understand what "prompt" and "immediate" mean?
And I understand that you chose this kind of piece as your "source" to start a "debate" about geopolitics. And I understand that - somehow - you still seem to think you done good here because it's not possible that you do not understand Booker's motivation and his resulting omissions.
Bush's initial pledge of $3 million - which raised eyebrows here, because the extent of the devastation was pretty clear within 12 hours, and resulted, IIRC an immediate pledge of about $55 from the U.K. alone, later increased - was upgraded from $3 to $350 million after a few days by which time E.U. members had pledged even more than that, most notably Germany.
Booker chooses not to mention this. I understand very well his reasons for this and I also understand your reasons for what you do.
17 Mar 10
What this demonstrates is only that the EU doesn't have a huge self sufficient well funded organization with military discipline and top notch field hospitals and top quality projection capabilities.
The money donated argument is obviously silly. If the EU wanted to invest in an emergency response force that can match the US military, they could, of course. The US just happens to have such a thing handy because of our military.
18 Mar 10
Originally posted by mtthwYes. The EU is the member countries. Booker is deliberately misleading. You know Booker is deliberately misleading. I know knows Booker is deliberately misleading. Zeeblebot knows Booker is deliberately misleading. And what's zeeblebot's debate topic based on all this? "EU a superpower?"
Right but deliberately misleading. The EU is the member countries.
18 Mar 10
Originally posted by AThousandYoungThe E.U. is not a federal government. The E.U. is its member countries. Booker is being disengenuous. zeeblebot is being mischievous. Comparing like with like involves comparing Germany to the U.S. or comparing the U.K. to the U.S. or comparing the Netherlands with the U.S. and so on.
What this demonstrates is only that the EU doesn't have a huge self sufficient well funded organization with military discipline and top notch field hospitals and top quality projection capabilities.
The money donated argument is obviously silly. If the EU wanted to invest in an emergency response force that can match the US military, they could, of course. The US just happens to have such a thing handy because of our military.
If one insists on comparing the E.U. to the U.S. then you have to compare the member states to the U.S., in other words take a look at what Germany, U.K., the Netherlands (and all the rest, together) did, and then compare it to what the U.S. did. If one does this - i.e. make a genuine comparison - then the response of the E.U. is quite clearly massive and comparable with the U.S.
How zeeblebot thinks all this has a bearing on his topic "EU a superpower?", is anyone's guess. When it comes to humanitarian aid, overseas development, relief etc. the E.U. countries are clearly what might be referred to collectively as a "superpower".
19 Mar 10
Originally posted by FMFhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_union
The E.U. is not a federal government. The E.U. [b]is its member countries. Booker is being disengenuous. zeeblebot is being mischievous. Comparing like with like involves comparing Germany to the U.S. or comparing the U.K. to the U.S. or comparing the Netherlands with the U.S. and so on.
If one insists on comparing the E.U. to the U.S. then you have to c ...[text shortened]... c. the E.U. countries are clearly what might be referred to collectively as a "superpower".[/b]
As an international organisation, the EU operates through a hybrid system of supranationalism and intergovernmentalism.[18][19][20] In certain areas, decisions are made through negotiation between member states, while in others, independent supranational institutions are responsible without a requirement for unanimity between member states. Important institutions of the EU include the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the European Council, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and the European Central Bank. The European Parliament is elected every five years by member states' citizens, to whom the citizenship of the European Union is guaranteed.