The "New" Europe

[LovetoGiveRoses]

Helle Dale - 2/27/03

Among those who have felt the sting of Saddam's poisons firsthand are the Central and Eastern European countries, whose aspirations to join the European Union have been thrown into turmoil ever since a group of them (known as the Vilnius 10) dared to come out in support of the United States on Feb. 5. Following by days a strongly supportive letter to the Wall Street Journal by eight other European countries, it brought down the wrath of the French and German governments on their heads. As French President Jacques Chirac explained to these 10 sovereign countries, they had missed a good opportunity to "shut up."

Understandably, this caused great offense on the other side. The people of Eastern and Central Europe not so long ago got out from under the thumb of the Soviet Union, only now to find the French and Germans telling them what to do in the name of the European Union. The waves of international repercussions have not yet subsided.

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

From todays Times (UK)

Labour mutiny leaves Blair out on a limb
By Philip Webster, Political Editor

Case for Iraq war rejected in biggest-ever government rebellion

A MASS mutiny by more than 120 Labour MPs over war with Iraq left Tony Blair facing a perilous moment in his premiership last night. The rebels were among 199 MPs — almost a third of the Commons — who voted against early military action to disarm President Saddam Hussein. It was the biggest revolt against any governing party in parliamentary history and it served notice on the Prime Minister that he will have to win a second UN resolution to avoid his future being called into question.

Amid dramatic scenes in the Commons, 121 Labour rebels joined 13 Conservatives and 52 Liberal Democrats to vote for an amendment declaring that the case for military action had not yet been made.

The rebel amendment was defeated by 393 votes to 199, a majority of 194. The government motion backing its UN efforts to disarm Saddam was passed by 434 votes to 124. On that the revolt fell to 59 MPs.

Kinda sad. Its a difficult issue and so there will be lots of debate. Easy decisions don't cause much debate, usually anyway.

At the end of the day, the government motion to disarm Saddam and support the US passed 434 to 124.