European failure in Darfur
November 16, 2007 RJH
The EU has its benefits, most notably that I could live in Austria with a minimal degree of hassle. For that alone, Brussels be praised.
UK foreign secretary, David Miliband, has recently catalogued some of the EU’s failures, notably its utter inability to respond to crisis via military intervention.
“European member states must improve their capabilities. It’s embarrassing that when European nations - with almost two million men and women under arms - are only able, at a stretch, to deploy around 100 thousand at any one time.
EU countries have around 1,200 transport helicopters, yet only about 35 are deployed in Afghanistan. And EU member states haven’t provided any helicopters in Darfur despite the desperate need there.”
What does this mean? Note Miliband doesn’t say the EU “must improve its capabilities.” Instead, responsibility falls on the member states. Considering Britain’s adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan, I suspect he has other member states than his own in mind. If the creation of a centrally-controlled European army is not on the table (thank goodness), what role should the EU play in encouraging “member states [to] improve their capabilities”? Because unless Europe can step up to the plate, it continues to cede de facto control of world policing to the United States, and as we all like to remind ourselves, the US is merd at that.
December 30th, 2007 at 3:16 am
That’s kind of rich. His own government is the number one obstructionist in all matters European. I will start paying attention when Mr. Milibrand presents a reform initiative to strengthen the Union.
He could begin by paying his fair share rather than extending British exemptions. May be, we could put that money towards a European airlift command.
This is just sour grapes to distract from the strategic quagmire that her majesty’s government has maneuvered itself into. I don’t think that other Europeans will step up until the United States and Britain make Afghanistan a top priority. It’s not a continental mission to clean up Bush’s mess.