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1.) Algeria Tacitly endorsing the coup does not mean you should not try to end the civil war that took place for ten years.

2.) "Responsibility for Western Sahara lies originally with Spain."

What are you saying?
I think it has been a humanitarian crises for decades. It is close to Europe, the EU should try to broker a solution, if Spain can't do so or is considered biased (?) for historical reasons (?) I don't know.

3.) Re Cyprus: Still, it is a conflict in our backyard. And then you got the issue of Turkish EU membership and those silly Turkish-Greek quarrels that resulted in that fighter plane crash recently. These conflicts don't appear to be sooooo difficult as Darfur/Iran/Iraq, but the EU hasn't solved them. Why?

4.) Re Bosnia: I criticize that there are still thousands of our troops in Bosnia. The EU should bring peace to Bosnia and withdraw its troops rather than babysit for decades. European papers criticize the political failures in Iraq. The political issues in Bosnia and Kosovo don't appear to be as complicated, but the EU does not make any progress.

5.) Conclusion:
Colman criticizes US failures and blames it on their stupidity; not just on Bush, another party in power would not make a difference, hes wrote.

Perhaps I exaggerate, but for me this suggests that Colman assumes that the European governments are smarter and more successful in solving conflicts, if those stupid Americans don't interfere as they do Iran. Thus I pointed to some other ongoing conflicts, which the EU should have solved. Instead of discussing those conflicts and EU shortcominings, most European newspapers and citizens discuss US failurs.

by Joerg in Berlin ((joerg.wolf [AT] atlanticreview.org)) on Fri Sep 15th, 2006 at 04:04:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]
2.) "Responsibility for Western Sahara lies originally with Spain."

What are you saying?
I think it has been a humanitarian crises for decades. It is close to Europe, the EU should try to broker a solution, if Spain can't do so or is considered biased (?) for historical reasons (?) I don't know.

Jorg, with all due respect, how much do you actually know about the Western Sahara conflict apart from the fact that it has been festering for my entire lifetime?

Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. — Euripides
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Sep 15th, 2006 at 04:09:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]
And people wonder why I get grumpy.

These conflicts don't appear to be sooooo difficult as Darfur/Iran/Iraq, but the EU hasn't solved them. Why?

Because it's complicated and difficult and takes time and patience.

We don't expect to fix things quickly. The trick is trying not to make them worse while you try to find a solution.

The EU should bring peace to Bosnia and withdraw its troops rather than babysit for decades.

Doesn't work like that though, does it? What would the consequences of pulling out be?

Colman criticizes US failures and blames it on their stupidity; not just on Bush, another party in power would not make a difference, hes wrote.

Well, since the current "opposition" party seems to be scared to criticise the basis of the Bush policies that seems to be a reasonable conclusion. The Iraq war wasn't badly executed it was a bad idea that could never have worked. The Democratic party are so afraid of appearing "weak on terror" that I have little hope they'll pursue sensible policies anytime soon.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Sep 15th, 2006 at 04:16:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]
IMHO, the Democratic Party is as committed to Imperial policies as the Republican party, they are just nicer about it.

Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. — Euripides
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Sep 15th, 2006 at 04:20:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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