US: We won't be building the missile shield in Poland

[Admiral Yi]

And "old" and "new" just happened to be the entirely value-neutral terms that he employed to make this abstract point.   

And it follows from the use of "old" and "new" that Rumsfeld was trying to split Europe?

[Razgovory]

And "old" and "new" just happened to be the entirely value-neutral terms that he employed to make this abstract point.   

And it follows from the use of "old" and "new" that Rumsfeld was trying to split Europe?

I thought that was the point.

[Admiral Yi]

I thought that was the point.

Rumsfeld's comment about new and old Europe was in response to a comment either by Chirac or that ding dong in the UNSC that "Europe is opposed to an invasion of Iraq."  Rumsfeld was pointing out that "Europe" was already split on the issue.  He wasn't trying to *create* a split, he was pointing out one that already existed when France tried to pretend that wasn't the case.

[The Minsky Moment]

And "old" and "new" just happened to be the entirely value-neutral terms that he employed to make this abstract point.   

And it follows from the use of "old" and "new" that Rumsfeld was trying to split Europe?

it follows that he was trying to exploit a difference of opinion on a particular issue by making a much broader distinction.

[Admiral Yi]

it follows that he was trying to exploit a difference of opinion on a particular issue by making a much broader distinction.

Such as the distinction between long-standing members of the EU and recent entrants?

[The Minsky Moment]

it follows that he was trying to exploit a difference of opinion on a particular issue by making a much broader distinction.

Such as the distinction between long-standing members of the EU and recent entrants?

Yes.

[Valmy]

Rumsfeld's comment about new and old Europe was in response to a comment either by Chirac or that ding dong in the UNSC that "Europe is opposed to an invasion of Iraq."  Rumsfeld was pointing out that "Europe" was already split on the issue.  He wasn't trying to *create* a split, he was pointing out one that already existed when France tried to pretend that wasn't the case.

Right I thought he was trying to reduce France and co's diplomatic influence in Eastern Europe and bring them closer to the United States by making that distinction.  Granted it probably was a result of Franco-German opposition to the Iraq War.

[Warspite]

I wonder by whose taxonomy the UK should find itself in "new" Europe.

[Martinus]

Rumsfeld's comment about new and old Europe was in response to a comment either by Chirac or that ding dong in the UNSC that "Europe is opposed to an invasion of Iraq."  Rumsfeld was pointing out that "Europe" was already split on the issue.  He wasn't trying to *create* a split, he was pointing out one that already existed when France tried to pretend that wasn't the case.

And "old" and "new" just happened to be the entirely value-neutral terms that he employed to make this abstract point.   

[Martinus]

I wonder by whose taxonomy the UK should find itself in "new" Europe.

They were late joiners to the Roman Empire. 

[Neil]

I wonder by whose taxonomy the UK should find itself in "new" Europe.

They're not even really in Europe at all.  The UK, like the US, is itself.

[Valmy]

It would appear that the reaction of the Czechs and Poles is exactly that which could have been predicted by your average kindergartner. It seems Obama is even more clueless about how to treat allies than his predecessors.

Yeah it is totally understandable to be furious that a ridiculously overpriced and useless boondoggle like the missle defense system, built in the incredibly unlikely scenario Iran decides to nuke Euroland, was cancelled.  I mean it was only a sign of Russia's insanity that they made such a big deal about this at all.

Wow I would be furious if one of our allies cancelled the building of a super expensive useless piece of shit designed to protect us from an enemy that is never likely to attack us.

[Iormlund]

Huh? The shield was never intended to defend Europe.

Anyway, as I've said a zillion times, that money would've been better spent in humint, the USCG or customs officials.

[citizen k]

Huh? The shield was never intended to defend Europe.

Of course it was otherwise it would have been set up in Greenland and Hawaii. 

[Agelastus]

Yeah it is totally understandable to be furious that a ridiculously overpriced and useless boondoggle like the missle defense system, built in the incredibly unlikely scenario Iran decides to nuke Euroland, was cancelled.  I mean it was only a sign of Russia's insanity that they made such a big deal about this at all.

Wow I would be furious if one of our allies cancelled the building of a super expensive useless piece of shit designed to protect us from an enemy that is never likely to attack us.

Is this rant serious or just a joke? I really cannot tell sometimes...