France is plotting to create a Euro Army
Moves to create a European Army controlled from Brussels have been revealed. France is pushing for a new dedicated military headquarters and more fighting formations. The French take over the EU presidency next month and will use their six-month term to drive forward ambitious plans to develop Europe's own military structures - a move which critics claim will undermine Nato by excluding the U.S. Gordon Brown was forced to make a hurried denial, playing down the prospects of a Euro Army, as the fiercely divisive issue returned to the political agenda. Critics in the UK are deeply suspicious of strengthening the EU's military identity - fearing that the French see it as a way to challenge Washington's world dominance. Federalists, however, see a Euro Army as a key building-block of a future super-state. As MEPs debated EU military policy yesterday, the chairman of the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee called for the Union to develop more 'hard power' military capability and spend more money on a European Army. Jacek Saryusz-Wolski called for 'a common foreign and security policy, including a European army'. He said MEPs should in future have the final say on military missions under the EU flag - a move which would strip member states of a fundamental responsibility. France, which along with Germany and Poland has spearheaded support for greater EU defence capability, has already indicated that the issue will feature heavily in its presidency, starting next month. snip http://tinyurl.com/6yeuop Oh well, I suppose if they work for the EU at least the troops will be well paid.

Perhaps this is why the Froggies want an EU army... Most of France's tanks, helicopters and jet fighters are unusable and its defence apparatus is on the verge of "falling apart", it has emerged. According to confidential defence documents leaked to the French press, less than half of France's Leclerc tanks – 142 out of 346 – are operational and even these regularly break down. Less than half of its Puma helicopters, 37 per cent of its Lynx choppers and 33 per cent of its Super Frelon models – built 40 years ago – are in a fit state to fly, according to documents seen by Le Parisien newspaper. Two thirds of France's Mirage F1 reconnaissance jets are unusable at present. snip http://tinyurl.com/6s5cju Sound like they want EU taxpayers to pony up for putting all that right. Perhaps we should invade?

We already have a "Euro Army" and it is called NATO and it has worked well for over 50 years and it includes the strongest military power in the world. It sounds like just one more step in doing away with the sovereignty of your country. If there is a Euro Army you guys had better take control. I suspect a Euro Army under the leadership of the French would be worthless and under the leadership of the Germans would get into trouble.

You guys are taking this seriously. War games and everything' http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/ "German, French, Belgian and Spanish flags fly next to the European Union stars". "The ministry of defence, rather more po-faced, says: "The EU Battlegroup initiative was driven by the UK, and we recognise that one of the positive aspects of the initiative is the chance to work with other countries on providing a rapid-response capability to the EU." "Although the EU Battlegroup we are providing in 2008 is UK only, the 2010 UK-led EU Battlegroup is based on the UK/Netherlands Amphibious Landing Force and we are actively exploring multi-national options for future UK-led EU Battlegroups." Ah, European Union stars. Enough to stir the blood of every Euro patriot. Have you created a battle hymn yet?

Hey, I found your battle hymn for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdM8PDu6VMg