Foreign policy test
Catherine Ashton, the EU's new foreign policy chief, today set out her ambitions. In a letter to The Times she said that her job was to "make our voice stronger" on the world stage. She also extolled the virtues of "quiet diplomacy".
Few public figures are allowed to settle in quietly and Catherine Ashton will be no exception.
Firstly, in January, she faces a grilling by members of the European Parliament. All the indications are that it will be a tough session with searching questions about her inexperience in foreign affairs. She cannot afford to emerge weakened from this questioning because of the belief that she was a compromise candidate.
Secondly, it is worth picking up on the doubts that are already out there. In the Polish paper Gazeta Wyborcza, Jacek Pawlicki writes of the risks to Catherine Ashton in an early crisis. He thinks it could come as early as January when Moscow and Kiev fall out once again over energy payments and Europe risks some of its homes going cold. In that scenario he says that "neither (Russian) Prime Minister Putin, nor President Medvedev will want to receive her because they consider her to be a too low-ranking official".
That may be too harsh and even untrue, but the underlying question remains valid. If supplies are cut off who will take the lead in negotiations? Will it be Catherine Ashton, representing Europe's foreign ministers, or will the call that matters come from German Chancellor Angela Merkel?
Then there is the South African paper which says that Europe has been "uncertain and meandering" since establishing its new posts. It quotes an un-named European ambassador who refers to the new President of the European Council and the foreign policy chief as "garden gnomes".
This may be little more than unsourced back-chat but what it tells you is that the new faces of Europe will have to prove themselves, to demonstrate that they are figures of substance.
Sometime in early February, Catherine Ashton is expected to visit Jerusalem. Even experienced diplomats tread carefully here where words and nuances can have immediate impact.
One of the tests she applies to the new role is that Europe speaks with a more "coherent" voice. Beyond calling for the Palestinians to return to negotiations and for the Israelis to cease settlements in the West Bank will she be able to convey that Europe has a "coherent" policy on the Middle East that, however supportive of American efforts, is distinctive from them?
Over Afghanistan the reality was that Europe had to wait until President Barack Obama had decided what his policy would be. Then different countries gave varying responses to the American surge. France and Germany won't make up their minds until the end of January.
Thirdly, it will be difficult to change the reality of big states and how they exercise power. On some of the most sensitive issues, like Iran and its nuclear ambitions, France speaks boldly and with the clearest voice.
In Copenhagen, again, it is France and Britain who have been holding talks with Ethiopia to try and break a deadlock. Everyone knows that there are major differences between the member states over how to pay for combating climate change. Gordon Brown has gone it alone in setting out his ambitions for halving greenhouse gases in the UK.
Now none of this may matter except for the fact that the EU is about to build a new diplomatic service with thousands of posts. Catherine Ashton wants it to be the "pride of Europe" but the European tax-payers will want convincing that it is worth paying for as discussions get under way about the EU's budget. Is the European External Action Service necessary or is it another diplomatic layer on top of that run by the nation states?
Some of the burden of whether the Lisbon Treaty has made the European Union a more effective and powerful voice in the world will fall on the shoulders of Catherine Ashton.
I'm 
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~50~RS~)
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"In a letter to The Times she said that her job was to "make our voice stronger" on the world stage."
Trouble is, the world is saying "Cathy, Who?", I bet Hillary Clinton will still be calling David Miliband, others will still be calling Nicolas Sarkozy or Angela Merkel and so forth.
Latest Score
EU 0 : 2* Rest of the World
* Both goals were scored by EU team member...
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"Some of the burden of whether the Lisbon Treaty has made the European Union a more effective and powerful voice in the world will fall on the shoulders of Catherine Ashton."
She is a messenger for many different nations with different agendas. The people of Europe have not given Lisbon a proper thumbs up to grant this woman power. She does not have the true power of the people behind her and is a figurehead reporting a time consuming consensus at best. Therefore it is impossible for her to be either effective or powerful.
I almost feel sorry for her....until I remember who she is.
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I'd give her the benefit of the doubt. My mother said that there are roughly two kinds of women in politics. The first kind uses other people's weaknesses to gain status and the other kind uses their own strengths. I agree with her and firmly put Ms. Ashton in the latter category. Furthermore, everyone is unimpressed, which means that it can only get better.
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Read the comments on the article. Utter ignorance.
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Why does all of this sound like Europe of 100 years ago or more?
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I don't know what you're talking about ghostofsichuan? Werent u in Chengdu at the time anyways?
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#3. At 4:04pm on 17 Dec 2009, Gheryando wrote:
"Furthermore, everyone is unimpressed, which means that it can only get better."
Well yes, in politics it's difficult to go into minus figures, but who knows! Sorry for being so negative but this appointment really does seem to have been lifted from the scripts of the final episode of "Yes Minister"...
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4. At 4:18pm on 17 Dec 2009, Gheryando wrote:
"Read the comments on the article. Utter ignorance."
Couldn't agree more, especially the comments @ #3...! :)
"Gheryando", you are entitled to your opinions, but it doesn't make them correct, politics is about what the population (ignorant or not) think and believe, the first 'test' for the post Lisbon EU will be sometimes between now and June in the UK.
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There is no person who is satisfactory in this role because anybody who accepts this role has agreed to go along with the dictatorial imposition of the Lisbon Treaty on the peoples of Britain and Europe.
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8. At 5:37pm on 17 Dec 2009, Boilerplated wrote:
4. At 4:18pm on 17 Dec 2009, Gheryando wrote:
' ...
"Gheryando", you are entitled to your opinions, ...'
EUpris: Apparently in the ideas of many , probably most, of the "EU"-lovers, the people of Britain and others in the "EU" are not entitled to their opinion otherwise we would have had the referendum we were promised.
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Boilerplated,
thanks for your comment. You are, of course, right. However, I insist it comes down to ignorance when people (such as in the comments I was referring to) keep digging up the EU accounts issue and blame Brussels when in reality it is the individual member states. I don't understand how people fail to see (or rather choose to ignore) this fact. I guess because it would make for one of the better EU-phobic arguments.
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I hope that Caroline Ashton proves the misogynistic whining bigots to be completely wrong, especially including those on this blog and also in Russia.
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Gerry Ando,
I'm sure you did not mean like you said it,(No. 6, to GhostofShihuan) but that smacks of shutting someone up, with a "well placed" prejudiced comment,
Well, I've heard that Asian people would rather settle in the USA, because in Europe, they are not seen nor heard--that Asians are like people who don't even exist.
So, not existing is the European way of dealing with minorities? How quaint. I didn't complain to the moderators, about your comment, since it was fodder for a complaint that all should know about ..here.
Asians in Europe, I'm told by many Asian Americans are not addressed --they are shunned. So, its too bad that Europe is going thru this immigration "thing" when they want a voice in the world.
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How can we have, in Washington, Moscow and Ottawa, a German ambassador, a British ambassador, a Swede ambassador, etc., all 27 of them, and a European ambassador on top of that?
It's as if we had a Californian ambassador, a Floridian ambassador, a Tennessee-an ambassador, etc., all 50 of them, and an American (USofA) ambassador on top of that. We could also do that with all the Mexican states, the Canadian provinces, and so on.
Good grief.
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Gheryando:
Meishan shi, actually. There are no indications that the individual countries will close their embassies and leave everything up to the EU. The back room dealings by each country will continue and everyone will still look out for their own interest. Is the nature of countries. Most agreements in this body will be to promote business interests. I don't blame her, she will be the one blamed for the efforts of others to undermine what a majority may desire. Nations, as such, no longer have the influence they once did, as the banks and investment firms run everything now.
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If the rumours about who funded CND when she was in charge are true, then she won't have any difficulty negotiating with x KGB chief Putin.
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To ghostofsichuan (15):
I wouldn't be so sure of that. Of course we won't have an overnight transformation, but I would tend to think that there will be a gradual transformation where at first small embassies in remote and unimportant countries and regions are consolidate to work via one EU embassy, in time the process will span more important countries.
For example Finland has 74 embassies. Now for long there has been a pressure to save costs, to cut expenditure and to streamline work. One way to save in costs would be to first relocate embassies into a one common EU embassy from where they could all work from. This could also allow other savings, in personnel especially, as the EU could offer different services to the missions of individual countries, for example socio-economic-political analysis and intelligence.
Honestly, I really don't see the need for keeping all those 74 embassies, they could very well work via one EU embassy where there would be a special Finnish section dealing and making the representation of our nation and state.
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As we can communicate electronically now so can the various departments of each country and do. Aside from dealing with the problems of tourist and the housing of spies and rewarding political allies, embassies serve very little purpose. Embassies do spend a lot of effort doing things for businesses that businesses should be paying to do for themselves. This is another historical institution that no longer serves a real purpose but is maintained because of who is involved. Any business with such costs would close the store as unprofitable. As the individual governments did such a poor job of regulating the financial services industries and what followed I have doubt that the EU would do any better or more likely become another bureaucratic shield for such unethical behaviors whose consequences become the burdens of citizens.
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DIPLOMACY
[WILL ROGERS ON DIPLOMACY]
Quote, England has been the Daddy of the Diplomat, the one with the smoothe manners. still going after what he wants, but always a gentleman. You know, that's one thin about an Englishman, he can insult you but he can do it so slick and polite that he will have you guessing until after he leaves your wheather he was friend of foe [September 8, 1929] Unquote.
[Hillary Diane Rodham-Clinton]
1. Hillary Diane Rodham- Clinton the Democrat from Punjab.
1. Hillary saber rattles
2. Hillary didn't even read the resolution for and barely acknowledg's that [1] she voted for the Iraq War or that it was a huge mistake.
3.The Clinton style of management-for example, pitting one faction of staff against another has been a disaster at the State Department.
4. Hillary Clinton's rhetoric has not changed the foreign policy of the Empire, but has created a G.W. Bush II, of Media Messiah Imperial President in the foreign policy dept, Peace thru Wars of Economic Stimulus, Resources and Markets, LET HAVE ANOTHER SURGE, policy.
5. Hillary Rejects the (GZL) resolution of (2002), offer made by all (22) twenty-two Islamic Arab Nations, (35) Non-Arab Islamic nations, and the representatives of the Palestinian People, favoring a (2) state solution, still on the table, and which continues to be rejected by the State of Israel. The compact is the total recognition of Israel, the ending of all hostilities between the signing nations, in return for the total evacuation by Israel of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and a (2) two state solution.
[PEREZAGRUZKA NOT PEREGRUZKA]
Now, as long as Catherine Ashton's,"quiet diplomacy", is one that is also [Right/Correct], Cathy can't be as bad as Hillary, who fly's in on a broom, with media in tow, and get's it wrong, quote You’ve got it wrong,” Lavrov commented with a smile. He then explained that the words the Hillary had choosen – “peregruzka” meant “overloaded” as opposed to “reset” (The correct choice of word should have been ‘perezagruzka’). It would be a mistake to believe that neither President Medvedev or Prime Minister Putin of the Russian Federation would not deal with an individual who got it right without having props, that got it wrong.
Hillary arrived in Moscow in a Winter White Out, an has remained in one, a White Fog, Cathy should be fine coming from London Fog, a Moscow White Fog, will be just a change from gray to white, just in another fog. One should feel confident that Cathy won't overload / peregruzka things to much, but will get things reset / perezagruzka.
HERCULE TRIATHLON SAVINIEN
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In addition to #17 above, the way another EU state is going (Greece) may as well cut costs and hand over some embasies to an EU body, maybe even Ireland could join them, so that would save all of them a lot of money.
But I'm realy stressing to think of what could Catherine Ashton do less well that H. Clinton or any any other big shot is doing now. Lets look at H. Clinton year in office and what has she achieved?
M. East same as before i.e. Israel does as it pleases, Palestinians likewise,
Libanon as above,
Iran - offered new dialog, still no change
Iraq - still at war
Korea - still building bombs
Pakistan - worse than a year ago
Afghanistan - worse than a year ago
Central America - Same as before, any old military person can overthrow a government
South America - Venezuela still all over the place, Colobia still a mess
Africa - No change
Russia - slightly better
China - America behaves better towards China now, not the other way around
Myanmar - Still a dictatorship
Tibet - still under Chinese occupation
So how can Catherine fail on her role? All she has to do to be successful is nothing!!! Even my dead grandmother can achieve that.
So if she manages to reduce embassy costs for some EU countries, I would say that's great success! It will also be proof that quite diplomacy works and is as successful at loud diplomacy!
Let me not start on our other star T. Blair and his great success as the Quartet Representative for peace in the Middle east, he really achieved a lot in his in the last 12 months
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Well, if they have "EU"-embassies all over the place, people like me should use the opportunity to complain about the sick, arrogant nature of the "EU".
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'Catherine Ashton ... said that her job was to "make our voice stronger" on the world stage. '
And who are the "We" she means by "our" ??
It certainly doesn't include me or millions, if not hundreds of millions, who do not want her Greater European Reich.
So on that basis we need to make her voice weaker by trying at all times to undermine her and her Reich by reminding the people of the world that she does not represent us.
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To surrender embassies is, kind of, surrending own foreign policy abroad. But then of course if someone doesn't wish for own foreign policy, but is happy that a combined body takes care of country's interests - what's the embassy for, a rudiment.
Who the poor spies in embassies abroad will be spying for, LOL? For the EU in general? I'm worried for poor guys' morale.
MariaTee, and what will the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs do, if all 27 countries will be represented by 1 chap/chapesse? They have historical specialisation split, experts in individual countries, for centuries, built up files and records and all.
We'll have then LOL a Foreign Affairs Ministry on strike :o)))) a hunger strike, demanding jobs back :o)))))
With "Putin, Medvedev, unwilling to talk with "- typical Polish insinuations. They'd talk to anybody, everybody, all at once or give anyone - if Ukraine starts routing away gas again. The problem is not the person to talk with, whoever will it be - if Ukraine won't pay and, unwilling to freeze off, will grabatise the European gas - what can any one on earth do about it?
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ChrisArta, why so pessimistic? :o)))) I know of one change, only forgot what country. Somewhere where there is a president that is being shifted between two? countries? a small country, what's the name? There are two presidents there now, the former who wants to be recognised as one, and the newly elected days ago? And the newly elected is a Russian student, studied smth here, returned home and got elected.
So there is a definite change for better, recent graduates get jobs as if no crisis, and all.
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Nigel Farage's very good speech can be heard here.
http://www.ukip.org/
However he does in my opinion make one mistake. He refers to Ashton and Wotsisname as 'political Pygmies.'
I consider that to be an insult to Pygmies and I think he should withdraw that remark.
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Web Alice,
I found 3 books on Richard Sorge on Amazon-uk.
(THIS IS SO OFF TOPIC SO MAYBE ANNOYING SO SORRY TO ALL)
BUT, amazon (u have to use uk url HAS LOTS AND LOTS OF BOOKS on the past but you have to browse for the most non-propganda type books)
So, here they are, that I found:
"Stalin's Spy..."
"Target Tokyo..".
"Heroes of the Soviet Union (WW2)..."
I think I will buy the last two books for myself. But, if you go to Amazon (uk, at least) you can view these books (descriptions) and read fascinating stories -- that you already know, but I find the
"forbidden knowledge" (information type books that are fresh truth to me),,, just fascinating, plus I like biographies or fiction of how it really was during the Soviet period,
Which we liberals in America did have an idea that it wasnt a bad place to live ..after Stalin. All I know is that the USSR was relatively focused on its own society after, say, Stalin--not the enemy situation, yes?
No offense meant for any ignorance.
That is all I know from history of the USSR, so it IS interesting. It probably already was a normal nation as far as the citizens were concerned-, before the end of the cold war---How profound lol:)
David
PS you dont need to address this right away as your attentions may be elsewhere--current topic :)
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Hercule,
No offense, but have you thought that maybe when you demonise certain places and people, you end up promoting them as heroes to your political opponents.
I think H.R. Clinton is just being a public servant at the moment and is more concerned on her success in this role. Whether she has done anything substantial--how can you know till at least 3 more years of her ..duties?
Then see what good things are attributed to her and then villify or show that what information is just propaganda. That would be so much more impressive to the reader. :)
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I'm fed up with all this subtle nuance nonsense. Say what you mean and say it clearly because I am finding it difficult to understand what people are trying to do with their insinuating talk. That just makes people feel even more on edge. Unless you talk and say what is exactly on your mind people distrust you.
There is clearly a lot of embarressment happening about all these economic goofs and the scale of them and anxiety about what the result is going to be.
Are we going to try and calm this hysteria or stoke it up until we can't take any more?
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David
whats your problem with my comment? You're talking about asian immigration while we talk about the EU foreign minister. Are you sure you're on the right blog? btw, are u asian?
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@25
EUprisoner209456731
You are right about the 'political Pygmies.' comment been wrong, especially coming from a 'politican Nobody' :) She is a giant compared to his political height!
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23. WebAliceinwonderland
"what will the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs do, if all 27 countries will be represented by 1 chap"
They won't, individual European countries are not ready to give up their individual representations at the moment. It would be very impractical as immigration laws, entry tariffs for various goods, etc. are not the same in the countries of the EU for one thing. The problem will be that Germany will have its embassy, and so will the EU; which one do you talk to for what?
I fear that by forging ahead too fast this chimera that the EU has become will eventually fall apart the same way the USSR did, and a great opportunity will have been lost.
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@31
At least in theory tariffs for various goods should be the same across the EU, also immigration is getting harmonised, so those two areas are getting the same across all member states. The new service headed by Ashton will handle all EU foreign aid to other countries and it will represent the EU in areas that all 27 member states agree. It is not planned as a service the replace the foreign affairs departments of member states. It is not a service that will tell people "you are with us or you are against us". As to who will deal with the Ukrainians or how to deal with them, no one knows. Not even the Ukrainains have a clue how to deal with themselves. Even if someone had a clue how to deal with them, who do you deal with? The president or the primeminister? and what deals do you make with them? So really not that I care one way or another about Ashton, but until someone can tell us where other politicians better known have made much progress and great success in the last few years, I'll keep repeating that Ashton will be as successful as everyone else.
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"30. At 08:52am on 18 Dec 2009, ChrisArta wrote:
@25
EUprisoner209456731
You are right about the 'political Pygmies.' comment been wrong, especially coming from a 'politican Nobody' :) She is a giant compared to his political height!"
*cough*
I think if you did a poll before this farce asking who knew Nigel Farage and Catherine Ashton, you would get more for Nigel somehow.
Plus of course Nigel Farage has the advantage of actually being elected by the people...
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"4. At 4:18pm on 17 Dec 2009, Gheryando wrote:
Read the comments on the article. Utter ignorance."
In line with your well thought out response to the comments, I would like to reply in kind:
Diddums...is someone not playing your debase yourself to Brussels game then?
Some of us have free will whether you like that or not.
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22. At 10:38pm on 17 Dec 2009, EUprisoner209456731 wrote:
"It certainly doesn't include me or millions, if not hundreds of millions,"
...and who are these "millions" you talk of, it certainly doesn't include me (I speak for my self, no one does it for me) and many on this blog I suspect, talk about the pot calling the kettle black and being the biggest hypnotic of all.
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Perhaps you could outline how you disagree with the idea of her being a messenger for many nations with many agendas, who will not be happy with handing out power if they can avoid it (unless it gets them more power in return).
Jukka has hit upon the only way I can find even vaguely feasible of her making something of this role (The EU embassy in tiny countries). If she can get them all in the same building with an eye to merging them later, then even that would be a step forward for her agenda.
An agenda I hate obviously.
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25. At 01:07am on 18 Dec 2009, EUprisoner209456731 wrote:
"Nigel Farage's very good speech [..//..]"
Yes indeed, even if a little hyperbolic in places, unfortunately any good work the UKIP and the group they are members of do is off-set by hyped up individuals (posting blogs such as this) being even more hyperbolic and defiantly less thoughtful in their criticisms of the EU than he...
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Gheryando in post 11
"I don't understand how people fail to see (or rather choose to ignore) this fact. I guess because it would make for one of the better EU-phobic arguments."
Just because you don't understand something doesn't mean you are right and they are wrong. People are entitled to make their own judgements. In this case, in my opinion, although you are right that the errors in accounting are made by the member states and not the EU, this only means that the EU's process is bad because it allows it to happen.
In my opinion the idea of the EU is very good ( and I was very pro the EU in 1992 and even voted Lib Dem!) but how ever well intentioned it is it has shown itself to be an organisation that works badly, has proven to be jobs for the boys, is a money sink and is taking us politically to an unknown destination without consultation.
Let me use your argument against you.
I don't understand why people support an extra layer of bureaucracy and an expanding political class which is growing ever more distant from the people. And everyone who doesn’t agree with me is WRONG.
Again this is my opinion. The EU is a bus in which we are all passengers. The steering compartment is curtained off so we can't see who is driving. Every passenger has a destination in mind. It may be the same as their brother passengers, it may be different. We don't know who is driving or which destination he/she is heading towards. We don't even know if the destination changes as the journey continues. Some passengers have a nasty suspicion we are not going in the right direction but we don't know if our doubts are being listened to by those driving. But if we get off the bus are we going to be left in the wilderness?
And for Gheryando's benifit, if he doesn't agree with this analogy then he is WRONG.
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@33
In the arena that those two are playing in Nigel Farage is the unknown one, at EU wide level Ashton is better know that he is. Because of his self publishing effort in the British media, does not mean he is known anywhere else!
So, he is unknown and as far as his political achievents go are less than that of a "political pygmy"
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#39 Apologies Chris. I see where you are coming from now. Amongst the Brussels crowd I am sure Ashton is much more popular amongst the Federalists there. Until recently (considering his colourful parliamentary performances) I would still say Nigel was better known...if not particularly liked. :)
I consider that due to her being completely unelected, she ranks below "political pygmy" status. Not that I imagine lack of voting would put many of her Brussels colleagues off.
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Mr Hewitt!
"Garden gnomes" is surely more than a bit harsh?
Why only the other day Baroness Ashton was seen moving about in a deliberate and co-ordinated manner.
I have heard reports of Msr von Rompuy behaving in a similar style.
Both now have splendid new offices and the furniture is delightful - - baroque in Lady Ashton's case and modular simplicity in the von Rompuy's - - all tastefully at the EU Citizens' expense, but well within budgetary constraints in these parlous economic-climactic times!
'What did they actually do?'
Come now! Let's not get ahead of ourselves: When Paris-Berlin have decided what they want the noble Lady and the esteemed President to 'do' they will be informed.
Until then, be patient, and mind your business: Anybody would think you EU electorate had endorsed these 2 new posts and appointments at the 2009 European Elections instead of turning your backs on the whole process because that is what was done to you at supra-National level re-Lisbon Treaty that set them up!
Impertinent potential little voter-types such as you will show some respect for your betters: Now isn't there a Working Time Directive or Alcohol and Tobacco warning you should be attending to!?
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No, I didn't like your remark to ghostofsichuan--what did he know about 100 years ago in Europe?--he seems to know alot--but you said he was in Gengdu then...I thought it was well placed to shut him up.
But, later he responded nicely, so, maybe I was overreacting. But, didnt think that comment was appropriate is all. So, I will wait till immigration is the topic, but what I said about "unseen" minorites, I will say then.
Sorry, Never mind. lol
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ChrisArta
You mean to say the names of MEPs don't just trip of the EU Citizen-Electorate's tongues in humble reverence!?
About the same as every National Parliament's membership I suppose: If people don't like the message or messenger they tend to switch-off, unless it's a really big beastly political animal - - that is the secret of the EU's success - - nobody in Europe is aware Brussels intrudes every single day in every single life and costs every single person additional taxes in the process.
Farage's UKIP are certainly mere also-rans in UK and in Europe, but they represent a strand of political thought most main Parties and Media (all 'pro-EU' inc Conservatives) would rather not hear about: Contrast the coverage of UKIP with that of the BNP Leadership in the EU Parliament - - every Brit paper slam-dunks the BNP because it is grossly extreme and a disgrace to civilised thought (and yet they got votes!) - - could it be because UKIP and their fellow 'anti' across Europe (and there's quite a number) get such little attention and when they do it is very largely denigratory? So, the more stable Citizen supporters of anti-EU Parties are turning to the 'extemities' of politics as they feel they are being ignored?
When less than 45% of the EU Electorate vote and some 10% of those voters even under Proportional Representation end up with minimal MEPs who are in the main stygmatised by the majority Parties is it any wonder more extreme lements start to find their support developing?
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Angryjohn,
thanks for your response. It is an intelligent one (in my humble opinion). I agree in that the EU is not very "democratic". (In that it involves us). I must say, however, that is not the EU's fault. It is our national politicians who created it the way it is. Anybody blaming the EU should first and foremost blame our national politicians. You reap what you sow. Now, whether there is a need for a 500 million political block in this world of USA + BRIC...you tell me! In my humble opinion without the EU, we would be sidelined and trampled on even more. It will happen anyways. Maybe we will realise then..
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Democracy is a word we have all swallowed which means communism as does capitalism, you should really read "rule by secrecy" and then visit you tube to check out what the illuminists have up their sleeve..Patrick Jordan has their number but it would appear that 99.9% are still willing to have a shepherd tell them everything is ok. This goes way beyond your wildest imaginings, the ordinary man who consumes media could not possibly begin to take in the enormity of what is about to befall him and his loved ones. Eu, nwo, senate, parliament, they are all puppets in the global game and unless you are prepared to look at the real issues facing man you will forever be but fumbling in the dark. The real issue is behind the sun, our sun that is! It has been visible all summer, and only a handful were looking, time for you to take a look. Please check out nibiru proof on youtube and look for beyosoco. suggest you do this alone..
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OP "Catherine Ashton, the EU's new foreign policy chief, today set out her ambitions."
Funny I don't remember voting for The Noble Lady.
This is the EU all over; the plaything of politicians.
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funniinnit
Re #46
"...the ordinary man who consumes media could not possibly begin to take in the enormity of what is about to befall him..".
Buy you, of course, do 'take it in'!
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She is simply the foreign policy mouth-piece to France, Germany and the UK within the Eu. The Eu is a high level chat-room where lots of paper is produced but little tangiable other than a rampant nothingness.
It cannot remove members from itself if they break its rules, they threaten to fine bankrupt nations (like that's gonna work) and due to the vested interests of its larger members v the pretence at power by some of its less worthy parts, couldn't decide on the date if it wasn't decided by an outside influence.
The Eu needs to shake up its internal policies before it can even begin to formulate any foreign ones. These new Eu posts simply create another place at the table.
Admit to federalisation, or go back to being a means of easier trade and border control.
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RE: #47
I am honestly confused by this comment. Lady Ashton was appointed by people who the British people voted for i.e. she was advocated and promoted by the elected labour government. Under a system which numerous elected british governments have agreed to and negotiated.
She will later have her position confirm by the European Parliament - again elected by the British people. I don't understand how that is undemocratic; are the people here that are saying it is - advocating that all public positions be elected directly by the people?
Are you advocating that; Judges, Police, Members of the Foreign Service, Commanders in the Armed forces, etc - all be elected directly by the people??
Seems alot of people don't vote in the elections you already have.
As a final point, I should also point out that technically the British Prime Minister is not directly elected by the people but rather choosen/appointted by his own party.
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