US disapproval of new international war crimes court

[Northlander]

To sum up. The day an American soldier stands accused and tried by a Syrian judge for human rights violations is the day the day that Damasus is either a smoking hole in the ground or the site of a Disney Theme Park.

No syrian judge would be able to do that until they too signed up.
Which they of course would not dare since they are afraid that USA would indice their soldiers. It seems to me that the only nations not signing up are the nations that are afraid their soldiers might get into a "situation". We all know the list of those countries. Interesting that the brits and french etc are not so scared of syrian judges.

[minusthejihad]

1. That's because the Brits and the French don't do much. They send in "token" trops and usually do not engage in the actual offensive, which always has iffy situations. And the British deserve muh more respect in that regard than France. France and their military, let's face it, is a joke.

2. I's also because the Brits and the French have let in enough Muslims to sway popular opinion. Why would they be scared of a Syrian judge, when they do business with Syria or their neighbors?

3. Why is it necessary to even compare the Europeans (how do you say "impotent" in your language anyway?) to the Americans? Why should the US, Israel, or the world care about what the Europeans think? The English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Italians, Turks, and even Greeks had a dominating effect on the world years ago. Well, sorry to break it to you, they don't anymore, especially in terms of military might, and non are considered Super Powers. What effect do they really have, except blowing horns? So what difference is it if Uganda or Georgia or France or England have something to say? In light of WW3 going on, it would be great to have them on "Our side", but really, what difference would it make if they just stayed liberally nuetral, they already do with the support they provide to terrorists. I for one, am worried what China may say or do, not the EU.

In my view :

America is the big boy in the world.
Israel is the little brother that helps absorb trouble for America.
England is the little dog that jumps up, waiting for a pat on the head, but like a dog, sometimes it forgets who its master is and occasionally wants to be pet by strangers.
And France, well France is the smelly, lazy, unemployed cousin that crashes on your couch and then bitches at you for trying to clean up his messes.

[Northlander]

hehe, its funny that me a member of a small non colonial country in the outskirts of europe, negative to the union and traditional european colonialism, always have to sound like a rightwing european half fascist when I oppose your ideas.

You are not accurate at all in your views of the world order.
US is big boy I agree. But only military. Your aconomy and infrastructure to be honest are a joke right now. You are losing big time in field after field right now. Look at the dollar. Look at the increase of the national debts. Give the bush administration another period and it will have ruined your economy.
As it is now the EU population excedes USAs and in the next 10year period it will expand even more. The infrastructure is evening out from the rich parts to a more equal level. The production and economical power will pass USAs in the next 20-30 years. Without any doubt. The military is another story but it tends to follow if you look at the history.

Eu does not provide support for terrorists. An outragous lie.

And you are not correct about the military of europe either.
The first troops over the border into yugoslavia from macedonia was british gurkha soldiers. US military played the most important role as always but mainly with its logistic capabilities and air superiority. When it comes to troops on the ground the european special forces plays it even with any US troops. The differences are not in firepower or training but rather in long range striking capabilies and organisation. Resources and quantity with other words. The smoothness of the organisation etc, especially when it comes to large scale operations. Then USA is by far the best country. Quality among professional soldiers are always an subject of speak and most special forces tends to believe that just their own training are the hardest and best. They dont differ much these days.

In a hypothetical fullscale war between France and Israel, Israel would lose. People tends to see the french army in the light of WWII which is about as stupid as it gets. You cant compare large european countries with a small like israel of course but the fact that it defeted several arab armies a couple of times doesnt make it a military superpower. To small navy, to small economy, to small population. Without US intervention it would be blocked and crushed.
But this whole discussion is very hypothetical. EU have no need for a super power army now so we will fortunately not see anything else than joint military operations with the US against terrorists and wars against less developed countries like Iraq.

[Mediocrates]

You are losing big time in field after field right now. Look at the dollar. Look at the increase of the national debts. Give the bush administration another period and it will have ruined your economy.
As it is now the EU population excedes USAs and in the next 10year period it will expand even more. The infrastructure is evening out from the rich parts to a more equal level. The production and economical power will pass USAs in the next 20-30 years. Without any doubt. The military is another story but it tends to follow if you look at the history.

This is wishful thinking repeated every five years or so since 1949. Currently 46% of all R+D spending in the world is in the US. 51% of all defense spending in the world is in the US. Its capital markets are several times that of Western Europe and less fractured by having fewer exchange markets and fewer restrictions on capital.

The EU has debt and deficit regulations for entire countries that endanger economic stability in Portugal and poorer countries similarly. It's resources will be stetched to the max as it incorporates new Eastern European states in that it will have to subsidize their shaky financial conditions just to meet the minimum rules that the EU has set for the conditions of membership.

The Euro is finally reaching its exchange rate goal (parity) of US1.11 which is where it was targeted when it was first released. And still the UK refuses to adopt the Euro

German unemployment is (marginally) 40% higher than in the US and for a 10 year span.

Capital isn't leaving the US, it's flowing in. From #2 and #3 foreign sources of capital: UK and the Netherlands.

and on and on....at any rate the reports of our demise have been overstated.

[minusthejihad]

In a hypothetical fullscale war between France and Israel, Israel would lose.

OK, after a world's fair, seeing 4 continents (forgot about Asia), attending many public debates, and witnessing a taping of Ripley's Believe it or Not", that is the second dumbest, most ignorant statement I have ever heard. For the dumbest statement, see www.israelforum.com/board/showthread.php3?s=&postid=16849#post16849

You have got to be kidding me. Israel has by far a much more trained, prepared military. All nukes aside, and if not counting the sheer size of the military, per person Israel has the best military in the world. Besides, when is the last time the French actually fought a real battle? I'll give them the French Foreign Legion, but that's it. Plus, with all the socialists in that country, how many do you think would put down their coffee and get up and fight for anything? May I remind you, France had a ton of Nazi sympathizers and still does. If the French ever had a good military, why did it just roll over and play dead when the Germans came through?