Information Related to "World News Review June 1999"
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In Brief... World News Reviewby Darris McNeely, Cecil Maranville and John Ross SchroederA European Army or NATO - Which? Romano Prodi, the new President of the European Commission, recently called for the creation of a European army as the next logical step in quest of Europe's integration. He also designated the Commission as the government of Europe. Signor Prodi spoke of Europe being marginalized unless it possessed its own defense rather than having to rely so heavily on the United States. The British government was shocked by Mr Prodi's replies on a BBC interview program called On the Record. Reaction from No. 10 Downing Street was swift. A government spokesman stated that "NATO remains the cornerstone of our defence capability. We are not in favour of a European army." Conservative Shadow Defense Secretary John Maples was even more pointed in his rejoinder: "This is yet another step towards a European state. The single currency, a single fiscal policy, a common foreign policy and joint armed force constitute a state." Will NATO Survive? The NATO air effort over Yugoslavia has suffered a number of damaging "mistake bombings." Criticism in the press has been mounting steadily. Some have even suggested scrapping NATO. Wrote journalist Robert Fisk: "As a citizen of the new, modern Europe...I don't want Europe to be 'protected' by the U.S. If that means the end of the Atlantic Alliance, so be it. Because an Atlantic Alliance that has brought us to this catastrophe should be wound up. Until it is, Europe will never-ever-take responsibility for itself or for the dictators that threaten our society.... Until NATO is dead, there will never be a real European defense force." Strong words those. The drive for European unity appears to be relentless. While Romano Prodi spoke of achieving an army separate from NATO in years, "Germany's Rudolph Scharping gave a December 2000 deadline for the establishment of a rapid response infrastructure that will end dependence on the U.S." A decent future for NATO certainly appears to demand at least a partial success in the Balkans. A failure or a poor compromise could spell the end. There are far too many voices demanding a "European-only" army. Actually, NATO itself has already taken a significant step in the direction of such an army. According to a Daily Mail report from Washington, D.C., "NATO agreed to make a huge chunk of its military capability available to the European Union to use as it pleases when conflicts flare across the continent." This decision was made during NATO's 50th anniversary celebration in the United States. The British are very nervous about these developments and feel themselves seriously threatened as the steady erosion of their national sovereignty continues unabated. Leaders in the highest echelons on the Continent have periodically spoken of a United States of Europe-eventually wielding enormous powers over member states. (The Times, May 10; The Daily Mail, April 26, May 10 and May 11; The Independent, May 13.) Papal Authority to be Universal An Anglican and Roman Catholic joint commission has recognized the Pope's overall spiritual authority, depicting him as a "gift to be received by all the churches." The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, recently stated: "In a world torn apart by violence and division, Christians urgently need to speak with a common voice, confident of the authority of the gospel of peace" (emphasis ours). Following five years of intense debate, a 50-page paper was recently published by the joint commission. Its frightening conclusion was that "only the Pope has the moral authority to unite the various Christian denominations." Said the Anglican Bishop Arundel and Brighton, "The primacy of the Pope is a gift to be shared." (Electronic Telegraph, Issue 1448, May 13, article by Oliver Poole) Bleeding Virus Hits Congo A new epidemic of an Ebola-like illness has killed at least 63 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, health officials have said. Congolese Health Minister Mashako Mamba said on Friday that the symptoms of the disease were similar to those of the deadly Ebola virus - but added that no testing had yet been done. The World Health Organisation [sic] said several symptoms-such as respiratory problems-did not correspond with those of Ebola.... The WHO said 63 people out of 68 cases had died of the viral haemorragic fever since the beginning of the year. Fifty-eight were men aged 15-35. Mr. Mamba said the country was confronted by an epidemic. He told a news conference that the disease had killed 50 people in the northeastern town of Durba between mid-January and mid-March. There have also been reports that the virus is spreading towards Sudan, after starting in the rebel-held northeast (BBC, May 3, 1999). The Emerging Indonesian Crisis and its Strategic Implications Idonesia's coming presidential elections have created enormous social and political tension domestically, and they have significant strategic implications. With U.S.-Chinese relations at their lowest point in years, the possibility of confrontation over Indonesia is substantial. Indonesia is vital strategically, sitting astride the trade routes between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Everything from Japanese oil supplies, to Singapore's banking system and U.S. power projection in the Persian Gulf, are at risk in an Indonesian crisis. The crisis is also an opportunity for China to do what Russia did in Yugoslavia: make it clear to the United States and the region that China cannot be excluded from the regional dynamic and that the U.S. does not have the ability, without Chinese cooperation, to act in Asia. Everything is in place for a crisis that could dwarf Kosovo in global significance (STRATFOR's Global Intelligence Update, May 10, 1999). India and PakistanTrade Punches The CIA describes the India-Pakistan border as the most dangerous in the world. Last month that area erupted again as troops from both nations traded fire. Since 1947 three major wars have been fought between the two countries over this disputed region. It has been especially critical since last year's testing of nuclear devices by both countries. In a May 30, 1999 column Toronto Sun journalist Eric Margolis has this to say about the clash: "The 52-year old struggle over divided Kashmir went critical last year when India and Pakistan revealed their nuclear arsenals. Both sides have air-delivered nuclear weapons and are deploying medium-ranged ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads: India, its "Prithvi" and "Agni" systems; Pakistan the new "Ghauri" and "Shaheen" missiles. All of Pakistan, and much of northern and central India, are now under threat of nuclear attack. These missiles, and nuclear-armed strike aircraft, are at hair-trigger readiness. Both sides have at best a 3-minute warning of enemy attack. A false alarm, or a major upsurge in fighting over Kashmir, could trigger a "use-them-or-lose them" nuclear exchange which, RAND Corp estimates, would kill 2 million people immediately, cause 100 million casualties, and send clouds of radioactive dust around the globe. |
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Related Information:
Other Articles by Darris McNeely
Other Articles by Cecil Maranville
Other Articles by John Ross Schroeder
Origin of article "World News Review June 1999"
Keywords: Kashmir pope Congo disease epidemics India Pakistan European Union - military Indonesia
Congo:
