James Lawless – View from the Tracks

The above is partly tongue in cheek, but it was an argument I heard from a despairing Yes campaigner in the aftermath of Friday’s Lisbon results. The logic is that the EU’s only chance of survival in an increasingly big boy’s pool, is to assume superpower status itself by closer and more coordinated cooperation between member states. In particular, it is feared the US neo-con element sees the EU’s difficulty as the US’s opportunity and rumours abound as to the level of ‘assistance’ received by Libertas and co on the campaign trail.

The “no cheese” diet did have some positives

It’s certainly fact that John Bolton, US former ‘colourful’ ambassador to the UN, was in Ireland campaigning for a No vote and it is not unreasonable to suggest that the hawks state-side may sleep easier since the result. In fact amidst talk of US plans for missile installations in Poland and other eastern member states, it’s pretty ironic that some No voters were scared off by hysteria whipped up around a European army. Whilst such a thing was never in the treaty, it’s worth recalling how the sides stacked up the last time there was trouble brewing in the middle east, the core European players in particular, during the Iraqi invasion. With all the talk about conscription and unfettered imperialism, surely we must remember Germany and France high fiving the US military and standing shoulder to shoulder with Monsiuer Bush, whilst plucky little Ireland was berated for our firm neutrality, “bacon and cabbage eating surrender monkeys” and all that guff, all the while F16s and renendition flights filled up their frog-livered fuselages at Charles De Gaulle International en route to the Gulf.. Hmmmm…

Anyway as I say, bit tongue in cheek, in the words of Eminem “I’m just playing America”…but still never a truer word spoken in jest and all that..

Whilst it wasn’t what I voted for, I do respect the poll outcome and I shall attempt to analyse it and the wider repurcussions over the next few days. I have many initial thoughts, too many for one page in fact, so I’ll make this a series. More later..