EU Intent on Hosting International Fusion Reactor

Raunch writes "The BBC says that EU is determined to be one of the sites that host the multi-billion-dollar International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Even if they have to do so less-than-internationally: 'If there is no agreement at six we are determined to do it with fewer.' Not only that, but 'The EU wants an agreement on the project before the end of the year'"

Comments

Re:To preempt some things

[SpinyNorman]

It is the US that would largely be shut out, since it's the US that wants it in Japan - to punish France for not being a Bush lackey and supporting his personal vendetta in Iraq. The EU is willing to give the finger to the Japan supporters and pay for it themselves.

The EU has far more sustained fusion experience (via Joint European Torus, etc) than the US, and Bush's idiot politics will make sure that it stays that way.

EU unilateralism hurts world cooperation

[HighOrbit]

So basically the EU is saying "If everybody can't agree, then we'll just pick up our toys and go home and play by our own rules." That kind of unilateralism is poisonous to international relations. It is one thing to go unilateral when you think your *vital* interests (i.e. something you are willing to go to war over) are at stake and a completely different thing to be a unilateralist just to stick your finger in somebody's eye. Fusion research is important, but not something the EU is willing to go to war over, so they should negotiate. The EU should not act unilaterally because to go unilateral will harm international cooperation and sour relations with Japan and the US.

Re:EU unilateralism hurts world cooperation

[G-Man]

Last major war in North America: 140 years ago (US Civil War)
Last major war in Europe: 60 years ago (WW II)

Last conflict in North America: 85 years ago (Pershing pursuit of Pancho Villa)
Last conflict in Europe: less than 10 years ago (Bosnia/Croatia/Kosovo, etc.)

Let's see if the Europeans can go better than fifty years without trying to kill each other, then they can lecture the US about cooperation. My prediction? There will be genocide in Europe within the next forty years - either by Europeans against unassimilated muslim immigrants, or vice versa. The murder of Theo van Gogh and the Dutch mosque burnings in retaliation are just a preview.

French Imperialist Bullies Disliked worldwide

[HighOrbit]

"I can only think of one country that actually dislikes the French at the moment and that's the US"

Um.. have you been following the news lately? As we speak (or read), there are anti-french riots in the Ivory Coast because France is still acting like an Imperial power in Africa. The French are actually engaged in a shooting war with Ivory Coast nationalists who want the French to stop interfering in their country's internal affairs. Throughout its "former" colonies in Africa, France does not hesitate to intervene and play kingmaker.

How about Corsica and the resistance to French colonialism there? The Corsican resistance periodically explodes bombs to try to drive the French out. (I don't condone bombing, but it makes the point that the French are not universally loved). There also has been scattered anti-french violence in other French colonies like New Caldonia. And Algerian islamists (also victims of French imperialism) such as GIA try to strike french targets when they get the chance.

France's opposition to the US war in Iraq had *nothing* to do with priciple and everything to do with

• French national interests in Saddam's Oil industry - The French were willing to let a brutal dictator continue to make mass graves as long as the oil contracts flowed to french companies - blood for oil
• French Gaullist Nationalism - It makes the French feel big and important (and like a first rate power instead of a third rate power) to stand up to America. Regardless of the principles involved, they feel like they are equals on par to the big power and their national pride makes them demonstrate it at every opportunity. That's why De Gaulle pulled out of active NATO involvement - It harmed his national pride to play second fiddle to the U.S.

Re:France paying off Japan with Sadams money?

[Lawrence_Bird]

quoting James Woosley:

Explaining his view that Europe was the main centre of world industrial bribery, he asked "Why ... have we in the past from time to time targeted foreign corporations and government assistance to them?"

"Some of our oldest friends and allies have a national culture and a national practice such that bribery is an important part of the way they try to do business in international commerce ... The part of the world that where this culture of getting contracts through bribery, that actually has a great deal of money, and is active in international contracting is to a first approximation Europe".

"[...] The principle offenders, from the point of view of paying bribes in major international contracts in the world, are Europe. And indeed, they are some of the very same companies -- the companies are in some of the very same countries where the most recent flap has arisen about alleged American industrial espionage."