Europe's Galileo Program In Serious Trouble

elrous0 writes "Various news outlets are reporting that Europe's Galileo program is facing a serious financial and technical crisis and may be permanently stalled. The European program, designed to be a superior answer to the US's GPS — and, more critically, not controlled by the US — has faced numerous hurdles since its inception. To date the Galileo program has succeeded in launching only one of its 30 planned satellites and has been beset by delays and cost overruns. Apparently, squabbling between the eight companies in the consortium behind the project is responsible for many of the problems. The project is now threatened with an EU takeover. But some doubt that even an infusion of EU capital can save the flagging program."

Comments

The important question is...

[Monkeyman334]

How can we blame the US for the setbacks?

Re:I'm not surprised...

[hyfe]

Huh? The EU started out as, and effectively remains, an economic organization. How did they "keep the peace".

By making the countries of Europe dependant on each other. Wars have a strange tendency to only happen when the political elite stands to profit from it.

If anything, I would credit the relative peacefulness of Europe in the last 50 years to cohesiveness against the external soviet threat, combined with the massive US subsidy of European defense budgets.

That's certainly another factor. I would however say that while this was very important for allowing Europe to kickstart, it was next to inconsequental in the 70's and later, because we were rich "enough" anyways to do both.

Don't worry - it won't last. Sooner or later, European countries will have to start footing their defense bill.

I'd rather say the US spends a ridicilously large amount on offence, rather than the European countries too little. We learnt the hard way the consequences of projecting hard power onto other countries, you're learning it now. Hopefully, it's a lesson we're not forgetting anytime soon.

and I predict we'll see open warfare between (soon-to-be) former EU nations within 20 years.

Not a snowball chance's in hell! We'll see open warfare between Republicans and Democrats before we see any western european countries at wars with eachother. Open hostilities within countries between demographics; maybe. Nationstates vs Nationstate; never!

Re:EU management prowess

[necaris]

FYI, Concorde wasn't an EU project, and neither is Airbus. GALILEO is stalled largely for political reasons, and the large number of often conflicting players in its political system is down to the open and democratic nature of things. Could things be done quicker with one controlling interest, an overflowing military budget, and contracts awarded based on nepotistic connections -- American style? Maybe. But then again, maybe not... I don't know a great deal about GPS but I bet that was like most US defense contracts -- ten years behind schedule and a billion dollars over budget. GALILEO's nowhere near that bad. Yet.

Mod Parent Up!

[Adambomb]

Disclaimer: I am a Canadian.

Applekid has hit the nail on the head in the way most people i know who ARENT american perceive america as a whole. Yes there is hyperbole, and I'm sure a significant fraction would be based entirely on humanities "mock what you fear, hate what you fear" mentality.

However the reason most RATIONAL people outside the US have this mentality is usually more to do with the intent of american foreign policy and the complete disregard for the rights of non-americans in the world. Sure they arent covered under your constitution but isnt the US constitution what americans should regard as their highest laws? Does a foreigner somehow not deserve such things as life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness?

Look into your own history, dont go by your AP US history courses. Read up about Reza Shah and american relations in Iran. Read up on early Iraq and the division of the middle east. Read up on the fact that the turmoil in israel is really more a british creation than american (one HUGE misconception that i'm sick of hearing is about america creating israel, although america WAS the impetus for completing the plan). Read up on the Iranian oil well conflict, and the involvement of the CIA.

Add to this history a climbing majority of fundamentalist rhetoric spewing forth from todays america (the vocal majority, obviously theres sanity underneath but they dont appear to shout as loud) and you have what looks like a theocracy in progress. (And of course the point of theocracy would be to get extra experience for your military units!)

Theres many MANY more reasons, these are just the ones that pop first to my mind. I wont bother claiming anything here as these past posts are flamebait enough, draw your own conclusions as to why us foreigners might be leery of the US if you actually care.

Re:Why there's nobody fighting:

[encoderer]

If you REALLY "got it" then why did you call it "criticism?"

Don't lie... you know you didn't get it... that's OK, though.

Re:I'm not surprised...

[fm6]

This isn't Wikipedia. I'm allowed to use my critical thinking skills.