Hooray! The Yanks are going home

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 16.4.11
Publication Date 15/04/2011
Content Type

Commentary feature. As long as they are nestling comfortably under the US security umbrella, Europeans will inhabit a postmodern utopia in which the only thing to do with defence spending is to cut it, writes Philip Stephens. 'It’s time the Yanks went home. Then we Europeans can grow up'.

The author also quotes from a April 2011 report from the Centre for European Reform 'Surviving austerity: The case for a new approach to EU military collaboration' (report by Tomas Valasek) which says that Budget cuts are weakening Europe's armed forces. They will lose important skills unless they save money through collaboration. EU leaders should encourage groups of compatible countries to form military 'islands of co-operation'.

Related Links
Centre for European Reform: Surviving austerity. The case for a new approach to EU military collaboration (CER, 2011 ISBN 978 1 901229 98 1) http://www.cer.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/attachments/pdf/2011/rp_981-141.pdf
CER: Press Release, 13.4.11 http://www.cer.org.uk/pdf/pr_981.pdf
ESO: Background information: Obama to Europe: bon courage http://www.europeansources.info/record/obama-to-europe-bon-courage/

Subject Categories
Countries / Regions ,