The New Triple Alliance.

international | anti-war / imperialism | opinion/analysis Tuesday April 01, 2008 10:30 by Jim

Britain, France and Germany make common purpose

Last weeks visit by Sarkozy signals the end of France's rebellion against NATO and the US/UK Anglo-Saxon sphere.

The continuing expansion of the European Union has already created tensions with Russia where its influence is strong in the Ukraine.The European Union already extends from the Iberian peninsula to the Ukrainian border, from the Arctic circle to the Mediterranean.
Except for Protestant Britain, Scandinavia and Northern Germany and Muslim portions of the Balkans, the majority of Western and Central and Eastern Europe has a Roman Catholic heritage and history. It is obvious that the Roman Catholic Church led by Pope Benedict (who is of course German) is seeking to aggressively revive ingrained Catholicism in Europe which is latent despite superficial secularism and establish its political importance once again within "Christian Europe." The increasing ties between the Orthodox East and their shared fear of encroaching Islam and Russian power in Eurasia. The conversion of Tony Blair to Catholicism and the influence of Catholicism in the voting over embryology in the Commons demonstrates the increasing power of Rome.
Political and economic integration and envy of American power implies greater European military co-operation.
The establishment of an European Army has been in progress for decades anyway with the use of 5.56mm small arms by most European armies even neutral nations like Ireland and the development of the Eurofighter which will be the backbone of a new European airforce. The powers have only to finalise which model of main battle tank (e.g. the AMX, Leopard, Challenger etc) and the makings of a ground army is established.
What will this mean for Ireland?
The presence of Sinn Fein in government in Northern Ireland and increasing talk of "Irish unity" means that Ireland is an ideal starting point. Greater co-operation North and South and the close relationship between Dublin and London means that that Irish independence is being slowly dismantled.
Bishop Martin of Dublin is also taking a greater role in public life while the scandals of the last decade gradually recede and Roman Catholicism in Ireland experiences a rival by the deliberate encouragement of Eastern Europe Catholics to work in Ireland in the greatest social engineering project in Ireland since the Plantations.
The front door to Europe is Ireland with its Atlantic ports that in the past might have played a vital role in the Battle of the Atlantic against Nazi Germany or to combat the Red Banner Fleet during the Cold War.
The seas between Iceland and Ireland are the strategic route into the oil rich Arctic.
As Russia places its claim on the Arctic expect Europe to close the door to the US.
The 21st century is witnessing a new scramble for Africa as European armies once again are present in West Africa and are due in Sudan.
The great empirial rivalries of Russia, Europe, China, India and the Americas led in the North by the Yankees and in the South by the new Bolivars such as Chavez will decide the future of this century.