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posted by martyb on Wednesday November 07 2018, @09:37AM   Printer-friendly
from the who's-da-boss? dept.

France's Macron Calls for Creating a 'European Army'

French President Emmanuel Macron called for the creation of a "true European army," issuing a sharp critique of trans-Atlantic security ties days before U.S. President Trump is due to visit France.

Europe's security ties with the U.S., which have been a bedrock of the continent's stability for decades, have come under strain as Mr. Trump has demanded more military spending from European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and questioned the alliance's benefits for the U.S. Such tensions have led Mr. Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to publicly question whether the continent can still rely on the U.S. to come to Europe's defense.

Mr. Macron went a step further by grouping the U.S. among foreign powers he considers a potential threat to the continent. "We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America," Mr. Macron said on French radio.

Mr. Macron made the remarks as part of a weeklong tour of World War I battlefields ahead of the centenary of the Nov. 11 Armistice, when the French leader is due to host Mr. Trump, Vladimir Putin of Russia and many other heads of state.

Also at Newsweek.

Emmanuel Macron: Six held in 'attack' plot against French president

Six people have been arrested in France on suspicion of planning to carry out a "violent" attack on President Emmanuel Macron, officials say. The individuals, reported to be five men and a woman, were picked up by the French security services in Brittany, north-east and south-east France.

An investigation is now taking place into a "criminal terrorist association", a judicial source said. Details of the suspects and the alleged plot have not yet been released.


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  • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday November 08 2018, @02:04AM (2 children)

    by bob_super (1357) on Thursday November 08 2018, @02:04AM (#759266)

    > They didn't seem to have a problem with George W. Bush, who comprised those qualities also.

    [blink]
    [blink]
    Did you forget your appointment to talk to your doctor about your memory ?

    Let me give you a hint: "Freedom Fries".

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Thursday November 08 2018, @02:55PM (1 child)

    by Phoenix666 (552) on Thursday November 08 2018, @02:55PM (#759375) Journal

    Ahem, it is you who ought to have your memory checked. You're talking about France opting out of the "coalition of the willing." Also, that was the invasion of Iraq. Our allies were happy to go after the Taliban before then, because America had just been attacked and we were still the good guys at that moment.

    Nobody in Europe was talking about an EU army then, despite the absurdity of the invasion of Iraq.

    --
    Washington DC delenda est.
    • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday November 08 2018, @05:14PM

      by bob_super (1357) on Thursday November 08 2018, @05:14PM (#759424)

      You are perfectly correct, while not answering what I said.

      I was commenting on "not having a problem with [W]".
      "opting out of the coalition of the willing", including record-setting street demonstrations, is sadly only a small part of having a problem with W.