Army Story 06-24

Jerusalem Compassed with Armies

Clearly this single prophetic event will take place with great swiftness. We will post stories of any troop movements in the Middle East and any stories relating to increased military power among the nations.

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Time For Europe to Act
by Israel Rafalovich

Something has clearly changed on the international political stage, something that gives the European Union an unprecedented opportunity to bring stability and an end to a violent conflict in the Middle East, without the need to have someone's permission to act.

Europe is capable of conducting an active foreign policy and has the ability to commit the necessary financial, diplomatic and military resources in order to bring the so much needed stability and peace to the Middle East. Taking into consideration that the roadmap is going nowhere and the peace negotiations are deep in the mud.

The European Union must dare to be more involved in solving conflicts and to be engaged in peace missions.

Europe is needed on the international stage and should play a decisive role in calming conflicts, as is the case now in Lebanon. It must act in a prudent manner and not as if it is a superpower, and at the same time, should seek to become a counterbalance to the United States on the international stage.
That is why, a European leadership is now especially in demand.

The European Union is still seen, in the Middle East, as a credible broker, and therefore should use its diplomatic wit and the economic leverage to push through a European solution to the conflict in Lebanon and the Middle East in particular.

Europe's historical ties to the region are a source of diplomatic strength and will give Europe options for negotiations that rival those of the United States.
This is also a European opportunity to develop a foreign policy that will enable Europe to deal not only with the crisis in the Middle East, but also elsewhere, around the globe.

It is an opportunity as well as a challenge to be able to walk alone again on the international stage - without American crutches.

The standing of the United States on the global stage is at best, on very shaky ground.

The “war against terror” is far from being won. The situation in the Middle East damages the image of the United States and its political and military credibility crumbles.

The United States diplomatic manoeuvring possibilities in the Middle East are limited now because of the fallout from the Iraq war.

Much will depend on how seriously Europeans will be taking their commitment to policing south Lebanon while face tough opponents.

The bottom-line will be if this activity will amount to anything substantial. Existing strains among several European Union member states puts a question mark over what the E.U. will be able to deliver.

Europe will have to convey forcefully the message that even if it is sometimes does not speak with one voice, when putting forward it's foreign policy, it is not two-tongued when it comes to the Middle East. It has to be made clear that it is a mistake to over-estimate Europe's internal political disagreements.

It is of importance that Europe will revitalize a decisive policy of active engagement on the international stage in order to be able to reverse the cycle of tensions and violence around the world.

Furthermore, Europe should use existing mechanism in order to be able to hold accountable those who act against legal and moral norms. Europe must stand united behind its values.

Europe's strength lies in remaining impartial and at the same time, being able to point out wrongdoing by all involved sides in the Middle East.

If the ability to project force is now the sign of an independent European foreign policy than Europe is at last getting more bold and resolute in its action.

Since the war in Iraq, European states have supported most areas of the European Union's foreign policy, but in order to make the E.U. foreign policy more assertive, policy making and the involved institutions must be streamlined.

Europe needs to declare clearly what it understands and what it means when it talks about freedom and human dignity, as these are the prerequisites for a serious and frank dialogue with other cultures and all religions.

Europe must change the diplomatic dynamic on the international stage if it wants its leadership to be accepted and avoid the entire European foreign policy losing its credibility.

One can only hope that courage and political imagination will secure Europe's future in a fast changing world.

Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report

Source

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