Comments on Global Power Europe: Guns ready, fire!

Dear Wren: Apologies for not responding sooner, bu...

2009-01-13T16:55:00.000Z

Dear Wren: Apologies for not responding sooner, but I have been busy with some reports. It seems though that since my last response, HMS Northumberland has been taking part in the E.U. naval flotilla. According to the European Union's website, it completed the first part of the mission on

Hi James,I do understand your points - however som...

2008-11-13T20:30:00.000Z

Hi James,

I do understand your points - however some fact speak for them selves.

Firstly, I stand corrected, the EU did announce it's anti-piracy plan earlier than NATO (the 2nd October compared to the 9th for NATO)

Secondly HMS Northumberland was already committed to Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) and was due to take part in visiting various ports in the Middle

Hello Wren: Thanks for the post. You are (now) rig...

2008-11-13T15:48:00.000Z

Hello Wren: Thanks for the post. You are (now) right about HMS Northumberland, although my article was written quite some time ago before everything was finalised. At the time, the media were reporting that London had pledged to send the warship to assist.

The European Union operation was announced before the NATO task force was proposed. So it is NATO who are at fault here,

James,As always a well thought out and interesting...

2008-11-13T13:58:00.000Z

James,

As always a well thought out and interesting article, however I must point out a few things;

Firstly HMS Northumberland is part of the NATO task force to combat piracy in the region and not the EU one.

Secondly the UK has agreed to command the EU task group, but has not committed any ships. (although interestingly Norway a non-EU member has pledge a ship to the

We need a news Pompeius, nice one. But maybe Brita...

2008-10-29T11:41:00.000Z

We need a news Pompeius, nice one. But maybe Britain has to rethink its policy concerning pirates: As I am informed, British warships are actualy supposed to give seized pirates a chance for asylum, if they demand so.

It also should not be forgotten, that oil is much more then energy. The petrochemical industry reprocesses large parts of raw-oil and turns it into hundreds or thousands

Mrs. Ana Gomes is seen as a maverick by her own po...

2008-10-29T11:36:00.000Z

Mrs. Ana Gomes is seen as a maverick by her own political party PS (Socialist Party) here in Portugal. The Portuguese socialist party under Socrates is as socialist as Labour was under Blair. But an uncompromising left wing remains inside the party, albeit rather on its fringes. Mrs. Ana Gomes, a moral militant against the evils of "american anarco-capitalism", unable to find a suitable place for

I have a slight moral problem with pirates on a ra...

2008-10-21T09:44:00.000+01:00

I have a slight moral problem with pirates on a rampage, taking crews hostage and extorting huge ransoms, long before the lights go out in Portugal or anywhere else in Europe.

We need a new Pompeius.

Hurrah! Annihilate the enemy

2008-10-20T17:29:00.000+01:00

Hurrah! Annihilate the enemy