Shame you didn’t go back an extra generation for VDL’s heritage . It’s as unsavory as it is unsurprising. She is as corrupt as the institution that she allegedly serves.
Oh and Dressage is the most pointless pursuit ever dreampt up by mankind. I tried it once, but was disqualified for over use of the whip.
Is dressage (in Nazi uniforms) and whip something guy in charge of Formula 1 did?
I did not know Ursula was into kinky stuff.
I think now she is well suited for her role.
“Oh and Dressage is the most pointless pursuit ever dreampt up by mankind“.
I won’t have that! It’s Rugby League!
Michael Cazaly
7 months ago
So, the German Empire vs.the Russian Empire Round 3 approaches.
Britain would be well advised to remain on the sidelines this time. Regrettably Britain’s rulers like to strut the world stage, and “lead by example” which always ends in the British populace suffering and becoming poorer. Naturally, not the case for the rulers.
The British were put on the side-lines by WWII. I have just watched the PSB channel documentary about FDR. It makes it clear that Roosevelt and Stalin ignored Churchill and co-operated to get what they wanted and neither cared about what happened to Europe. FDR apparently said Churchill was drunk from breakfast on and that was our problem.
Whether Churchill was drunk or not is irrelevant.
Big Three was really Big 2.5 by the time of Yalta conference or even earlier.
USA provided finance and equipment and Russia cannon fodder.
Britain was just big aircraft carrier of coast of Europe by 1944.
Yes, without uk resisting in summer 1940 after fall of France, liberation of Western Europe would not had happened.
That is why pathetic French winging is so ennoying.
Fortunately as both the CIGS* supposed and ‘Ultra’ intercepts confirmed we were NOT the target for 1940 but merely a distraction to hoodwink Joseph Stalin.
Astonishingly it actually worked!
POSTED AT 0903 GMT and immediately SIN BINNED. Wonderful!!!
Monnet and Salter would be horrified.
There was always a myth of peace that hung about the EU’s claims for itself. The sort of war that was fought between 1914 and 1918 needed huge amounts of coal and steel. The European Coal and Steel Community was a post Second World War creation. No use in preventing a war between Nato and the Warsaw Pact.
Now that there is a European war likened to the one that featured battles such as Verdun, Mother Europe’s intentions, if correctly stated here, have a certain pragmatism.
The EU referendum occurred on the centenary commemoration of the battles of the Somme and Verdun.
No idea why you got so many upvotes?
Probably from people who don’t know recent history?
Whether it was ww1 or ww2 Britain could not allow Germany to dominate Europe.
Because it would become German (or Russian after ww2) colony in the next 10 to 20 years.
And so we have become an American ‘colony’, is that really preferable?
Andrew Boughton
7 months ago
Wow. This is deeply incisive as well as beautifully balanced and crafted, and of course compelling. We are indeed governed by a new Louis XVI, complete with a similar vision of liberalism. Perhaps with a similar outcome, things being as they are.
No, he is correct.
Under Louis XIV France was great power.
Under Louis XVI, it looked great but rotten to the core.
Then we had Corsican midget who run France into the ground and allowed rise of Prussia.
The rest, as we know…
I was think more along the lines of: “L’État, c’est moi”.
Incidentally I would maintain that under Louis XIV France was THE great power and remained so even after its victory in the somewhat debilitating War of the Spanish Succession.
midgit? Do you know anything about French history and Napoleon’s legacy to modern France? He picked up a country in agony after the Revolution and created all of our main institutions that have held France up to this day. Please review your text.
Christopher Barclay
7 months ago
No mention of her incompetence as German Defence Minister.
No mention either of the astonishing rise of our own Catherine Ashton (now Baroness Ashton) to ‘High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy’ without having been a diplomat or ever being elected by any voters to any office.
One of Gordon Brown’s many “top picks” for high office (honourable mentions also to Jacqui Smith, Harriet Harman, Andy Burnham, Hazel Blears, Andrew Adonis, Dawn Primarolo, David Lammy, Dawn Butler, …).
As they say, first rate people hire first rate people …
Nell Clover
7 months ago
Ernst Albrecht wasn’t just a civil servant in the nascent EU. After studying, he basically walked into the position of Chef de Cabinet at the Commission, head of department. An unusually immediate career progression for most, but not for an Albrecht. His daughter has benefited from that same luckiness for career progression, and so too her siblings. They are a hübsche (noble) family that have been so remarkably flexible as to prosper under all of Germany’s governments, all of them.
We mustn’t visit the sins of the family on the children. Except of course if those sins are nepotism and oligarchy. If one looks at the early Commission, it was almost entirely a job creation scheme for continental European blue bloods such was the strong presence of the old hübsche families. Ernst Albrecht was a suitable recruit.
You don’t have to speculate how the new Commission saw themselves. One Ernst Albrecht published a book setting out the grand philosophy for how Europe was going to be run. He was going to try and put this into action almost immediately after another vertiginous rise through the ranks of his new political career to become president of Lower Saxony in 1976. In the late 1990s, I first (scan) read his book because it was on the reading list for those looking at a career with the Commission, so hardly an insignificant book.
Titled “Der Staat, Idee und Wirklichkeit. Grundzüge einer Staatsphilosophie” (The State, Idea and Reality: Outlines of a Political Philosophy), Ernst explains in the highest of high German how people like him need to rule over people like you and I for the greater good. It would be generous to call it paternalistic, I’d call it thinly disguised aristocratic chauvinism. It has some eye-opening things to say (although it isn’t very quotable because of the awful plodding language used) including this gem: “autocracy or the rule of the few creates a better order than rule by the people”.
And that is pretty much how he ruled Lower Saxony. He created a personal fiefdom from a political party he had seized control of, and took great liberties with the loyalty of its voters until, after 24 years and dozens of scandals, Ernst lost his grip on power. Not least of the scandals was the public inquiry in 1986 revealing his role in a false flag operation that led to one innocent man dying in prison. Ernst did a secret deal for a close ally to lead his party in the next election but for him to stay on as president, but his patsy and his party lost anyway. He didn’t take too kindly to any of this, and nor did his family. In fact, his daughter – VDL – saw it as a personal affront by the voters to remove him. Even years later, in her finest impression of an 18th century aristocrat, she described the democratic decision to oust him and his party as a disgrace. VDL’s dismissal of democracy echo the philosophy of her fathers book.
Like her father, VDL seems utterly incongruous in an idealised autocratic governing system, let alone a democratic governing system. Her dismissal of the concerns of ordinary voters and the electoral damage she caused her party would have ended most political careers, but worse than that is the complete absence of any managerial ability. She can’t lead and she can’t manage, so by what metric was she appointed – unchallenged – to President? Even if we accept her dad’s philosophy, out of the few, why on earth her?
Now, that history is just incredibly interesting. The pattern is one of classic liberal fascism, with which I can claim to be very particularly familiar.
Rather intrigued by your translation of hübsche as noble – a more literal and common translation of the word is pretty or perhaps charming – I made a quick Google search for Hübsche Familien which revealed details of a social class below and rather despised by German aristocracy. An English equivalent might be the old established upper middle classes or the professional classes.
I assume the false flag operation you mention was the Celle Loch plot where the German secret services bungled a prison break which was set up to look like the work of the Red Army Faction. The escapee would have been Sigurd Debus. He died as a result of his ten week hunger strike (Google search again). Is that the death you refer to?
I must admit that the rather lofty idea “autocracy or the rule of the few creates a better order than rule by the people” did not leave me shaking with either rage or fear. It is actually an idea worth discussing – especially when we see that rule by the people has become more of a pious hope than a political reality.
Yes, the translation is not exact and describes what they became. They’re more than the English new money industrialists, who for the most part stayed out or governing.? More a new nobility because money *and* power eventually flowed their way and they formed a new dynastic elite.
Yes, Debus. Albrecht’s plotters planted evidence in his cell, evidence that would have seen him not leave prison before he was an old man. We now know he was utterly innocent, so we can very easily imagine why he felt compelled to appeal to the public by hunger strike against a state that was abusing its powers. As it was, it still took years to reveal what Albrecht had conspired with others to do.
Where is the rule by the people? Today I sit in the UK with a legislative programme entirely different to the last manifesto led by a man who wasn’t even elected by his party. The next government will win a majority without a meaningful manifesto. Throughout, uninterrupted, the civil service develops policies and then babysits its ministers (who will be gone in 18 months anyway) to push the legislation through parliament. This arrangement has got stronger after each election since 1970. My type of person has only had the franchise since 1918 and despite all of the preceding issues, for UK citizens this has been the very pinnacle of freedom and human development. We can look at all the cesspits of the world to see where fully autocratic government gets ordinary people.
Has rule by the people evolved (devolved?) into rule by factions, by pressure groups and especially by the pernicious influence of those ever-righteous activists so sure of their moral authority that they see no need to tolerate dissent or even debate?
Perhaps the system of democracy that originated in the small city state of Athens 2.5 millennia ago is no longer a realistic system of governance for the enormous mass societies of our developed world.
Judging by the uninspiring choices that face Britain and America in the forthcoming elections (not to mention how the nations will actually be governed whichever side wins) democracy in its current forms is proving to be deeply unsatisfactory. What alternative is there? God knows! But we should at least begin to put our best minds to the task.
Ugh. This never works because the benevolent dictator, or the enlightened autocracy, is inevitably replaced by the opposite. People forget that China really was opening up and becoming more free during the early days of 2000 – until Xi took over.
This is the thing most people never get about the EU – it might be all rainbow flags and hands-across-the-water now, but once the transfer of power is complete it will inevitably end up run by the sort of people who ought to be in straitjackets instead of holding any power over the lives of others.
This is why democracy – the messy, never perfect, and sometimes downright infuriating system we’ve learned the hard way shouldn’t be messed with – remains the winning formula to date. And I predict that as long as the levers of government power are pulled by humans at all, it’ll remain the best system. Only when the government is run completely automatically by a system to which the concept of power is meaningless, will democracy become superfluous.
That’s totally fair NS. I agree that democracy has been largely hijacked by the bureaucracy, interest groups and NGOs, many funded by govt itself. I’m willing to discuss the evolving nature of democracy. Didn’t mean to be dismissive of a thoughtful comment.
That is rich coming from Churchill, who was a disaster for our country and who’s decisions ensured Britains future poverty and loss of status, and of course brought US hegemony! The man was a fool.
Thank you historian Valentine for that inspired analysis. Not! That’s a truly ridiculous remark. Churchill had many flaws, but he was reason – together with a few noble people in his own and the Labour parties – who ensured this country did not become a vassal state of the Third Reich. France certainly did so.
So, you do everything you can to win the war including begging or borrowing from the Americans – or go under. That was the polarised choice in 1940.
It was certainly not Churchill’s fault that Hitler wasn’t crushed a few years earlier when Germany was militarily much weaker than Britain and France. He was warning against the rise of the Nazi tyranny when very few others wanted to either hear this – or more importantly – do anything about it, which includes the many guilded clever idiots at the University of Oxford!
As for the dreaded “American hegemony” – whose hegemony would you rather have? Theirs, the Soviets, the German National Socialists or the Chinese?
Keep dreaming.
China was just playing longer game.
But still having the same plan: to dominate the world.
Nothing wrong with that from their perspective.
Shame that idiots like Kissinger and American Presidents following his blueprint allow China rise.
Cliché. China didn’t appear to be “playing any sort of “long game” as under Mao it either slaughtered our staff millions of its own citizens and destroying vast amounts of Chinese cultural heritage.
The jury is still out on whether China can become the world hegemon. For a start its internal culture is far less attractive than the American one still is to outsiders. What happens when China starts having its soldiers being killed by islamist extremists for example in various parts of the world? It will have to increasingly take on the difficult role that the United States has had in protecting international infrastructure. Will it do any better than the United States? The Chinese reputation in Africa is already pretty poor, and represents almost a caricature of the worst kind of colonial attitudes. There are major structural and economic issues, and the general point on autocracy, which is that the autocrat becomes surrounded by yes men. But it’s true that West seems to be going through terrible period of self-destructiveness so we will have to see.
How exactly do you propose to stop China?
Have you noticed: Western countries hate themselves, degrade their heroes, disenfranchise their own children with gusto.
autocracy or the rule of the few creates a better order than rule by the people
This phrase (using Google) comes from The World Socialist Web Site and may be unreliable. I’m not saying Albrecht didn’t say it but I would prefer a verifiable source.
Wow. Well informed, much revealing comment. My spidey senses were triggered when the author noted her family fortune was made in silk – fricking silk!! How old is this old money?
I believe her Ilk – the ones who are taking the world to a hellish dystopia – I mean she is likely the puppet of the actual Cabal, Like Biden Trudeau, Sunak and so on – but I believe they are demons of Biblical proportions, although perhaps lesser ones under the true devils who remain hidden.
They met the Devil and sold their soul for power. She is the very face of evil.
Great post, I knew only some of the angles.
Let’s remember though, that VDL only got through selection process because she promised to respect some red lines that PiS drew.
She promised and then renaged.
That is politics, so nothing new here.
Problem is that failing national politicians like her get promoted into EU top jobs, so they don’t interfere in real politics.
Which is pseudo alliance between French president and German Chancellor.
I see VdL’s appointment through a slightly different lens, this article is far too diplomatic about it. She was heaved into her current position in a spectacular spit-in-the-eye for European voters promised “more democracy” before the last election, with repeated assertions that the Commission President would be chosen according to the Spitzenkandidat-process. She was palatable to Macron and Merkel had an opportunity to get rid of probably the worst defence minister Germany ever had.
The way VdL acts is based on the knowledge that no matter how anti-democratic the EU is, no country will ever leave again. Her very appointment is proof that voter sentiment means absolutely nothing in Brussels and this is simply getting more brazen as time goes on.
Look at the unfreezing of EU funds for Poland recently. Until now, payment of some of those funds were made conditional on the judiciary reforms introduced by the PiS government being reversed: the money would only flow once the changes had been made. Now Donald Tusk (strangely a mate of Uschi) is in office, those requirements were suddenly dropped and Poland got the money based on mere assurances from Tusk that the changes will be implemented. There is no guarantee at all he’ll be able to do that.
Whatever happened behind closed doors, the optics of this are absolutely dreadful and confirms voters’ worst impressions of the EU. And irony is: this apparent political nepotism – a sort of corruption, really – is happening as part of a rule of law procedure against Poland.
She was palatable to Macron and Merkel had an opportunity to get rid of probably the worst defence minister Germany ever had.
Plus, she replaced Jean-Claude Juncker, the most repulsive politician in Europe, so she only needed to be better than him to look good.
Great post as usual.
Yes, people forget that Van Der Lier promised more EU democracy to countries like Poland.
That is why PiS was inclined to have her as EU leader over supposedly more “centralising” candidate.
You comments about so called abuse of judicial process in Poland are correct.
Appointment of judges process was never part of EU treaties.
It was always prerogative of countries.
What PiS proposed in Poland is the same process which is in place in Germany and Spain.
Problem is not the process, but whether judicial decisions are aligned with what Germany and France wants.
As Chirac told Polish PM many years ago:
You should be happy to be in EU and do as you are told.
Jonathan Nash
7 months ago
It will be interestingto see whether the peoples of Europe vote for her when she stands for a second term. Oh, wait…
Unfortunately, we, the people of Europe, won’t be voting to elect the European Commission. The Commission is appointed by the Member States’ governments, but needs the approval of the European Parliament to take office. We will, however, be voting in elections to the EP in June.
Reality is:
1) turnout in EU elections is abysmal.
2) no one knows who their EU mp is (great for EU beaurocracy).
3) all this elected Euro mps have no legislative initiative.
They are just rubber stamp for Fourth Reich (sorry EU).
Apart from that why don’t we like it?
Nonsense.
The EU and Von der Leyen are incapable of organising and running anything efficiently. So zero chance they can produce a coherent, credible and strong military and defence policy and defence forces.
These people are talkers. Not doers.
You are more optimistic than me about the efficiency of EU defence spending. 1 Euro of any EU backed defence budget probably translates into 10c of frontline military capability. Plus a massive time lag before any of that happens. Timescales for developing and building defence kit are legendarily slow (except in real emergencies like the Falklands War) and the EU approach isn’t going to improve the batting average here.
It is far more likely this will end up as a state support operation for EU defence industries to “protect jobs”.
Yes, but she was just doing what Soviet agent Merkel wad ordering her to do.
It is amazing how all the remainers on here and other forums suddenly forgot this amazing German politician, Merkel?
The same in uk with useless cow in Scotland.
I’m not that optimistic about it, but the EU is richer than Russia, and has a greater population than Russia, so there is at least some hope. It could do with some more nukes though. It would be unwise to rely on the French. Anyway, the Ukraine war has taught us that Russian military procurement is hardly “best practice”.
I am not saying the EU would operate the nukes. I am saying that more countries in the EU would have nukes. With Britain’s departure, there is only one, and (unfortunately) it’s the French.
Martin M
7 months ago
Yet this dullness is integral to the union’s purpose as a peace project.
And here was me thinking that its purpose was as a free trade zone.
And when it reverts to one, and only that, Britain could well come back in. It’s delusions of empire grandeur and all encompassing self image will (hopefully) eventually trip it up.
If you know your history you’ll know that it aimed to secure peace by free trade. If they secure the free flow of goods (e.g. coal and steel) across borders subject to mutually agreed terms there will be less need to invade to procure those goods as European countries had done for the entirety of their histories.
We take free trade for granted now but it is a relatively recent phenomenon. We’ve been hearing a lot recently the aphorism “when goods don’t cross borders, Soldiers will”. We reinstate these barriers at our peril.
That’s a slightly rose-tinted view of a project that was, and still is, basically about maintaining Napoleonic dirigisme in the face of the ‘anglo Saxon’ democracy imposed under the Marshall Plan. Read the Monnet-Spaak correspondence.
It was not about free flow of goods but about cross share holding of assets.
So, there was no point in bombing factory which was part owned by you.
Your extrapolation from that to war in Europe is melodramatic.
What about helping Ukraine win its war?
Andrew Horsman
7 months ago
Ursula Underhand Liar is just the latest in a long march of ego-driven, self-deceived politicians, mindlessly pounding the ground towards a chimerical Ever Closer Union.
As this pied piper leads Europe to war in the name of peace, telling lies in the name of truth, she goes on playing the twee little tune of “the flight of bureaucracy in to history”, harder and louder. But the crowds are becoming disenchanted with her false, hollow promises of salvation from epidemics, and of equity and justice. They know freedom isn’t slavery to her flimsy, utopian narratives. They are turning away, their attention captured by the sight of her big, neglected palace, built on sand in high hopes of a brighter future seventy or more years ago, finally conceding its debts to nature, and gradually falling down, brick-by-brick, and beam-by-beam.
The crowd, in its wisdom, knows that sooner or later the structure will suffer a final precipitous collapse, enveloping its innocent, delusional residents. Ursula Underhand Liar’s false beliefs will bump up against solid reality, most likely on a battlefield. But no-one can tell how much suffering will, in the mean time, be inflicted by this reality-denying autocratic aristocrat. Who gets to choose the siren tunes to be played after it all does come crashing down?
While I voted for Brexit, idea that EU would just collapse is delusional.
It is more like ideological, quasi religious project.
Till it suits Germany and France, it will carry on regardless of economic inconsistencies.
It took 30 years war in 17th century to sort out new order of Europe.
Let’s hope it is not that again.
I was never that keen on her, but if she is standing up to Russia, she has gone up in my estimation.
Prashant Kotak
7 months ago
There is nothing whatsoever special about von der Leyen, she is a typical and bog-standard product of EU horse-trading, compromises where you invariably end up not picking the best candidates, but instead pick significantly less able people (but more politically savvy) because they are acceptable to a much wider range of technocrats and bureaucrats. Nor is there any evidence that she would have the first clue about doing a competent job of managing the militarisation of Europe in the face of geopolitical threats to the east – people surely haven’t forgotten the sequence of COVID vaccine procurement fiascos, so I wouldn’t say logistics of that type are her strong point. Which begs the question, what are her strong points? Well, I would say she is the Jim Hacker of EU politics, which is about the best that can be said of von der Leyen.
Ursula Von Der Leyen was one of the first sensible German defence ministers in recent times. In my view, she is a very good politician and diplomat. Fortunately for Europe, she happens to be in the right place at the right time.
Cometh the hour, cometh the woman.
She does have a slight blip on her CV, in that she was caught massively plagiarising her thesis for a PhD.
However, in this context, I worked in Germany for many years and knew many other chaps and lassies who did exactly the same. Because having a “Doktor” in front of your name is a right of passage to higher echelons of politics and industry in Germany, and almost obligatory if you want to succeed, cheating is almost ubiquitous.
Like Boris – she is pure evil behind a mask. No less evil than Hi* ler, only she is not out to make her race a super power like Hi* ler because he wanted their success – she is out to make all mankind slaves to the demonic elite, and thus is even worse than him.
She is one of CS Lewis’s ‘That Hideous Strength’. They are all in the West.
I am happy to listen to your explanation why Boris is evil?
Clever but lazy, unfaithful to his wifes or girlfriends, incapable of being effective PM, but evil?
What about Tony Blair then?
Talent my ar*se! What he spoke Latin? give me a break, he was a narcissistic fool and unpleasant, and evil yes, he encouraged the Ukrainian war to continue with countless further loss of life.
Those ‘kids in cages’ which the author says people attributed to Trump’s doing, was actually an Obama move – Obama built those cages and deported more illegal immigrants than has any modern President including Trump – about 3 million. The American Left is opportunistic and hardly rational.
I did not know that.
So it was Obama one real achievement, would not you say?
Richard C
7 months ago
Pretty much a ridiculous article from start to finish. A complete waste of time except for the comments, notably from Nell Clover, which were much better than the actual article.
JR Stoker
7 months ago
Sleeps in a modest 25square metre room? Are you being sarcastic?
That probably includes the en-suite, yoga room, and meditation nook.
Allison Barrows
7 months ago
I can certainly see why a Trump second term would be considered a threat by the EU. He told them that the US is sick to death of paying for their defense and they needed to honor their obligations or make some very painful discoveries.
As for us Americans, we enjoyed four years of peace, a secure border, a good economy, energy independence, and a return of manufacturing to our nation. If Trump manages to survive what the political establishment is clearly setting him up for, he will win in a landslide.
Problem with your analysis (or wish?) is that countries most likely to suffer Russian aggression, like Baltic States or Poland pay already more than 2% of GDP into military budget.
People who don’t are clowns Russian apeasers like France and Germany.
Which, somehow talk about European Strategic Independence.
Total joke.
I can’t speak about France, but the fact that Germany has until recently been so accommodating towards Russia must be laid squarely at the feet of Gerhard Schroeder.
Yeah, he left office in 2005, and he’s he’s spent the time since sucking up to Putin.
UnHerd Reader
7 months ago
The greatly admired, much loved and saintly President of the Commission, our Ursula, was sadly, a veritable disaster as German defence minister, and just about avoided a parliamentary enquiry at the end of her ignominious tenure, a fact which, fortunately, is discreetly overlooked today. All committed Europeans rejoice that she is the chosen one, and give thanks to Merkel and Macron for imposing her rule on us.
Abe Stamm
7 months ago
I don’t understand the title of this article, ” The EU’s American Queen “? Without doing a lick of research, I can confidently claim that 99%, but probably closer to 99.6% of Americans have absolutely no idea who Ursula von der Leyen is. The vast majority of Americans could care less what the function of the EU is, or who it serves. We’re a nation-centric country…and while we’re certainly cognizant of EU members: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, as a whole Americans have only a vague awareness when it comes to: the Republic of Cyprus, Croatia, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia.
In short, von der Leyen isn’t an American Queen…at best she’s a puppet of the U.S. Military Industrial Complex. If she’s positioning the EU to become militarized, the majority of contracts for armaments will have “Made in the U.S.A” stamped on them…or she can kiss her reelection goodbye. Importantly, the EU doesn’t form a military industrial machine without NATO…and the U.S. controls NATO, whether Europeans like it or not.
That may be right, but if it is, it is, then it is time that the EU formed its own military industrial machine.
Brian Doyle
7 months ago
No mention whatsoever of the huge elephant in the room CHINA
who last week by way of a Unnamed Foreign office spokesman ( which means it had President Xi,s approval )
This message was immediately sent in response to last week’s EU parliament
Which has no power to pass legislation
However they issued a statement regards China/ Taiwan
Whereby it stated that Both China and Taiwan had equal rights
This is a complete contradiction of The long standing UN and International position of The One China Policy
China warned that such statements were
Dangerously close to China’s Red line on
It’s Sovereign territory of which Tawain
And it’s waters are Chinese
China clearly stated that to continue with
Such statements and policies Then would have the gravest of consequences for EU / Chinese relations and if adopted
Then major conflict is guaranteed
There is a Old Chinese proverb
‘ Those that Play with Fire end up being burnt ‘
Over to you Von Der Leyen
I detect a whiff of buring flesh here
Taiwan has been an independent country for three quarters of a century. It is time the world just accepted that fact. Appeasing China has got us nowhere good.
Do you believe that China cares what EU has to say about Taiwan, never mind pointlessEU Parliament?
What China cares about is USA willingness to defend Taiwan.
Then, you might argue that Taiwan willingness to defend itself is critical.
Does anyone believe that USA is going to allow Taiwan technology to fall into Chinese hand intact?
Lone Wulf
7 months ago
“In the end, while an independent European defence industry and foreign policy may very well seem prudent in the current geopolitical context, Von der Leyen’s approach is not.”
Really? As German defence minister she supported day care for soldier children, sank millions in the renovation of an old sailing ship the Gorch Fock and spent more tax payer money on consulting than tanks and ammunition. The Queen must go!
Dick Barrett
7 months ago
If the Eu evolves in the direction charted here by Lynch, with or without the Neo-Nazi Von Der Leyen at its head, then Ireland will have no choice but to consider leaving the EU.
And what happens then to Ireland money laundering racket, so far tolerated by EU?
Hazel Gazit
7 months ago
Let’s not forget that as German Minister of Defence, she was an unmitigated disaster. If she’s angling for war, shall I start investing in broom handles? Like all civil servants, she was just promoted to a higher level of incompetency.
Jürg Gassmann
7 months ago
Von der Leyen is not breaking taboos – she is breaking the law.
Arthur King
7 months ago
Russia is facing a serious demographic winter that will eventually implode his federation. Stall for time, give him the Russian provinces in the Ukraine.
That is very cruel. Imagine the indignity of being forced to grow up Russian.
Pip G
7 months ago
UvL seems to be someone who gets things done, and -while I do not know the approach of any other candidates – can safely be re-elected.
Her approach to Defence, NATO, filling any vacuum left by USA disengagement, and immigration seems sensible.
The opaqueness of laws and decision making in the EU applies to all aspects of the EU. Single nation veto -v- Qualified Majority may make individual member states uneasy, but QMV will stop members such as Hungary defeating the common will.
This leaves the position of the UK. We too must improve our defence procurement rules and join in pooled design and production of weapons: to reduce costs and benefit from common products within NATO.
Dennis Learad
7 months ago
Despicable parasite not fit for purpose, dunderhead unelected lap dog for the USA Warmonger. The French the British the Germans the Dutch the Italians ALL good at bombing and killing innocent men women and children in countries that cannot fight back or retaliate. Let’s see when missiles fall on London, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Amsterdam?? because you dunderheads will have some explaining to do to your citizens, you will be entering the big league. You fools will be cannon fodder for the USA Warmonger unless they want to put troops on the ground and send missiles to Russia then add Washington or New York for some missile damage. You all know this is a PROXY WAR for the USA and the EU and the UK are puppies and way out of your league. WHY countries still want to be members of the corrupt foul Brussels Club hi-lites the mentality of UK and European governments. The “EU” produces NOTHING!! it sells NOTHING!! it makes not one Euro NOTHING!! It is a Government without a COUNTRY!! It TAXES the EU fools; it spends and enjoys the fruits of the EU Countries labour. If the penny has not already dropped for you it is called WORTHLESS!! It is a PARASITE bleeding the EU Countries DRY of Money!! but more important it takes away your NATIONHOOD your PRIDE and most of all your INDEPENDENCE and SOVEREINTY!!
I’m going to guess that you’re not from here, from Europe, I mean. Because if you were, the penny would have dropped – the UK is not a member of the EU.
Of course it is possible your apoplectic outburst caused your frenzied little fingers to mistype. In which case; who’s the dunderhead?
Now, I’m sure you have something to say, but a stream of consciousness invective is not the best way to go about it.
So. Take a breather, have a nice cup of tea, and try again.
All the best.
Listen retard.
Just stay away from your laptop.
Have some covid bat soup and keep reading Xi books.
William Brand
7 months ago
Europe needs its own nuclear umbrella because America is folding its umbrella. America will no longer pay for Europe’s defense. In any case America is scheduled to be destroyed by God as per Revelation 18. Europe is scheduled to be ruled by the Antichrist. Its army is scheduled to fight China at the field of Armageddon probably in 2033.
If America is going to be destroyed by God and Europes going to be run by the anti christ does anybody need a nuclear umbrella?
I mean, do nukes work on vengeful God’s and antichrists?
If Europe’s going to be ruled by the anti christ also might be best to actually not then equip said antichrist with nukes, perhaps.
Hmm, seems a little unfair on the poor yanks; for God to destroy them. After all it would be the Europeans that have an antichrist at the helm. . . he’ll have fu**ed up the wrong people.
So much for the infallibility of God, eh.
Armageddon? That’s on the M3, just East of Basingstoke, right?
William Brand
7 months ago
Europ’s proper ruling family are the Habsburgs. Do they have a suitable Heir to the throne? Most of the family were damaged by inbreeding. A bit of genetic engineering is called for to produce a suitable prince.
Ginger t****r and failed actress are looking for a role?
William Brand
7 months ago
In the next few years Europe is scheduled to be ruled by the Antichrist. Many believe that said individual shall be, like Jesus, a Jew of the line of David. Does this Lady qualify? Has anyone checked her genetic credentials for the office of Antichrist.
I never completely trust teetotallers and vegetarians in positions of power, especially when both comes in one person. In what else might she feel holier than thou?
2019 was straightforward election fraud. Weber would also have been a much better Commission president. Ursula von der Leyen is as thick as two short planks and does not understand history or politics. The worst defense secretary in the history of Germany by a long shot. The EU is going to hell in a handcart. Driven by dogma and utopian fantasies.
All that might be true, but if she’s readying Europe for war with Russia, she is ok by me!
B. Libbrecht
4 months ago
Great article. It fits with my impression that Von Der Leyen does some significant things right but not entirely, and her overall vision remains a bit of a mystery. It could have been much worse though. I think it would be hard to find a risk-less leader for the European project, but the importance of NATO cannot be overestimated in view of the threat from China, Russia, Iran.
Shame you didn’t go back an extra generation for VDL’s heritage . It’s as unsavory as it is unsurprising. She is as corrupt as the institution that she allegedly serves.
Oh and Dressage is the most pointless pursuit ever dreampt up by mankind. I tried it once, but was disqualified for over use of the whip.
Please fill us in about the previous generation, A.D.
Is dressage (in Nazi uniforms) and whip something guy in charge of Formula 1 did?
I did not know Ursula was into kinky stuff.
I think now she is well suited for her role.
“Oh and Dressage is the most pointless pursuit ever dreampt up by mankind“.
I won’t have that! It’s Rugby League!
So, the German Empire vs.the Russian Empire Round 3 approaches.
Britain would be well advised to remain on the sidelines this time. Regrettably Britain’s rulers like to strut the world stage, and “lead by example” which always ends in the British populace suffering and becoming poorer. Naturally, not the case for the rulers.
The British were put on the side-lines by WWII. I have just watched the PSB channel documentary about FDR. It makes it clear that Roosevelt and Stalin ignored Churchill and co-operated to get what they wanted and neither cared about what happened to Europe. FDR apparently said Churchill was drunk from breakfast on and that was our problem.
Whether Churchill was drunk or not is irrelevant.
Big Three was really Big 2.5 by the time of Yalta conference or even earlier.
USA provided finance and equipment and Russia cannon fodder.
Britain was just big aircraft carrier of coast of Europe by 1944.
Yes, without uk resisting in summer 1940 after fall of France, liberation of Western Europe would not had happened.
That is why pathetic French winging is so ennoying.
I believe the phrase is ” Britain provided time, America the treasure and Russia the blood”.
America has always been the arch manipulator.
‘We’ taught ‘em and they learnt well.
That is FAR too generous to the UK. In reality we were an irrelevance, and a rather conceited one at that.
Fortunately as both the CIGS* supposed and ‘Ultra’ intercepts confirmed we were NOT the target for 1940 but merely a distraction to hoodwink Joseph Stalin.
Astonishingly it actually worked!
POSTED AT 0903 GMT and immediately SIN BINNED. Wonderful!!!
(Chief of the Imperial General Staff.)
Hi Alan, that all makes sense. Can you tell me what the programme was called, I would like to watch it. Thanks
Drunkenness was irrelevant, it was lack of intellect that was ALWAYS the problem.
Monnet and Salter would be horrified.
There was always a myth of peace that hung about the EU’s claims for itself. The sort of war that was fought between 1914 and 1918 needed huge amounts of coal and steel. The European Coal and Steel Community was a post Second World War creation. No use in preventing a war between Nato and the Warsaw Pact.
Now that there is a European war likened to the one that featured battles such as Verdun, Mother Europe’s intentions, if correctly stated here, have a certain pragmatism.
The EU referendum occurred on the centenary commemoration of the battles of the Somme and Verdun.
No idea why you got so many upvotes?
Probably from people who don’t know recent history?
Whether it was ww1 or ww2 Britain could not allow Germany to dominate Europe.
Because it would become German (or Russian after ww2) colony in the next 10 to 20 years.
True enough…the correct response to both was to allow both to tear each other apart and then take advantage of it…
Agreed, Churchill screwed us big time. Maybe one of the reasons he lost power after WW2.
He got back in 1951!
Exactly!
The traditional method of British warfare, at least up until the catastrophe of 1914.
And now we are all American vassals… Maybe better keeping it local?
And so we have become an American ‘colony’, is that really preferable?
Wow. This is deeply incisive as well as beautifully balanced and crafted, and of course compelling. We are indeed governed by a new Louis XVI, complete with a similar vision of liberalism. Perhaps with a similar outcome, things being as they are.
“We are indeed governed by a new Louis XVI…”
We aren’t, but they are.
Surely you mean LOUIS XIV?
No, he is correct.
Under Louis XIV France was great power.
Under Louis XVI, it looked great but rotten to the core.
Then we had Corsican midget who run France into the ground and allowed rise of Prussia.
The rest, as we know…
I was thinking of “L’État, c’est moi”.
I was think more along the lines of: “L’État, c’est moi”.
Incidentally I would maintain that under Louis XIV France was THE great power and remained so even after its victory in the somewhat debilitating War of the Spanish Succession.
midgit? Do you know anything about French history and Napoleon’s legacy to modern France? He picked up a country in agony after the Revolution and created all of our main institutions that have held France up to this day. Please review your text.
No mention of her incompetence as German Defence Minister.
No mention either of the astonishing rise of our own Catherine Ashton (now Baroness Ashton) to ‘High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy’ without having been a diplomat or ever being elected by any voters to any office.
One of Gordon Brown’s many “top picks” for high office (honourable mentions also to Jacqui Smith, Harriet Harman, Andy Burnham, Hazel Blears, Andrew Adonis, Dawn Primarolo, David Lammy, Dawn Butler, …).
As they say, first rate people hire first rate people …
Ernst Albrecht wasn’t just a civil servant in the nascent EU. After studying, he basically walked into the position of Chef de Cabinet at the Commission, head of department. An unusually immediate career progression for most, but not for an Albrecht. His daughter has benefited from that same luckiness for career progression, and so too her siblings. They are a hübsche (noble) family that have been so remarkably flexible as to prosper under all of Germany’s governments, all of them.
We mustn’t visit the sins of the family on the children. Except of course if those sins are nepotism and oligarchy. If one looks at the early Commission, it was almost entirely a job creation scheme for continental European blue bloods such was the strong presence of the old hübsche families. Ernst Albrecht was a suitable recruit.
You don’t have to speculate how the new Commission saw themselves. One Ernst Albrecht published a book setting out the grand philosophy for how Europe was going to be run. He was going to try and put this into action almost immediately after another vertiginous rise through the ranks of his new political career to become president of Lower Saxony in 1976. In the late 1990s, I first (scan) read his book because it was on the reading list for those looking at a career with the Commission, so hardly an insignificant book.
Titled “Der Staat, Idee und Wirklichkeit. Grundzüge einer Staatsphilosophie” (The State, Idea and Reality: Outlines of a Political Philosophy), Ernst explains in the highest of high German how people like him need to rule over people like you and I for the greater good. It would be generous to call it paternalistic, I’d call it thinly disguised aristocratic chauvinism. It has some eye-opening things to say (although it isn’t very quotable because of the awful plodding language used) including this gem: “autocracy or the rule of the few creates a better order than rule by the people”.
And that is pretty much how he ruled Lower Saxony. He created a personal fiefdom from a political party he had seized control of, and took great liberties with the loyalty of its voters until, after 24 years and dozens of scandals, Ernst lost his grip on power. Not least of the scandals was the public inquiry in 1986 revealing his role in a false flag operation that led to one innocent man dying in prison. Ernst did a secret deal for a close ally to lead his party in the next election but for him to stay on as president, but his patsy and his party lost anyway. He didn’t take too kindly to any of this, and nor did his family. In fact, his daughter – VDL – saw it as a personal affront by the voters to remove him. Even years later, in her finest impression of an 18th century aristocrat, she described the democratic decision to oust him and his party as a disgrace. VDL’s dismissal of democracy echo the philosophy of her fathers book.
Like her father, VDL seems utterly incongruous in an idealised autocratic governing system, let alone a democratic governing system. Her dismissal of the concerns of ordinary voters and the electoral damage she caused her party would have ended most political careers, but worse than that is the complete absence of any managerial ability. She can’t lead and she can’t manage, so by what metric was she appointed – unchallenged – to President? Even if we accept her dad’s philosophy, out of the few, why on earth her?
Now, that history is just incredibly interesting. The pattern is one of classic liberal fascism, with which I can claim to be very particularly familiar.
Now, that is deeply interesting. You might find this national media article curious. It was actually from a draft book proposal created in 2005, shared with some people in DC. https://www.smh.com.au/business/three-cheers-for-the-ideals-of-guided-capitalism-20090703-d7qw.html
Rather intrigued by your translation of hübsche as noble – a more literal and common translation of the word is pretty or perhaps charming – I made a quick Google search for Hübsche Familien which revealed details of a social class below and rather despised by German aristocracy. An English equivalent might be the old established upper middle classes or the professional classes.
I assume the false flag operation you mention was the Celle Loch plot where the German secret services bungled a prison break which was set up to look like the work of the Red Army Faction. The escapee would have been Sigurd Debus. He died as a result of his ten week hunger strike (Google search again). Is that the death you refer to?
I must admit that the rather lofty idea “autocracy or the rule of the few creates a better order than rule by the people” did not leave me shaking with either rage or fear. It is actually an idea worth discussing – especially when we see that rule by the people has become more of a pious hope than a political reality.
Yes, the translation is not exact and describes what they became. They’re more than the English new money industrialists, who for the most part stayed out or governing.? More a new nobility because money *and* power eventually flowed their way and they formed a new dynastic elite.
Yes, Debus. Albrecht’s plotters planted evidence in his cell, evidence that would have seen him not leave prison before he was an old man. We now know he was utterly innocent, so we can very easily imagine why he felt compelled to appeal to the public by hunger strike against a state that was abusing its powers. As it was, it still took years to reveal what Albrecht had conspired with others to do.
Where is the rule by the people? Today I sit in the UK with a legislative programme entirely different to the last manifesto led by a man who wasn’t even elected by his party. The next government will win a majority without a meaningful manifesto. Throughout, uninterrupted, the civil service develops policies and then babysits its ministers (who will be gone in 18 months anyway) to push the legislation through parliament. This arrangement has got stronger after each election since 1970. My type of person has only had the franchise since 1918 and despite all of the preceding issues, for UK citizens this has been the very pinnacle of freedom and human development. We can look at all the cesspits of the world to see where fully autocratic government gets ordinary people.
Has rule by the people evolved (devolved?) into rule by factions, by pressure groups and especially by the pernicious influence of those ever-righteous activists so sure of their moral authority that they see no need to tolerate dissent or even debate?
Perhaps the system of democracy that originated in the small city state of Athens 2.5 millennia ago is no longer a realistic system of governance for the enormous mass societies of our developed world.
Judging by the uninspiring choices that face Britain and America in the forthcoming elections (not to mention how the nations will actually be governed whichever side wins) democracy in its current forms is proving to be deeply unsatisfactory. What alternative is there? God knows! But we should at least begin to put our best minds to the task.
Ugh. This never works because the benevolent dictator, or the enlightened autocracy, is inevitably replaced by the opposite. People forget that China really was opening up and becoming more free during the early days of 2000 – until Xi took over.
This is the thing most people never get about the EU – it might be all rainbow flags and hands-across-the-water now, but once the transfer of power is complete it will inevitably end up run by the sort of people who ought to be in straitjackets instead of holding any power over the lives of others.
This is why democracy – the messy, never perfect, and sometimes downright infuriating system we’ve learned the hard way shouldn’t be messed with – remains the winning formula to date. And I predict that as long as the levers of government power are pulled by humans at all, it’ll remain the best system. Only when the government is run completely automatically by a system to which the concept of power is meaningless, will democracy become superfluous.
Benevolent dictators are mostly benevolent to themselves.
‘Benevolent dictator’ may well be the archetypal oxymoron. But you’re right: the benevolence usually runs in a quite particular direction.
Thanks for the knee-jerk response but I was hoping for something better.
That’s totally fair NS. I agree that democracy has been largely hijacked by the bureaucracy, interest groups and NGOs, many funded by govt itself. I’m willing to discuss the evolving nature of democracy. Didn’t mean to be dismissive of a thoughtful comment.
I agree that democracy has been hijacked but your list missed out capital.
Quite. Democracy is, as Churchill pointed out, ‘the worst possible sort of government, apart from all the others’.
That is rich coming from Churchill, who was a disaster for our country and who’s decisions ensured Britains future poverty and loss of status, and of course brought US hegemony! The man was a fool.
Thank you historian Valentine for that inspired analysis. Not! That’s a truly ridiculous remark. Churchill had many flaws, but he was reason – together with a few noble people in his own and the Labour parties – who ensured this country did not become a vassal state of the Third Reich. France certainly did so.
So, you do everything you can to win the war including begging or borrowing from the Americans – or go under. That was the polarised choice in 1940.
It was certainly not Churchill’s fault that Hitler wasn’t crushed a few years earlier when Germany was militarily much weaker than Britain and France. He was warning against the rise of the Nazi tyranny when very few others wanted to either hear this – or more importantly – do anything about it, which includes the many guilded clever idiots at the University of Oxford!
As for the dreaded “American hegemony” – whose hegemony would you rather have? Theirs, the Soviets, the German National Socialists or the Chinese?
Keep dreaming.
China was just playing longer game.
But still having the same plan: to dominate the world.
Nothing wrong with that from their perspective.
Shame that idiots like Kissinger and American Presidents following his blueprint allow China rise.
Cliché. China didn’t appear to be “playing any sort of “long game” as under Mao it either slaughtered our staff millions of its own citizens and destroying vast amounts of Chinese cultural heritage.
The jury is still out on whether China can become the world hegemon. For a start its internal culture is far less attractive than the American one still is to outsiders. What happens when China starts having its soldiers being killed by islamist extremists for example in various parts of the world? It will have to increasingly take on the difficult role that the United States has had in protecting international infrastructure. Will it do any better than the United States? The Chinese reputation in Africa is already pretty poor, and represents almost a caricature of the worst kind of colonial attitudes. There are major structural and economic issues, and the general point on autocracy, which is that the autocrat becomes surrounded by yes men. But it’s true that West seems to be going through terrible period of self-destructiveness so we will have to see.
How exactly do you propose to stop China?
Have you noticed: Western countries hate themselves, degrade their heroes, disenfranchise their own children with gusto.
autocracy or the rule of the few creates a better order than rule by the people
This phrase (using Google) comes from The World Socialist Web Site and may be unreliable. I’m not saying Albrecht didn’t say it but I would prefer a verifiable source.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – you should be writing articles for Unherd, not commenting beneath them.
Wow. Well informed, much revealing comment. My spidey senses were triggered when the author noted her family fortune was made in silk – fricking silk!! How old is this old money?
I guessed that there was a lot more to VDL’s father than what was reported in this article.
Thank you Nell for your deeper dive. These people are terribly predictable.
I believe her Ilk – the ones who are taking the world to a hellish dystopia – I mean she is likely the puppet of the actual Cabal, Like Biden Trudeau, Sunak and so on – but I believe they are demons of Biblical proportions, although perhaps lesser ones under the true devils who remain hidden.
They met the Devil and sold their soul for power. She is the very face of evil.
What metric? she spoke near fluent french which endeared herself to Macron.
Great post, I knew only some of the angles.
Let’s remember though, that VDL only got through selection process because she promised to respect some red lines that PiS drew.
She promised and then renaged.
That is politics, so nothing new here.
Problem is that failing national politicians like her get promoted into EU top jobs, so they don’t interfere in real politics.
Which is pseudo alliance between French president and German Chancellor.
You must be old, Nell, but.
I see VdL’s appointment through a slightly different lens, this article is far too diplomatic about it. She was heaved into her current position in a spectacular spit-in-the-eye for European voters promised “more democracy” before the last election, with repeated assertions that the Commission President would be chosen according to the Spitzenkandidat-process. She was palatable to Macron and Merkel had an opportunity to get rid of probably the worst defence minister Germany ever had.
The way VdL acts is based on the knowledge that no matter how anti-democratic the EU is, no country will ever leave again. Her very appointment is proof that voter sentiment means absolutely nothing in Brussels and this is simply getting more brazen as time goes on.
Look at the unfreezing of EU funds for Poland recently. Until now, payment of some of those funds were made conditional on the judiciary reforms introduced by the PiS government being reversed: the money would only flow once the changes had been made. Now Donald Tusk (strangely a mate of Uschi) is in office, those requirements were suddenly dropped and Poland got the money based on mere assurances from Tusk that the changes will be implemented. There is no guarantee at all he’ll be able to do that.
Whatever happened behind closed doors, the optics of this are absolutely dreadful and confirms voters’ worst impressions of the EU. And irony is: this apparent political nepotism – a sort of corruption, really – is happening as part of a rule of law procedure against Poland.
She was palatable to Macron and Merkel had an opportunity to get rid of probably the worst defence minister Germany ever had.
Plus, she replaced Jean-Claude Juncker, the most repulsive politician in Europe, so she only needed to be better than him to look good.
Trans nationalist organizations like the EU and UN are enemies of democracy.
I wouldn’t call it a sort of corruption. I’d just call it corruption.
Great post as usual.
Yes, people forget that Van Der Lier promised more EU democracy to countries like Poland.
That is why PiS was inclined to have her as EU leader over supposedly more “centralising” candidate.
You comments about so called abuse of judicial process in Poland are correct.
Appointment of judges process was never part of EU treaties.
It was always prerogative of countries.
What PiS proposed in Poland is the same process which is in place in Germany and Spain.
Problem is not the process, but whether judicial decisions are aligned with what Germany and France wants.
As Chirac told Polish PM many years ago:
You should be happy to be in EU and do as you are told.
It will be interestingto see whether the peoples of Europe vote for her when she stands for a second term. Oh, wait…
Unfortunately, we, the people of Europe, won’t be voting to elect the European Commission. The Commission is appointed by the Member States’ governments, but needs the approval of the European Parliament to take office. We will, however, be voting in elections to the EP in June.
Reality is:
1) turnout in EU elections is abysmal.
2) no one knows who their EU mp is (great for EU beaurocracy).
3) all this elected Euro mps have no legislative initiative.
They are just rubber stamp for Fourth Reich (sorry EU).
Apart from that why don’t we like it?
“Oh, wait…..” indeed!
Nonsense.
The EU and Von der Leyen are incapable of organising and running anything efficiently. So zero chance they can produce a coherent, credible and strong military and defence policy and defence forces.
These people are talkers. Not doers.
Maybe, but if they can increase military spending, and arms production, then that is a start. Western Europe will be at war with Russia soon enough.
You are more optimistic than me about the efficiency of EU defence spending. 1 Euro of any EU backed defence budget probably translates into 10c of frontline military capability. Plus a massive time lag before any of that happens. Timescales for developing and building defence kit are legendarily slow (except in real emergencies like the Falklands War) and the EU approach isn’t going to improve the batting average here.
It is far more likely this will end up as a state support operation for EU defence industries to “protect jobs”.
Given von der Leyen’s infamous track record of procurement whilst German Defence Minister, this is only going one way.
Yes, but she was just doing what Soviet agent Merkel wad ordering her to do.
It is amazing how all the remainers on here and other forums suddenly forgot this amazing German politician, Merkel?
The same in uk with useless cow in Scotland.
Surely this is a belated attempt to correct some of the deindustrialisation caused by the net zero nonsense.
I’m not that optimistic about it, but the EU is richer than Russia, and has a greater population than Russia, so there is at least some hope. It could do with some more nukes though. It would be unwise to rely on the French. Anyway, the Ukraine war has taught us that Russian military procurement is hardly “best practice”.
Except Russia is a country; the EU, whatever it professes to be, is not.
It doesn’t matter whether it is a country or not. What is important is that it has factories to build weapons.
You can’t have nukes run by committee. It’s the ultimate real time problem. No way the EU can ever make such a decision in the seconds available.
I am not saying the EU would operate the nukes. I am saying that more countries in the EU would have nukes. With Britain’s departure, there is only one, and (unfortunately) it’s the French.
Yet this dullness is integral to the union’s purpose as a peace project.
And here was me thinking that its purpose was as a free trade zone.
‘Ever closer union’
That was only post-Maastricht. It started out as a free trade zone. If it had stayed one, Britain would probably still be in.
And when it reverts to one, and only that, Britain could well come back in. It’s delusions of empire grandeur and all encompassing self image will (hopefully) eventually trip it up.
If you know your history you’ll know that it aimed to secure peace by free trade. If they secure the free flow of goods (e.g. coal and steel) across borders subject to mutually agreed terms there will be less need to invade to procure those goods as European countries had done for the entirety of their histories.
We take free trade for granted now but it is a relatively recent phenomenon. We’ve been hearing a lot recently the aphorism “when goods don’t cross borders, Soldiers will”. We reinstate these barriers at our peril.
That’s a slightly rose-tinted view of a project that was, and still is, basically about maintaining Napoleonic dirigisme in the face of the ‘anglo Saxon’ democracy imposed under the Marshall Plan. Read the Monnet-Spaak correspondence.
That “European Peace Project” was always laughable. The British could never take it seriously.
It was not about free flow of goods but about cross share holding of assets.
So, there was no point in bombing factory which was part owned by you.
Your extrapolation from that to war in Europe is melodramatic.
What about helping Ukraine win its war?
Ursula Underhand Liar is just the latest in a long march of ego-driven, self-deceived politicians, mindlessly pounding the ground towards a chimerical Ever Closer Union.
As this pied piper leads Europe to war in the name of peace, telling lies in the name of truth, she goes on playing the twee little tune of “the flight of bureaucracy in to history”, harder and louder. But the crowds are becoming disenchanted with her false, hollow promises of salvation from epidemics, and of equity and justice. They know freedom isn’t slavery to her flimsy, utopian narratives. They are turning away, their attention captured by the sight of her big, neglected palace, built on sand in high hopes of a brighter future seventy or more years ago, finally conceding its debts to nature, and gradually falling down, brick-by-brick, and beam-by-beam.
The crowd, in its wisdom, knows that sooner or later the structure will suffer a final precipitous collapse, enveloping its innocent, delusional residents. Ursula Underhand Liar’s false beliefs will bump up against solid reality, most likely on a battlefield. But no-one can tell how much suffering will, in the mean time, be inflicted by this reality-denying autocratic aristocrat. Who gets to choose the siren tunes to be played after it all does come crashing down?
Very rookie to confuse the pied piper and siren metaphors. You need to revise your hyperbole and bombast notes.
While I voted for Brexit, idea that EU would just collapse is delusional.
It is more like ideological, quasi religious project.
Till it suits Germany and France, it will carry on regardless of economic inconsistencies.
It took 30 years war in 17th century to sort out new order of Europe.
Let’s hope it is not that again.
She is now Euro-Tyrant
I was never that keen on her, but if she is standing up to Russia, she has gone up in my estimation.
There is nothing whatsoever special about von der Leyen, she is a typical and bog-standard product of EU horse-trading, compromises where you invariably end up not picking the best candidates, but instead pick significantly less able people (but more politically savvy) because they are acceptable to a much wider range of technocrats and bureaucrats. Nor is there any evidence that she would have the first clue about doing a competent job of managing the militarisation of Europe in the face of geopolitical threats to the east – people surely haven’t forgotten the sequence of COVID vaccine procurement fiascos, so I wouldn’t say logistics of that type are her strong point. Which begs the question, what are her strong points? Well, I would say she is the Jim Hacker of EU politics, which is about the best that can be said of von der Leyen.
Checkout family connections in USA/Germany?
Ursula Von Der Leyen was one of the first sensible German defence ministers in recent times. In my view, she is a very good politician and diplomat. Fortunately for Europe, she happens to be in the right place at the right time.
Cometh the hour, cometh the woman.
She does have a slight blip on her CV, in that she was caught massively plagiarising her thesis for a PhD.
However, in this context, I worked in Germany for many years and knew many other chaps and lassies who did exactly the same. Because having a “Doktor” in front of your name is a right of passage to higher echelons of politics and industry in Germany, and almost obligatory if you want to succeed, cheating is almost ubiquitous.
Please tell me you are being satirical….
Von der liar is everything that is wrong with the European Union.
She makes me shudder.
Like Boris – she is pure evil behind a mask. No less evil than Hi* ler, only she is not out to make her race a super power like Hi* ler because he wanted their success – she is out to make all mankind slaves to the demonic elite, and thus is even worse than him.
She is one of CS Lewis’s ‘That Hideous Strength’. They are all in the West.
I am happy to listen to your explanation why Boris is evil?
Clever but lazy, unfaithful to his wifes or girlfriends, incapable of being effective PM, but evil?
What about Tony Blair then?
Boris was ok. He had real talent, although it did not extend to administration.
Talent my ar*se! What he spoke Latin? give me a break, he was a narcissistic fool and unpleasant, and evil yes, he encouraged the Ukrainian war to continue with countless further loss of life.
If it is indeed true that he encouraged Ukraine to remain at war with Russia, that is another reason to like him.
They were both disingenuous
Good job we’re out!
Those ‘kids in cages’ which the author says people attributed to Trump’s doing, was actually an Obama move – Obama built those cages and deported more illegal immigrants than has any modern President including Trump – about 3 million. The American Left is opportunistic and hardly rational.
Obama deported, yes. Plenty of evidence about that. Where’s the evidence about the cages? Saying so does not make it so.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/kids-in-cages-debate-trump-obama/2020/10/23/8ff96f3c-1532-11eb-82af-864652063d61_story.html
I did not know that.
So it was Obama one real achievement, would not you say?
Pretty much a ridiculous article from start to finish. A complete waste of time except for the comments, notably from Nell Clover, which were much better than the actual article.
Sleeps in a modest 25square metre room? Are you being sarcastic?
No, it missed the zero or two on the end.
But probably right size for the German military ammunition storage…
That probably includes the en-suite, yoga room, and meditation nook.
I can certainly see why a Trump second term would be considered a threat by the EU. He told them that the US is sick to death of paying for their defense and they needed to honor their obligations or make some very painful discoveries.
As for us Americans, we enjoyed four years of peace, a secure border, a good economy, energy independence, and a return of manufacturing to our nation. If Trump manages to survive what the political establishment is clearly setting him up for, he will win in a landslide.
Hopefully he doesn’t survive it then.
Problem with your analysis (or wish?) is that countries most likely to suffer Russian aggression, like Baltic States or Poland pay already more than 2% of GDP into military budget.
People who don’t are clowns Russian apeasers like France and Germany.
Which, somehow talk about European Strategic Independence.
Total joke.
I can’t speak about France, but the fact that Germany has until recently been so accommodating towards Russia must be laid squarely at the feet of Gerhard Schroeder.
But when was he last running the place? Something like almost 20 years’ ago?
Yeah, he left office in 2005, and he’s he’s spent the time since sucking up to Putin.
The greatly admired, much loved and saintly President of the Commission, our Ursula, was sadly, a veritable disaster as German defence minister, and just about avoided a parliamentary enquiry at the end of her ignominious tenure, a fact which, fortunately, is discreetly overlooked today. All committed Europeans rejoice that she is the chosen one, and give thanks to Merkel and Macron for imposing her rule on us.
I don’t understand the title of this article, ” The EU’s American Queen “? Without doing a lick of research, I can confidently claim that 99%, but probably closer to 99.6% of Americans have absolutely no idea who Ursula von der Leyen is. The vast majority of Americans could care less what the function of the EU is, or who it serves. We’re a nation-centric country…and while we’re certainly cognizant of EU members: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, as a whole Americans have only a vague awareness when it comes to: the Republic of Cyprus, Croatia, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia.
In short, von der Leyen isn’t an American Queen…at best she’s a puppet of the U.S. Military Industrial Complex. If she’s positioning the EU to become militarized, the majority of contracts for armaments will have “Made in the U.S.A” stamped on them…or she can kiss her reelection goodbye. Importantly, the EU doesn’t form a military industrial machine without NATO…and the U.S. controls NATO, whether Europeans like it or not.
That may be right, but if it is, it is, then it is time that the EU formed its own military industrial machine.
No mention whatsoever of the huge elephant in the room CHINA
who last week by way of a Unnamed Foreign office spokesman ( which means it had President Xi,s approval )
This message was immediately sent in response to last week’s EU parliament
Which has no power to pass legislation
However they issued a statement regards China/ Taiwan
Whereby it stated that Both China and Taiwan had equal rights
This is a complete contradiction of The long standing UN and International position of The One China Policy
China warned that such statements were
Dangerously close to China’s Red line on
It’s Sovereign territory of which Tawain
And it’s waters are Chinese
China clearly stated that to continue with
Such statements and policies Then would have the gravest of consequences for EU / Chinese relations and if adopted
Then major conflict is guaranteed
There is a Old Chinese proverb
‘ Those that Play with Fire end up being burnt ‘
Over to you Von Der Leyen
I detect a whiff of buring flesh here
Not poetry, just bad English.
Taiwan has been an independent country for three quarters of a century. It is time the world just accepted that fact. Appeasing China has got us nowhere good.
Do you believe that China cares what EU has to say about Taiwan, never mind pointlessEU Parliament?
What China cares about is USA willingness to defend Taiwan.
Then, you might argue that Taiwan willingness to defend itself is critical.
Does anyone believe that USA is going to allow Taiwan technology to fall into Chinese hand intact?
“In the end, while an independent European defence industry and foreign policy may very well seem prudent in the current geopolitical context, Von der Leyen’s approach is not.”
Really? As German defence minister she supported day care for soldier children, sank millions in the renovation of an old sailing ship the Gorch Fock and spent more tax payer money on consulting than tanks and ammunition. The Queen must go!
If the Eu evolves in the direction charted here by Lynch, with or without the Neo-Nazi Von Der Leyen at its head, then Ireland will have no choice but to consider leaving the EU.
Goodbye and good luck!
And what happens then to Ireland money laundering racket, so far tolerated by EU?
Let’s not forget that as German Minister of Defence, she was an unmitigated disaster. If she’s angling for war, shall I start investing in broom handles? Like all civil servants, she was just promoted to a higher level of incompetency.
Von der Leyen is not breaking taboos – she is breaking the law.
Russia is facing a serious demographic winter that will eventually implode his federation. Stall for time, give him the Russian provinces in the Ukraine.
The Russians are stealing Ukrainian children to augment their population. They get ’em young and raise them Russian.
That is very cruel. Imagine the indignity of being forced to grow up Russian.
UvL seems to be someone who gets things done, and -while I do not know the approach of any other candidates – can safely be re-elected.
Her approach to Defence, NATO, filling any vacuum left by USA disengagement, and immigration seems sensible.
The opaqueness of laws and decision making in the EU applies to all aspects of the EU. Single nation veto -v- Qualified Majority may make individual member states uneasy, but QMV will stop members such as Hungary defeating the common will.
This leaves the position of the UK. We too must improve our defence procurement rules and join in pooled design and production of weapons: to reduce costs and benefit from common products within NATO.
Despicable parasite not fit for purpose, dunderhead unelected lap dog for the USA Warmonger. The French the British the Germans the Dutch the Italians ALL good at bombing and killing innocent men women and children in countries that cannot fight back or retaliate. Let’s see when missiles fall on London, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Amsterdam?? because you dunderheads will have some explaining to do to your citizens, you will be entering the big league. You fools will be cannon fodder for the USA Warmonger unless they want to put troops on the ground and send missiles to Russia then add Washington or New York for some missile damage. You all know this is a PROXY WAR for the USA and the EU and the UK are puppies and way out of your league. WHY countries still want to be members of the corrupt foul Brussels Club hi-lites the mentality of UK and European governments. The “EU” produces NOTHING!! it sells NOTHING!! it makes not one Euro NOTHING!! It is a Government without a COUNTRY!! It TAXES the EU fools; it spends and enjoys the fruits of the EU Countries labour. If the penny has not already dropped for you it is called WORTHLESS!! It is a PARASITE bleeding the EU Countries DRY of Money!! but more important it takes away your NATIONHOOD your PRIDE and most of all your INDEPENDENCE and SOVEREINTY!!
I’m going to guess that you’re not from here, from Europe, I mean. Because if you were, the penny would have dropped – the UK is not a member of the EU.
Of course it is possible your apoplectic outburst caused your frenzied little fingers to mistype. In which case; who’s the dunderhead?
Now, I’m sure you have something to say, but a stream of consciousness invective is not the best way to go about it.
So. Take a breather, have a nice cup of tea, and try again.
All the best.
Don’t beat about the bush! Tell us what you really think!
Listen retard.
Just stay away from your laptop.
Have some covid bat soup and keep reading Xi books.
Europe needs its own nuclear umbrella because America is folding its umbrella. America will no longer pay for Europe’s defense. In any case America is scheduled to be destroyed by God as per Revelation 18. Europe is scheduled to be ruled by the Antichrist. Its army is scheduled to fight China at the field of Armageddon probably in 2033.
If America is going to be destroyed by God and Europes going to be run by the anti christ does anybody need a nuclear umbrella?
I mean, do nukes work on vengeful God’s and antichrists?
If Europe’s going to be ruled by the anti christ also might be best to actually not then equip said antichrist with nukes, perhaps.
Hmm, seems a little unfair on the poor yanks; for God to destroy them. After all it would be the Europeans that have an antichrist at the helm. . . he’ll have fu**ed up the wrong people.
So much for the infallibility of God, eh.
Good point. The Americans are still generally Christian. The Europeans are abandoning Christianity in their droves.
They still believe in god though; it’s just a change of name to ‘Allah’.
You are referring to new migrants. The people with European heritage going back a way are moving on from Christianity.
The best thing that Europe has going for it is that it’s leaving all this “Christianity” nonsense behind.
Can you send us stuff you are smoking?
Next big thing in IT should be mobiles and laptops with viping facility.
Armageddon? That’s on the M3, just East of Basingstoke, right?
Europ’s proper ruling family are the Habsburgs. Do they have a suitable Heir to the throne? Most of the family were damaged by inbreeding. A bit of genetic engineering is called for to produce a suitable prince.
Ginger t****r and failed actress are looking for a role?
In the next few years Europe is scheduled to be ruled by the Antichrist. Many believe that said individual shall be, like Jesus, a Jew of the line of David. Does this Lady qualify? Has anyone checked her genetic credentials for the office of Antichrist.
Jean-Claude Juncker was pretty bad, but I’m not sure he was the Antichrist.
Nato idiocracy converses with EU idiocracy on how to continue exploding the eurozone.
Sounds like they’ve got it covered.
The best thing one can say about the EU is they meant well.
The Road to Hell, and all that, eh?
I never completely trust teetotallers and vegetarians in positions of power, especially when both comes in one person. In what else might she feel holier than thou?
At least she hasn’t got a silly moustache like that other teetotaller vegetarian.
She uses Veet, fool!
Can we expect a ‘new broom’ then?
2019 was straightforward election fraud. Weber would also have been a much better Commission president. Ursula von der Leyen is as thick as two short planks and does not understand history or politics. The worst defense secretary in the history of Germany by a long shot. The EU is going to hell in a handcart. Driven by dogma and utopian fantasies.
All that might be true, but if she’s readying Europe for war with Russia, she is ok by me!
Great article. It fits with my impression that Von Der Leyen does some significant things right but not entirely, and her overall vision remains a bit of a mystery. It could have been much worse though. I think it would be hard to find a risk-less leader for the European project, but the importance of NATO cannot be overestimated in view of the threat from China, Russia, Iran.