STOP NATO: �NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- ListBot Sponsor -------------------------- Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [Via... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ] . .Commentary: Thought-Provoking Silence In the first half of May, the envoy of the US government went to lobby Europe, trying hard to win NATO member countries' understanding of and support for the NMD development program, but his effort came to nothing. Taking advantage of the NATO foreign ministers' council meeting held at the end of May, the United States <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/usa.html> tried to put pressure on them, but none of the 18 member countries, except the United States itself, clearly expressed their approval or understanding of the United States' NMD program. The silence of these allies is really thought-provoking, apparently, among the NATO allies, it is not only France <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/france.html> and Germany <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/germany.html> that oppose the United States' NMD program. Superficially, the NMD program is said to be directed against "rogue countries", but in essence, it contains other aims. Most of the United States' NATO allies are in Europe which are very close to Russia <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/russia.html> . Although Russia's comprehensive national strength has declined in recent years, militarily, however, it remains "a giant". Over the past year and more since Vladimir Putin took office, in particular, Russia has shown its momentum of rising again. For the United States' NATO allies, it is crystal clear as to which is beneficial to them: to live in harmony and seek common development with Russia, or to set themselves against Russia. Unless Russia changes its stance of opposition to the NMD program, the 18 member states of NATO perhaps would not easily change their attitude. With regard to the United States' NMD program, currently, only India <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/india.html> , Japan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/japan.html> and several other countries overtly or covertly support it, while the overwhelming majority of countries and regions around the world disapprove or oppose it. What's the need for NATO member states to stand opposite to the overwhelming majority of countries around the world and be a cat's paw for others? Under the circumstance of the constant development of economic globalization, the present need of NATO member states is to diversify world markets, they do not tie themselves to the "chariot" of the United States and cut off their own road to financial revenue. Obviously, this is a sensible consideration. After it clearly expressed its opposition to the NMD program, Russia has dramatically increased its military appropriation and on June 1 it officially declared its organization of a 90,000-strong aerospace force. Although NATO has declared fixing its relationship with Russia in a "cooperative partner" position, if it does not stop the United States' NMD program, it will hardly be possible to avoid being drawn into a new arms race. The fact that the 18 NATO member states say "no" to or keep silence about the United States' NMD program once again proves that "A just cause enjoys abundant support while an unjust cause finds little support", from which the important personages of US political and military circles should come to realize the truth. **** ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
