UNILATERALISM, MY ASS! (CONT’D): All I can say is, Advantage: Rumsfeld!

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP)–The “new Europe” raised its voice Thursday, as eight of its leaders praised U.S. resolve in disarming Iraq and indirectly chided the traditional powers, France and Germany, for opposing U.S. plans for military action against Saddam Hussein.

But that’s old news. Now, though, the “gang of eight” is a “gang of ten:”

Some of Europe’s newest democracies have expressed the strongest support because of past U.S. economic and political support of their struggle to escape communism.

Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano, in a letter to Bush made public Thursday, pledged “total and unconditional” support in the showdown against Iraq. Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda of Slovakia called the declaration “the clear, right word at the right time,” and said he agreed with it.

The article goes on to minimize (if that’s possible) the military importance of Albania and Slovakia. But that’s not the point. The point is that — despite (or because of) their diplomatic anschluss — France and Germany are now isolated within the E.U. Indeed, there is now talk that the E.U. may splinter as a result of their anti-American efforts.

That probably won’t happen, but it’s a far cry from the “United Europe” stance that Chirac and Schroeder had in mind. Why, it’s almost as if they were lured into this position.