Bush second term strains defence co-operation

http://www.janes.com/regional_news/europe/news/jdw/jdw041129_1_n.shtml

Bush second term strains defence co-operation

By David Mulholland, JDW Business Editor London and Cartagena, Spain

After years of inching forward on reform of export control regulations to foster a transatlantic defence market, the pace of change has accelerated - but in a backward dash to the closed markets of the past.

The re-election of George Bush to the White House has been taken by many in Europe as a sign that the US is continuing to turn inwards and away from its allies in Europe. "The hardest thing to change is people's mindsets and now we see the drawbridges being drawn up," said one senior UK executive.

A number of senior European industry and military officials told JDW that the recent election in the US seemed to herald the triumph of the xenophobic right wing in Washington.

One US government official who declined to be identified said that international co-operation with close European allies, such as the UK, is likely to be fraught with difficulties over the next several years as a gust of fear is pervading Washington's traditional ally-embracing atmosphere.

Duncan Hunter, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, is seen by many as the embodiment of US protectionism. He has twice attempted to force through legislation that would have severely curtailed the ability of US defence manufacturers to produce defence equipment using foreign-sourced components. The legislation would have dramatically increased the cost of military hardware.

What makes officials pay attention to Hunter is that his committee writes the House of Representatives version of the US defence budget authorisation. The US defence budget is passed in two phases: an authorisation that establishes in law how much can be spent on what and an appropriation that actually funds the authorisation, usually at lower levels.

Hunter's protectionist views run counter to the Bush administration's support of free trade. However, they resonate with a number of like-minded legislators in Congress.

This is seen as a serious challenge to officials in Europe and the US who have been striving to achieve a true transatlantic defence market, which, it is believed, would lower the cost of military equipment, foster interoperability, advance technology and strengthen US-European ties.

the word "Fear". "A gust of fear is pervading".

After reading articles here at the DU for close to 2 years, trying to make sense of the madness, I can distill 1 word: FEAR. Fear of losing our access to oil (see thread on 'China' in LBN). Fear of losing out sacred place as Leader Of The World.

Fear of losing power. Fear of becoming second-best.

Oddly enough, we're creating exactly what we're afraid of.

This is scary stuff that is going on in our country.The rest of the World should be calling this regime what it is;FASCIST.

Im praying that 4 years from now the world won't be asking us "how did you let this happen" as they did the Germans under Hitler.

I am ashamed of my country and I am afraid of my government.