NationStates Jolt Archive

The main issues are, of course, the Russian-Ukrainian confrontation about natural gas, and the Israel-Gaza war. http://www.radio.cz/en/article/111815

about the Israel-Gaza war, from the article:
But dealing with the Palestinians and the Israelis will be much harder. Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek told Czech TV on Thursday he had set up a fact-finding mission, headed by the Czech foreign minister, Karel Schwarzenberg, which will leave for the Middle East on Sunday.
...
"We will try to moderate the conflict and to arrange a cease-fire. Unfortunately, we cannot yet rely on the new US administration but that means it’s up to the European Union to take over the initiative.”
...
Only a few days before the end of the year, Mr Schwarzenberg was the only EU foreign minister to condemn the rocket attacks from Gaza, and openly defended Israel’s right to self-defence. While the Israeli Ambassador to Prague Yaakov Levy has welcomed Mr Schwarzenberg’s Middle-East initiative, the Czech foreign minister has yet to discover what reaction his first mission on behalf of the EU will produce on the Palestinian side.


Coupling that from the things Velka Morava tells me about the czech cabinet, I don't think we're going to enjoy a great EU presidency for the next six months.

1."Unfortunately we cannot yet rely on the new US administration"... why should the EU wait for the US? That's one of the things that are ruining the idea of the EU itself. The EU should be on par with the US, not just playing support for them. Then again, it was either Topolanek or Klaus (czech president) who said there's no proof of the climate change, just to please the Shrub...

2.Guess how will be received by the Arab side the ONLY european FM who supports Israel in this war... :rolleyes: Some people just don't understand that "diplomacy" thingy.


btw, Ne základnám! Občanská iniciativa proti umístění americké základny v ČR a za uspořádání referenda. www.nezakladnam.cz

Diplomacy is mild encouragement at best. The truth is the powerful nations have more "diplomacy" power. And the EU can't be on par with the US because there's not enough U in EU. And nobody's stopping the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, ever.

Oh and "only european FM to support Israel"? So the rest support random firing of missiles into cities?

Diplomacy is mild encouragement at best. The truth is the powerful nations have more "diplomacy" power. And the EU can't be on par with the US because there's not enough U in EU. And nobody's stopping the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, ever.

U as in Union... or U as in Uranium? ;)

Anyway, I think the EU should at least TRY and have an unitarian position on foreign affairs, and TRY and build some more U, as you put it.

Of course not. The other 26 simply said BOTH sides should stop and agree to a ceasefire. While Herr Schwarzenberg-von-Sudetenland chose to support the Israeli side.

My opening moves usually involve consolidating my power in North or South America, unless if somehow get pushed into the east on the board... Europe I generally save for when the Western Hemisphere is safely in my grasp.

My opening moves usually involve consolidating my power in North or South America, unless if somehow get pushed into the east on the board... Europe I generally save for when the Western Hemisphere is safely in my grasp.

Nah. The key is: Ukraine, Middle East, Alaska. This way you control Asia, and no one can control North America and Europe.

Nah. The key is: Ukraine, Middle East, Alaska. This way you control Asia, and no one can control North America and Europe.

I always make sure to hold those key points before attempting a full scale invasion of Asia. Asia is too hard to defend unless you use Russian tactics, which don't work too well in Risk.

I always make sure to hold those key points before attempting a full scale invasion of Asia. Asia is too hard to defend unless you use Russian tactics, which don't work too well in Risk.

No, why? Once you secured the three keypoints (and Siam), you fortify them and proceed to a step-by-step conquest of Africa (two-state border with Europe and one with South America, so no overstretching your armies).

No, why? Once you secured the three keypoints (and Siam), you fortify them and proceed to a step-by-step conquest of Africa (two-state border with Europe and one with South America, so no overstretching your armies).

probably because I play with 5 other players all the time, and most of them resort to turtleing and all out assaults to stem off my strategic genius.. but everyone has their own style.

No, why? Once you secured the three keypoints (and Siam), you fortify them and proceed to a step-by-step conquest of Africa (two-state border with Europe and one with South America, so no overstretching your armies).I always thought trying to hold a continent was a big mistake as someone will inevitably attack you to stop you get reinforcements on the next round. The key is just to holding lots of countries. Everyone always forgets that you get territories/3 reinforcements a turn. You can get up to five quite easily before anyone thinks you a threat. Asia is the best place to do this as you get territories quite easily without having to worry about someone thinking you're about to get a continent.

Eugh. He ought to Czech himself before he wreck hi'self in terms of credibility of not just being a Yank kissarse.

So the rest support random firing of missiles into cities?

That's called supporting Israel.

Um...actually, the remark about waiting on the new US administration, though worded a little oddly, does make sense because the US has taken it upon itself over many years to take the lead in spearheading negotiations and summit meeting between Israel and Palestine. This means that the US can be seen as the "point person" to push out in front of that issue, both for following and fobbing off responsibility purposes.

I read his remark as more like, "Well, since we can't wait for the US to get their shit together -- and we sure as hell don't want Bush to do anything more -- I guess that mean's WE'LL have to do it, goddammit."

Also, I think the EU is a relatively brand spanking new organization. It's going to take a very long time for the appearance of public unity on issues that Risottia mentions to arise. If you're going to demand that before they take any action, you may as well bow out of world politics altogether for now.

I'm not saying that the Czech leadership is right. I don't know enough about them to either support or criticize them, and I'm not in the EU anyway. I'm just saying, I think these specific criticisms are not quite solid.

Oh and "only european FM to support Israel"? So the rest support random firing of missiles into cities?Yeah, because obviously you have to support one of the two douchebag parties. [/sarcasm]

Then again, it was either Topolanek or Klaus (czech president) who said there's no proof of the climate change, just to please the Shrub...
Václav Klaus, the president said so. I don't think you fully understand the function of the president in the Czech political system. He's very different from the American one, he has little actual power (that belongs to the parliament) and is more of an icon. Klaus has also spoken out against the EU (and we know what the parliament's stance was: join), didn't support the independence of Kosovo (Czech Republic has now officially recognised Kosovo as an independent state and has an embassy in Pristina) and sided with Russia in the Georgia conflict (while the rest of the government did the opposite). I would strongly advocate against using Klaus's opinion as the stance of the whole country, a mere glance at the Czech constitution will prove the futility of that exercise.

Václav Klaus, the president said so. I don't think you fully understand the function of the president in the Czech political system. He's very different from the American one

If you even bothered to read my location (there on the left), you'd know that I'm not american... I could take this as a sort of personal offence ;) .

I do fully understand the function of the president of the czech republic (as it's almost identical to the function of my country's president). Customarily, presidents of the republic in parliamentary democracies refrain from making such comments and from dictating political guidelines, as such responsibilities are of the PM (or president of the ministers' council or whatever). Still, Klaus is... well... not very bright and not very independent from the Shrub.

Btw, I didn't attack CR or the czech people (Velka Morava wouldn't allow me). I attacked Klaus (and Topolanek). If you feel well represented by Klaus and Topolanek, that's too bad ;) . Rest reassured, however, that you can attack Napolitano and Berlusconi all the time without making me feel under attack.:D:D:D

I always thought trying to hold a continent was a big mistake as someone will inevitably attack you to stop you get reinforcements on the next round. The key is just to holding lots of countries. Everyone always forgets that you get territories/3 reinforcements a turn. You can get up to five quite easily before anyone thinks you a threat. Asia is the best place to do this as you get territories quite easily without having to worry about someone thinking you're about to get a continent.

I loved Risk until someone taught me how to play Diplomacy. Removing the dice added so much to the game to me. Can't find anyone out here to play with though, sadly :/

I'm not playing this game...

Just let me say that I'm agreeing with Sarko here. The presidency should have passed to Sweden (they are the next IRC) or stayed with France.

I loved Risk until someone taught me how to play Diplomacy. Removing the dice added so much to the game to me. Can't find anyone out here to play with though, sadly :/

You can always play on-line - and there's plenty of varients out there too. The game I miss was called 'Mighty Fortress' and was a strategy board game set around the reformation/counter-reformation. You got to trample all over Bohemia (says he frantically trying to stay on thread).

I think neutrality would be the best bet here. I don't think that this conflict is of sufficient concern of Europe to justify taking a position on it. Though I don't really care much for the idea of a single EU foreign policy. I would like to see my country take a neutral stance regardless of what the rest of Europe does.