I'm sorry to interrupt this conversation but I have to report something important.

I'm afraid the space on Stefan's server will run out with this massive amount of posting in politics. Even yesterday, somebody was posting (I think it was me?).  We must do something!

@east:
close your mouth, I give the money for nothing.

@now I get the "freezing cold" issue as well.

"Napoleon was taller than what was average in his time..."
Just out of curiosity but how do you know? I think the myth started because of his nickname "the little corporal".

lol

...it doesn't matter anyway cause they won't do it.

@bief:
"How would the EU defend itself Paul?"
Who would attack the EU of any significance? If eg Russia attacks they will get nuked long before they reach the north see.

about the energy problem: It will help but it is not enough to be a solution for our energy dependence.

@east:
"this is really going to do wonders for dutch energy independence, because the netherlands are full of shit"
ROFLMAO

oh and bief don't be mad, he...er ... er... he ment shit made from canabis.

@khaz:
"hehehe Napolean - Minister for equal heights"
wouldn't that be a perfect one for the king before him instead, King Louis? ...No not the one from jungle book.

"In other words, America is one of many powers, rather than its previous position as the undisputed hyper power."
I agree with that.

@bief:
The EU is economically powerful, can defend itself, and has nukes. That is enough to grow strong in a short time period if need be. But we are dependent on energy coming from Russia. It will be a matter of how unified we really are to find a solution to this problems. Plus we don't know yet how EU will climb out of the current recession , if it does that is.

and IA as minister of gas supply optimization.

Slave laborers have to fart into a tube and collect all those tubes into a bigger tube and so on till they have enough to gas one of those slaves as an example and a prisoner.

While Decimus adds the slaves and prisoners, Justinian runs the project with an iron hand and brutal efficiency.

America's power isn't as big as it once was compared to ROW. But for now there is no-one who can really "take it over". The EU is not a solid yet, and has a long way to go. The EU doesn't have enough natural resources. Often people name China as the rising power. But I don't think China can dominate the world next decade. They will grow stronger but the unrest, of which we hear little, is also growing. It all depends on how this internal tensions evolve. Russia has its own problems but has a lot of power because of its natural resources.

Note how the US is also rich on important resources. This alone can prevent them from becoming a minor player if they play it well.

All in all I think The US, EU, China and Russia will be "world leaders" without one really dominating it next 5 to 10 years. Predicting what will happen in 2 or 3 decades is ridiculous.

I add Decimus as my minister of gas chambers.