Welcome Romania and Bulgaria to EU!

[Chucko]

Well considering its bush, don't expect too much intelligence.

[Doc Tchitcherine]

it is interesting to contrast the methods of the EU versus the American Empire.

The EU has welcomed 12 countries in recent years and assimilated them peacefully. Those countries applied, got themselves up to par (or close to par) and were accepted. The US tries to invade one country and fails miserably, Iraq is close to civil war, while former Soviet bloc buffer states are now enjoying an economic, political, social and cultural upswing.

It should be pointed out that the EU and the invasion of Iraq are two totally different concepts. The US never intended to make Iraq part of the US or have any of political and economic intimacy that countries in the EU have. At the moment the US government is fairly isolationist and doesn't really want close connections to any other nations.

In reality the EU is much more like the union of states that form the United States than anything else.

Without a doubt this is entering a slightly murky realm of discussion. The US had no intention of annexing Iraq or any neighboring states nor are we currently (to the best of my knowledge) seeking to bring any other nation or state into the fifty we've already got. And it does need to be said, in the defense of the US, the realms of politics that exist at Federal, State and Regional levels can vary vastly as they deal with different issues.

Blanket statements can't accurately be applied to any nation or group of nations, politics is a very very odd thing and depending upon individual motivations politicians can have vastly different goals. Although It can also be said that military institutions and like have minds of their own and can (at times) operate independently of their respective governments.

[KingAl]

...nor are we currently (to the best of my knowledge) seeking to bring any other nation or state into the fifty we've already got.

Australia - all but nominally the 51st state.

[Shwart!!]

Really? I had no idea!

Also, what exactly do you mean? Last time I checked (admittedly, 2-3 years ago) we didn't have much relations with Australia. We're friendly, but we're not trying to bring them into the Union.

[Chucko]

What about Canada? They're basically the 51st state.

[Ace Rimmer]

What about Canada? They're basically the 51st state.

They don't count, on account of the French sector.

[Stewsburntmonkey]

What about Canada? They're basically the 51st state.

Not really. US - Canada relations aren't all that good. There is a lot of cultural similarity, but other than that there's not much there.

[shinygerbil]

*cue our Resident Canadian*

[el_cascador]

Nobody should say tha invasion of Iraq worked out well, imho the situation now is much worse since the invasion,
people had a better life in the regime of Saddam, without the risk of being bombed every day

And imho Turkey shouldn't join at all, seeing that it's actually an Asian country, and seeing some of the cruelties that are done vs one specific group.
But then again who am I to say what the EU should and should not do...

That it's actually an Asian country shouldn't matter. Not letting certain countries in just because they aren't in the right place on the map would be nothing short of racism. You are right when it comes to the cruelties though

To get back on topic,
It is called the EUROPEAN Union for a reason, which is that it are European country.
And thank for agreeing on the cruelty part

[Stewsburntmonkey]

To get back on topic,
It is called the EUROPEAN Union for a reason, which is that it are European country.

The United States of America includes Hawaii which is not part of either American continent.

However, Turkey is actually in both Europe and Asia as the dividing line between the two runs through Turkey.

[el_cascador]

Hawaii isnt really on a continent since it's an island, you cna say tha same for the UK and Cyprus and Malta

[Stewsburntmonkey]

Hawaii isnt really on a continent since it's an island, you cna say tha same for the UK and Cyprus and Malta

Yes you can, although it is fairly common to classify islands that are on the same continental shelf as being part of the same continent. Not that it matters. I was just pointing out that it is fairly common for political unions to have rather loose titles. However as I said Turkey is actually in both Europe and Asia so none of this really matters.

[Xocrates]

At most, if turkey got in, the european union just had to change it's name. It's not as if it hasn't done it before

Edit:

Although:

Morocco officially applied to join the EU in 1987 but was rejected on the grounds that it was not in Europe.

[Ace Rimmer]

Wow time for some American bashing?

Does this mean the bashing of America is over?

[el_cascador]

off course not that should never be done,
btw
i'd like to know the opinion of canadians, about them actually being the 51st state