Famous statement of Donald Duck of Pentagon about “old and new Europe” raised lot of dust at the time. Well, diplomatic subtleties are something Donald certainly doesn’t poses, but that sentence could be understood as compliment for both. Certainly not insulting for old cultures of France and Germany. Actually, those who are to be offended should be those who were called “new”. All those countries are claiming that they are “coming back” to European family to which they always belonged. So, calling them “new” Europe is insult, they were always Europe. However, coming from most powerful country in the world it sounded so sweet.

Who is insulted and who not is not of any importance. Important is what that sentences reveals about geopolitical agenda of empire.

Taking “new” Europe, basically a bunch of countries in desperate need for help to finish the painful process of transition, under the wing, and moving army bases from Western to Eastern Europe USA is just following its interest. That interest includes keeping Russia as much possible out of Europe, or to put it more precise as much as possible physically disconnected.

Celebration of 300 years of Sankt Petersburg was Putin’s reminder to Europe (the old one) of old connections with Russia and Russia’s orientation towards it. Just look at the map. Don’t you see that Russia is geographically a big part of Europe? Don’t you see that what we call Europe and Russia is one geographic entity? That Europe would have population of 500. 000. 000 and would be really independent in every sense. That eventual Europe is not something very appealing to empire, and it would do everything possible to suppress its creation.

Of course, infantile (I agree with Chirac on that) “new” Europe will be more than happy to help. Suppressed for more than 40 years by USSR they would do anything to undermine and, if possible, to humiliate it.* Not seeing further from their nose they will be more than happy to embrace their new master - USA. It seems that certain countries can’t do anything without masters.

Irony of the whole thing that empire is using the very same organization, which was found as shield from pact of the countries of “new” Europe plus USSR – NATO. Organization, which lost its role, justification for existence more than decade ago.

* I’ll never forget how Romania and Bulgaria (just accepted in “Partnership for Peace”, for purposes of bombing Serbia) refused to grant over fly permission to Russian army planes transporting peacekeeping troops to Kosovo in June 1999. It was more than pathetic. But after all, that same countries + some other countiers of "new Europe" were more than happy to help Hitler at the time.