MAR 12, 2015 5:03 AM EDT
By The Editors
Bloomberg
Jean-Claude
Juncker, the president of the European Commission, has correctly identified a
serious problem: Europe's military and diplomatic ineptitude, most prominently
on display in its weak and disorganized response to the crisis in Ukraine
European
military budgets are declining at a time of multiplying threats, and even the
most capable of Europe's armed forces -- the U.K. Europe spends
190 billion euros ($200 billion) a year on defense, and collectively boasts 1.5
million troops. That's about the same number as the U.S.
has, and more than twice as many as Russia
Yet there
is so much duplication and waste that, in terms of deployable force, the
European Union's capabilities remain comparatively meager. Worse, any common
military or diplomatic response requires unanimity among 28 countries -- which,
as Javier Solana, the EU's former chief diplomat, points out, have different
threat perceptions and security interests. Solana is similarly calling for a
common EU command, though not an army.
Where
Juncker and Solana go wrong is in viewing these fissures as some kind of
aberration. They are core facts. The idea of an EU army ever being deployed
against Russian President Vladimir Putin is risible, because unanimity among
Cypriots, Greeks, Italians and Austrians on the need to fight Russia
Worse, to
the extent that an EU army would have any meaning, it would divert available troops
and equipment from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization -- an alliance that's
much more likely to take action. And however complementary to NATO that EU
officials say their parallel institutions would be, competition would be
inevitable.
Europe has
been talking about creating a common military since 1950 (France killed the idea back then), and for a
decade, the European Defense Agency has been tasked with pooling capabilities
and coordinating production among Europe 's
defense industries. It hasn't achieved much. That doesn't bode well for any
attempt to form a pan-European force, which would require sacrificing national
sovereignty over the decision to put soldiers in harm's way.
A more
practical recommendation, made this week by Samantha Power, U.S. Europe 's
defense industries. But what Europe most needs is the political will to give
NATO the military capabilities it requires -- not a new layer of helmeted
bureaucrats to staff a permanent command in Brussels, much less its own
military.
More
generally, Juncker's and Solana's proposals play into exactly the kind of
disillusionment so many Europeans are feeling about grand EU projects. In the
midst of an economic crisis prolonged and deepened by a common currency, the
last thing Europeans need is a fight over a common military.
(Corrects
euro figure for EU defense spending in second paragraph.)
To contact
the senior editor responsible for Bloomberg View’s editorials: David Shipley at
davidshipley@bloomberg.net.
The Nationwide Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has normal publications,
ReplyDeleteeach in print and on-line. 1 of their posts, pertaining to back to school subjects,
is entitled "Welcome Kids and Families to Your Classroom." Most of their tips will do well in a Montessori classroom, as well
as a "typical" classroom. Here is their list of suggestions, with a Montessori twist.
Now let's talk about your EQ skills, your emotional intelligence.
There's not a lot use for the intellect
in the clinic waiting space, whilst the feelings will get a large workout.
MESSAGING - What tends to make you distinctive from other restaurants?
As soon as you determine out what that distinction is,
make that the base of all your messaging. Drill it into your customers'
head so they will think of you first in that class.
Whether you're "the very best BBQ in town" or "intimate dining,"
you want to personal your category. That message
ought to be all over the place, from the front door to your napkins to your nametags
to your media marketing. When you get tired of it and think it's
overkill, that's when you are finally beginning to reach
your customers with it. There's an old rule of thumb that people have to see or listen to a
concept 3 times to notice it, and seven times to keep in mind it.
Bring light studying materials and other amusements,
like your laptop computer. And be glad for laptops.
1 of the worst fights I saw in a waiting space - and this the Pediatric Intensive
Treatment waiting room, 1 of the saddest places on earth - was over the solitary
electrical outlet accessible. There had been many fights in this specific waiting
room which, at the time included a dorm with bunks for sleeping, and which, simply because it was pediatric, integrated younger people, arguably much more volatile.
Numerous of us had been there for months and started to get involved in every other's life and squabbles, like a team thrown together on a desert
isle. Only even worse.
Hand Sanitizer - this is a given. It's not usually handy to run to a restroom to
clean your hands before snacking. So carry a little bottle of
hand sanitizer and unwind.
Here's another reason to capture and hold
onto somebody's title that could only arrive from the trenches of experience and that is - to say it loud and clear when you want to capture their interest, like when they talk
on and on about on their own or their product and you have had sufficient.
It's type of an occupational hazard when you network.
Inevitably we drop into conversation with a novice,
which can be excruciating if they don't pause in between sentences.
Stating their title is like grabbing them by the throat.
Not the most civilized picture, I know, but it tends to make my
stage in a New Jersey kind of way.
If there is not enough time make sure you
receive friendly, concise and comprehensible information in which to make the best choice in purchasing your nametags.
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