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Is Georgia really Europe's east as many commentators now declare. Where does Europe stop and Asia begin and more specifically where does the concept of the EU become not European but an ideal that should be strived for irrespective of the history and traditions of the nations who seek membership. In fact where should the Commission in Brussels draw the line? Taking the last point first, the time has now been reached where the open ended anyone can join policy' as set out in the founding document of the EU is changed. The EU cannot go on expanding forever and this should be made very clear to all countries, not just those that are aspirant. There are many nations with traditions and histories very different from the European cultural continuum that now seek closer ties with a view to eventual membership however this ignores the fact that western style democracy is not the only stable form of government and there are many arguments against its practise in many regions of the world, destabilisation of civil society being one of the most important. For the acceptance of western style democracy there at least needs to be a tradition that adheres to the basic precepts, where this does not exist or is opposed not just by the government elites but many within the civil population then this should be recognised and state administrations be allowed to configure their own government model. This is not to say that there should be no input from the western ideal but this input should be offered by way of advice if asked for but never imposed or given gratuitously. Liberal capitalism does not suit every society and to try to impose these alien values increases the likelihood of civil society unrest and backlash at some time in the future.

Similarly the issue of continuing United States involvement in the European international arena, surely the time has come to grant the US observer status only. The use of Europe by the US as its front line has passed and institutions such as NATO need to properly re-define their core missions within their original remit and not seek ever widening expansion provoking confrontation and conflict. It needs to be remembered when dealing with Russia that in modern times all major threats to the country have come from the West and this fact conditions the nation's psyche perhaps allowing the country to perceive threats where none really exist. It is however a potent force that needs addressing, not by continued minor provocations but by understanding,

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