This link from my friend Roger. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and French President Nicholas Sarkozy have called for the creation of a permanent post for European President at a press conference following an EU leaders' meeting in Brussels last Thursday. The Lisbon Treaty, which was rejected by the Republic of Ireland in the union's only public referendum earlier in the year, would have established the permanent posts of President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs for the European Union. The presidency currently operates on a rotational system, whereby each member state government takes turns at leading the EU for a six month period. But the energy crisis of 2006, the Russian invasion of Georgia, the latest global financial crash and the <insert your preferred crisis here> has many people asking whether or not the present system is adequate for dealing with such long term issues.

Quote: ""I do not know whether we are in condition to propose to president Sarkozy to be president of the European Council - I think he does not want it after his experience in the last months," Mr Barroso said referring to the Russia-Georgia conflict and the financial crisis, which the French president has had to tackle. "In any case, me, I would vote in favour, of course," Mr Barroso added, smiling. Mr Sarkozy stressed that the current situation of the EU presidency rotating from country to country every six months "must change," so that "tough dossiers" do not keep being passed around.

The Republic of Ireland is the only country within the European Union who's constitution must be amended by a public vote. Many in the Republic feared that their country would lose even more of its sovereignty if they chose to sign up to the Lisbon Treaty. The treaty will give the EU its own legal identity on the world stage. Already many embassies of EU nations are closing their doors and combining to form a single European embassy. If the free state votes 'Yes' to the Lisbon Treaty, many are afraid that the Republic would inevitably lose its traditional neutral status, and be forced to contribute troops towards a European army for any future conflicts. The EU's new Charter on Fundamental Rights could also overturn the state's ban on abortion. After the French and Dutch rejection of the EU Constitution, Luxemburg Prime Minister Junker said he believed they didn't really reject the treaty at all, they just didn't understand what they were voting for. And following the Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty, France and Germany described the 'No' vote as a serious blow to the process, but urged the EU to press on regardless. And true to their form, EU leaders are now looking at ways of forcing through a 'Yes' vote for the Lisbon Treaty, in a second referendum that could be put to the Irish prior to the European elections next June.

Quote: "Minutes of the event, and of a separate dinner with the French minister for European affairs, record how key French politicians and other MEPs said that Ireland should be put in an "untenable position" by pressing Poland and the Czech Republic to ratify the treaty by December. The minutes were made available by a high-level source who attended both events. They tally with publicly available EU minutes but include direct quotes rather than the diplomatic language of the official record. The meeting and dinner heard how Ireland's "intellectual mediocrity and lack of political courage" led to the rejection of the Lisbon treaty and included discussions of how to "cuddle and pamper" the Irish voter ahead of a new vote while at the same time "making pressures on them".

What part of the word 'No' do the politicians not understand? When it comes to the European Union, it seems that our leaders know exactly what they want to do, and all they really want from us is our approval for them to do it. They give us the democratic choice of whether or not we want to be part of Europe. Then they tell us how to vote. And when we don't toe the line, they say we obviously didn't understand what we were voting for and tell us to vote again! To me this whole affair just reveals the sheer wickedness of politics. Treason used to be a capitol offence in this country. No wonder that when Christ returns, some of these men will be thrown into prison. 

Isaiah 24:21-22
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

The government of man is already showing itself to be utterly corrupt. And as we have seen today, many are looking for a superman who will be able to solve all the world's problems. And Satan will provide them with such a man (Revelation 13:2). But the government of man will fall. And Christ will return to set up His Kingdom, and the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end (Isaiah 9:6-7). Then a King will reign in righteousness, and rulers in justice (Isaiah 32:1). But the Bible says that unless you are born again of God's Spirit, you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). Your sins have separated between you and your God (Isaiah 59:2). But God loves you so much, He sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world, to bear the punishment for your sins. And to all who believe on Him for salvation, He gives the authority to be called the children of God (John 1:12). Why don't you trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today? He is waiting for you to come.

Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Source EU Observer, Irish Times