The reports about the mini summit held today in Brussels by France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg are beginning to appear. As I mentioned in my last commentary, I suspect France and other anti-American factions in the European Union are attempting to create a "hard core" defense group before the new 10 pro-American nations enter the EU in 2004.

The question now waiting to be answered is what did these four nations achieve -- if anything --  at their mini defense summit?

As I think about this question, I realize this isn't the first time France has attempted to create a core defense group. The first time was back in 2000 when France held the six-month EU presidency. France, with the help of Javier Solana, attempted to create a 10-nation core defense group within the EU when they implemented Recommendation 666 and transferred the Western European Union military alliance into the Council of Europe under Solana.

Now it appears this first core group didn't work out the way France wanted -- it was still too pro-America. So, after the Iraqi war split France's first attempt at a core group apart, France decided to create another core group -- this time outside the EU.

Evidently I'm not the only one who finds France's recent actions intriguing. When Solana was asked what he thought about France's idea for another core group Solana's only response was to say, "interesting" (Read about it here).

Did France and the other three anti-American nations succeed in creating their new core defense group. According to all the reports I've seen so far, the answer is no. However, this doesn't mean their idea for a more independent defense system for the new, super EU due on the scene in 2004 has failed.

You see, today's mini summit produced a joint declaration and a seven-point plan that is to be presented to the ministers at the EU's June summit (Read about it here). And, as you know, the EU is already working on another plan for basically the same thing -- the possibility of a core EU defense group -- being presented by Valery Giscard d'Estaing, chairman of the Convention on the Future of Europe. In fact, Giscard's plan even calls for a new, more powerful Foreign Minister to direct this core defense group.

So, what can I say about all these strange events in the EU.

Solana already said it best, "interesting."