The song from the sixties said, "There's something happening here. What it is ain't exactly clear." And, that song keeps going through my head.

It's becoming quite evident to observers that something's happening in the European Union. However, exactly what it is that's happening isn't quite clear. And, this is leading to some interesting suspicions and speculations about the true nature of the recent mini defense summit held by France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg in Brussels.

For example, Radio Free Europe's Ahto Lobjakas appears to suspect something a little more sinister may be going on than admitted by these four anti-American countries. First Lobjakas points out that there's growing concern in the EU that US dominance is "beginning to hurt the bloc's own security interests." Then Lobjakas goes on to say, "Although the precise intentions of the four countries meeting today remain unclear, it is worth noting that French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said in Moscow last week that Russia should be 'associated with the planning work that we are carrying out.'" (Read about it here)

Besides the Russia factor, the words that caught my attention in this quote from the French Defense Minister were, "the planning work we are carrying out." They reminded me of similar words about a plan found in a New York Times report. Elaine Sciolino writes, "the quartet insisted that all they were doing was a bit of creative repackaging, citing proposals, communiqués, meetings and initiatives that went back years" (Read about it here).

In other words, what France and the other three anti-American EU nations are doing -- in their minds at least -- is continuing with a plan that has already been started. The reason for the mini summit, than, was not to come up with a new plan, but to "repackage" an old plan. And, Russia fits into their repackaging.

The old plan that comes to my mind is Javier Solana's Recommendation 666. So, how does Solana feel about this repackaging of his old plan? Evidently, he seems to be supporting it. In fact, it's being reported that Solana is in Moscow as I write (Read about it here). It is also being noted by observers that so far Solana hasn't said anything negative about the mini summit. In fact, so far he's said he thought it was a good idea (Read about it here) .

Here's what I think: As I said, the only old plan for a "hard core" defense group these four anti-American nations could be attempting to repackage is Solana's Recommendation 666. If you've been following my commentaries, you know  I believe the first time France tried to create a "hard core" group in the EU was when France and Solana made the 10-Western European Union nations the military wing of the EU back in 2000. When they did this, the plan they were implementing was the WEU's Assembly Recommendation 666. And, Solana was then Secretary General of the 10-nation WEU alliance -- as he is now.

When three of these 10 nations -- Britain, Spain and Portugal -- split with the rest of the group and, instead of supporting European vital interests in the Mediterranean over Iraq, they supported US interests, the anti-American factions decided changes were in order. So, they had their own mini summit in Brussels to do what they call a little "creative repackaging."

Question: Will their repackaging of Recommendation 666 leave out Britain, Spain and Portugal for now, and somehow include Russia instead?

It's going to be interesting to find out.

As I said before, "There's something happening here."