According to the International Herald Tribune's Judy Dempsey, in a recent interview, the EU's Javier Solana brought religion up again. Solana said:

Look, I want to be pragmatic ... It is not talking about whether God exists or not ... I am looking at how to deal with the [Bush] administration in a constructive and multilateral framework Read about it here.

Solana made this strange statement about God while preparing for his meeting with President George W. Bush in Brussels this Tuesday. The interesting thing about this is, this isn't the first time Solana has brought up religion while referring to the current leadership in Washington. If you recall, in January 2003, Solana told the Financial Times that the reason the US and the EU was drifting apart is because America is too religious. Now, we're hearing it again.

Another revealing remark is what Solana had to say about  the king of Jordan and the president of Egypt. He said they were both "in panic" over Iraq. He said:

They wonder what kind of Iraq will emerge. Will it be a government of theologians or engineers?

Once again, Solana makes a reference to religion. Will a religious government emerge in Iraq, or a scientific government? Being a physicist, you know which type of government Solana would prefer. It's becoming apparent to me that Solana may not think too highly of religion.

And, why the pessimism over Iraq and the Atlantic Alliance? It appears Solana is expressing doubt and concern where others are expressing hope. Why? Is it that same old problem? Is it too much religion? Does he see a too religious America standing in the way of solving the world's problems?

I need more time to think on this. One thing I know, Solana isn't a follower. He's carving his own place on the world stage and this interview is somehow designed to further that goal. He needs the US and now the US needs him. So, he's not going to rubber stamp Bush's Middle East foreign policy. But, at the same time, he's not about to bite the hand of the man who can give him what he wants either -- whether that man is religious or not.

I guess we're just going to have to wait and see what comes out of this meeting in Brussels. And, we're just going to have to wait and see what Solana meant by bringing up God again.

Like I said yesterday, it's sure getting interesting.

Stay tuned!