i remember

I remember. I remember very well the day that the nuclear missiles arrived in Belgium. There was a debate in parliament on that very day and on that very topic. Prime Minister Wilfried Martens strongly defended the American position. Note that today another christian Prime Minister, the Dutch one, is defending an American position. The position of being a good ally in whatever America deems to be a good cause.

The position of Wilfried Martens was accepted in parliament, not suprisingly since his majority was rather big. However, the very next day the real truth came to light. The American transport planes carrying the missiles were already airborne and close to Belgium before the vote was even taken.

I also remember very well who was the proverbial plumber in the government at that time. The man taking and selling most of the tough decisions. Is that not a fact, Jean-Luc Dehaene ?

At that time there was a young and upcoming politician that everybody called 'the kid' (after Billy The Kid I assume). He would often come forward in tough matters and really put some heat on the government. But ... I do not remember you saying anything against the nuclear missiles at that time ... Guy Verhofstadt ... Nor did you do anything about them in the period that you were Prime Minister.

As for Willy Claes, we all remember his career, do we not ? Convicted for taking bribes in the Agusta arms (attack helicopters) deal. Which cost him the job of ... secretary general of the NATO (basically an American-run war machine).

Gentlemen, you've got your good sides. I look forward to Jean-Luc's solution for the institutions in this country, I hear Willy is a decent piano-player and Guy can sell anything to anybody. But please ... refrain from opinions on the nuclear missile issue, for all three of you had the power to do something about it ... and did nothing.