Re: Are the FSE and NSL natural enemies?

You wrote: 

>Seriously, due to the extension forward of the historical-political
>relationships in FT, the NSL & FSE usually come down on opposite sides 
of the >political coin.  Traditionally, 2 world wars notwithstanding, 
England and >Germany have had a good relationship.  There is a far 

von Moltke the Elder (the only one worthy of the name) put it this way,
"Among the great Powers, England necessarily required a strong ally 
upon the Continent.  It would find none which would better correspond 
to all its interests than a united Germany, which can never claim 
command of the sea."  German and English interests have only come into 
conflict twice--and once was the fault of a madman, the other was the 
fault of the French and Russians (but anyone who wishes to discuss in 
detail the nature of the origens of WWI should go to e-mail).

longer tradition of >animosity between France and England & France and 
Germany.  Note that most of >this also precedes a unified German state. 
 And taking the 31 Years War (as a >prof so eloquently put it) into 
account, the German/French relationship hasn't >improved much.	Anyway, 
the traditional rivalry is fun to play (both sides >lend themselves to 
cariacture well), and allows NSL players to paste the >French AGAIN, 
and allows FSE players to show the uppity Boche a thing or two.

Besides, it's very plausible to have joint EC colonies (Extra-solar 
colonization begins in 2069, with even the PAU and Islamic Fed getting 
into it by the next year, EC breaks up in 2101) for the French and 
Germans to fight over.	Also note that the two were de facto unified 
for 100 years, and no one fights like divorced couples, no?

John M. Atkinson