Some day...
Wannabe,
Indeed a very complex issue. I think there are several facts to take into account:
1- Technical issues are not a problem, all ops nowadays are conducted under coalition forces, be it NATO, multinational, or "of the willing". We are used to train and exercise multinationally although we have different equipments, procedures, ROES,etc... We just adapt,improvise, overcome. So in my view it is not a real issue against a "european army" although obviously common equipement makes things easier and that is the direction were taking with the EDA (A400,etc...) and DTIDB.
2- Any "european defense" has to come from a general desire to have one and we can only admit that there are some different views on the matter: some are very happy to stay under the NATO umbrella, saves them to fund their own defense and they feel it will be more reliable than a EU one. Some others start to feel that EU worldwide political ambitions cannot be achieved with a proper defense, that is, credible and independant. Most striking example was the Bosnia war which has led the EU to define the Petersberg missions.
Facts:
- ESDP is already a reality, conducting peace keeping and peace enforcment missions in Europe, Georgia and Africa. And no, NATO is not able to conduct the anti-piracy ops in Somalia for the simple reason that it has not the legal background to arrest and prosecute the pirates which is why the 3 NATO frigates sent there have been withdrawn. It's no use stopping someone and then having to release him so he can do it again a couple days later...There is some ranting going on because peace keeping/enforcement are not "real ops". Surely they are less glamorous than OIF/OEF, however it is probably more sensible to start buiding the house from the basement rather than from teh roof...
- As said on this thread, one of the main issues is sovereignty. In 1954, EDC was binned because nobody wanted to lend any sovereignty at all. A generation later, people are ready to conduct ops under EU command...Change is slow and it takes a generation to change the perception of things. In a few (many) years time, after many more EU missions, people will be so used to them that they will admit it makes sense to have a robust EU defense policy...
Whatever will come out (because something will eventually), it won't be like the US miltary, build in 200 years around one nation. It will be something different and original, based on our 2000 years of history (of beating the c**p out of each other mainly...) and I would say that that will give us even more legitimacy: succeeding in conducting ops with so many different points of view...nobody will accuse us of being partisan or one sided...
Hope it helps...