A New Babel

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — European Union leaders signed a new treaty on Thursday that would give the 27-nation bloc a long-term president and streamline its decision-making process. The treaty changes the way the bloc is run, with member states surrendering more powers to centralized rule in Brussels after years of resisting encroachment on their sovereign powers. The intention is to enable a swifter response to global issues. Among the treaty's provisions is the appointment of an EU president who can speak in the bloc's name, which should end the old American gripe of "who do you call when you want to speak to Europe?"

The so-called Lisbon Treaty, said by leaders to be a milestone in the history of the post-World War II bloc, will come into force after it is ratified by all member states. The aim is to complete that process by 2009. Providing for a new European boss who will serve a five-year term will allow the EU to scrap the current and often confusing system in which EU countries take turns at holding the presidency for six months at a time.

• JJ Commentary: Global issues (warming, war, bird flu, Aids, etc.) will be the logical basis upon which the one-world government prophesied in Revelation 13 will be built – just like the tower of Babel.