The supposed raison d'etre for the EU is peace and security for European nations. How does encouraging the dismemberment of a major European nation, whether Britain or Spain, by holding out the promise of membership to break away entities achieve this aim? Britain is a stalwart member of NATO and the five eyes security alliance including United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. A diminished, dismembered British partner is bound to have a deleterious effect. It is hard to discount the importance of the sovereignty and integrity of nations. There is  powerful argument that the EU sucks up too much of the oxygen necessary for national self-determination and fully functioning democracy. That Scotland is abusing Britain's attempt to redefine its relationship with the EU is proof that the EU has morphed into dangerous territory.