Actually, umm, I found an interesting paragraph in that interview ( here is the link:
www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19328 ) that was discovered today:
"I also think because certain factions like North America is fully playable; with the faction in North America, you can fight the War of Independence, and so on. That will appeal to a different audience, I hope. "
Although they use the name "North America" which I think can be safely be assumed as being the 13 colonies, this individual from CA says the faction is Fully Playable. Of course we won't know 100% for a while longer, but I think between this and what Thamis, a CA Game Designer said in this July 17th (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=178597&page=3) ETW forum about the US, "It is going to be possible to play America in a grand campaign" , said, I will continue to believe we can play them in the GC until further updated.
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