Schroeder Offers to Vote for Russia

Kommersant ^ | Sep. 01, 2005

[Lukasz]

At the yesterday’s extraordinary meeting of Social Democratic Party (SPD), German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said SPD will go to elections independently and put forward Russia as a key foreign policy partner of Germany. SPD met in Berlin for a day yesterday, August 31, 2005. The highlight was parliamentary elections to be held on September 18, one year ahead of the schedule. Even before the meeting was opened, Schroeder announced SPD will go to elections independently, not in alliance with the Green Party.

Contrary to the major rival - Christian Democratic Union, which leader Angela Merkel stands for the Berlin-Washington political cooperation in the election program, Schroeder has put forward Russia as the major partner in foreign policy, saying that German-Russian relations should be as strong as those maintained by Germany with France.

[Lukasz]

photos from Kommersant are the best :-)

[Archidamus]

If you can't lick them, join them.

[SirJohnBarleycorn]

Schroeder is nostalgic for the old Nazi-Soviet Pact with the difference that the German leader is now the red and Putin is more the nazi. Schroeder hoping desperately to play the anti-American card to pull the election of a hat, let's hope it doesn't work.

[bert]

.....If you can't lick them, join them.....

Russia is a basket case. Russia never really had anything but military production. Putin should be on guard against the German desire for capturing resources.

With a burgening Mideast, Germany's petro feed products are gone.

[Lukasz]

Putin should be on guard against the German desire for capturing resources.

Don’t forget China.

[bert]

.....Don’t forget China....

I don't worry about China. China is on a longterm path out of socialism.

[peter the great]

One of the things that I disagree with this sdministration on is its policy towards Russia. The Russians are much closer to being like us than the Chinese are. Plus they have oil and need money we have money and need oil.

[peter the great]

One of the things that I disagree with this sdministration on is its policy towards Russia. The Russians are much closer to being like us than the Chinese are. Plus they have oil and need money we have money and need oil.

[peter the great]

"Russia never really had anything but military production." They also have Steel and oil, which they can easily export.

[SirJohnBarleycorn]

"Russia never really had anything but military production." They also have Steel and oil, which they can easily export Russis has a LOT going for it, lots of natural resources, a well educated and scientifically-oriented population, and low taxes, among many other things. Their biggest problem in my view is a spiritual crisis, reflected in people literally drinking themselves to death, an out-of-control sex industry, mafia running loose and extorting businesses, etc etc. Any politician who could bring genuine respect for law and order without heavy-handed political repression would be a big winner. And it is unfortunate that Clinton and Gore during their eight years frittered away the large amount of good will the Russians had toward the US at the beginning of that administration. What a huge lost opportunity that was.

[bert]

I don't think they can compete on the world steel market. They can export oil if they ever get it all together and move out the ologarchs and the drunks.

I wasn't speaking of resources, I was speaking of ability. A country Russia's size without visegrips and ibuprofen is a basket case.There are theoretically individuals capable of doing the job but there is not the collective will.

[bert]

....Russians are much closer to being like us than the Chinese are.......

The Russians have never had a revolution to wrest the society from totalitarian rule. There have been two but both failed.They are still a nation of peasants. There is a glimmer of willingness to progress away from a feudal society in the cities but the country lacks the willl to emerge.

[pierrem15]

Announced on the 65th anniversary of the German invasion of Poland.

Gotta admire the sensitivity of the Germans./s

[pierrem15]

Arghhh. 66th anniversary. Too many Bodingtons last night...

[Tailgunner Joe]

Where are the Russian shills to explain why Holy Crusader Putin is endorsing a socialist over a Christian!?

[John Lenin]

I don't trust the Russians as far as I can throw them.

[Lukasz]

Ever heard about the "socialism with human face" ROTFL

[GarySpFc]

Where are the Russian shills to explain why Holy Crusader Putin is endorsing a socialist over a Christian!?

Joe, I see you do not have anything to say about Putin having us kicked out of the base in Uzbekistan.

[NeoCaveman]

Kick his arse Angela.

[GarySpFc]

Where are the Russian shills to explain why Holy Crusader Putin is endorsing a socialist over a Christian!?

Did I miss something? I didn't see anything about Putin endorsing either party.