Merkel praises dialogue with Bush

United Press International ^

[Michael81Dus]

She's in charge - she's taking the blame - no excuses.

WHAT A BULL!! We are in a DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, just in case you haven´t noticed! The parliament is "in charge", and it´s not that a Chancellor these days has the same powers like a Chancellor had in 1938. We are in a COALITION. That means to make COMPROMISES. Are you capable of seeing responsibilities? Ask yourself who is the motor in that coalition and who plays the breaks.

[Rummenigge]

A motor would have moved the important points. I don't see a motor anywhere near her.

Beeing in a coalition means to find majorities for the projects that are important to you. She has to identify with the things she wanted to achieve not with primarily power and office - experience tells me, that's how you loose power in the longer shot - and fail the points you wanted to make.

If she is making the compromise to fail the important things she has to leave office and start new elections. At least she has to do more than saying - well folks we all got to safe money - and allow her minister of finance to file the largest budget in our history. That could have been avoided - even with the SPD.

Regarding the reform of our health system the facts stand that we pay highest prices for pharmaceuticals in this entire world. Why should we ? Thanks to restrictive politics and french states influence we are nearly bare of our former pharmaceutical industry, Bayer/Schering doesn't count to much annual turn-over wise. Should we pay for the developement of that Industry in Switzerland or France ?

We don't need a Bismarck to fix that.

Don't tell me we are screwed because we are living in a democracy - that would be BS in capital letters as you set it in a somewhat nervous manner.

[george wythe]

Merkel is almost the opposite of Schroeder. She treats every foreign leader diplomatically, without getting caught up in personality issues. Her goal is to advance the German interests, not to feed her ego.

I'd say Germany is in much better hands.

[DustyMoment]

Real friends can criticize each other in respect and behind closed doors. This IS very well an expression of close relations. I don´t understand why are wondering about it.

Michael, we have had this discussion many times, and for the same reason. Here is my underlying philosophy on why I doubt Chancellor Merkel's motives: I am a VERY strong believer in the concept that actions speak louder than words. Both President Bush and Chancellor Merkel SAY a lot of friendly sounding, politically correct things about one another and the "warm" friendly relationship betwen our two countries. But, where are the actions to prove it?? NEITHER leader has done anything in evidence that demonstrates how warm and friendly the relationship is. American bases in Germany continue to close and everytime Chancellor Merkel says anything about President Bush, she always starts out with a compliment (i.e. "warm, friendly relationship between our two countries"), and then turns around a negates the entire thing by saying how quickly she will "critique" him.

The end result is that she shreds the veneer of warm, friendly relationship that belie her statements about the US with her public comments. So, that's why I don't believe that the relationship exists - what I see is two politicians playing politics and erecting a veneer of a relationship that, behind closed doors, doesn't exist. I'll even take my observation a step farther - I see in Chancellor Merkel, by and large, a continuation of Chancellor Schroeder's policies towards the US. With Chancellor Merkel, it is less obvious, but still there. She is playing the old "America, give us your money and mind your own business" game that Schroeder would play. On 3 separate occasions, I watched Chancellor Schroeder snuggle up to Bush to get something, then he'd turn around, go back to Germany and betray him. Chancellor Merkel is smoother at it thn Chancellor Schroeder was, but she's still playing the same game.

You're a big supporter of Chancellor Merkel, and that's as it should be. I'm not quite as equally enthusiastic about President Bush, due more to his domestic policies than anything else.

Chancellor Merkel can and will, criticize the president in Public all she wants, but it is less about her warm, friendly relationship with the United States, than it is about maintaining hers and Germany's anti-American standing in Europe. There is an axiom that goes like this: "Praise in public, criticize in private". REAL friends would adhere to that axiom as though it were a religion. That Chancellor Merkel doesn't, reveals much about the true nature of the relationship between Germany and the United States.

[Michael81Dus]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1664513/posts

The President has arrived yesterday and will now spend the day with the Chancellor. They surely have a lot to say that they take so much time, don´t you think?

Merkel is in office since 8 months, she has met Bush (incl. this trip) three times on a bilateral basis.

What kind of actions to you expect? We´re not in a phase of any conflict whereas one has to speak about concrete committments. It´s fine that both leaders have a good share of unity on Iran, N Korea, Israel, etc. We´ll have the G-8 summit in Russia at the weekend, and it´s great that Germany and the United States will have a common position.

So, it´s not just talk,talk,talk. The actions you want to see are prepared and executed. That Chancellor Merkel has criticized the camps on the island of Cuba in public was due to the socialist Ministers in her cabinet and the German public. At least she has done it in a diplomatical way, and with all respect towards the office and person of the POTUS. You cannot expect more kindness among disagreeing statesmen on issues that are controversial even within your own country.

If President Bush was so reserved/skeptical towards the Chancellor as you are, we could really throw our relations in the litter box. But he and Merkel trust each other, that´s what you can see. And it´s a kind of positive payback that Merkel has proved to have a backbone 2002/2003.

[DustyMoment]

That Chancellor Merkel has criticized the camps on the island of Cuba in public was due to the socialist Ministers in her cabinet and the German public. At least she has done it in a diplomatical way, and with all respect towards the office and person of the POTUS.

No, Michaael, she has not. She has made her criticism via the mass media, NOT in private as I noted, regardless of the pressures at home to do so. The actions I would expect to see if this were all as hunky and dory as we are told are improved trade and, perhaps, even granting Germany Most Favored Nation status. The EU notwithstanding, I would also expect to see Germany and the US engaged in some joint projects intended to mutually benefit both nations. These are outward signs of this warm, friendly relationship that both leaders claim exist. However, there is neither smoke nor fire to substantiate the claims. President Bush, most assuredly, will not criticize Germany in public, he will do it behind closed doors (if he has criticisms of Germany) to maintain the veneer of a warm, friendly relationship. Unless/until there are more concrete outward indications that support the idea of warm, friendly relations between the US and Germany, it remains, to me at least, more hot air.

[Michael81Dus]

Remarks by President Bush and Chancellor Merkel of Germany in Arrival Ceremony




REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BUSH

AND CHANCELLOR MERKEL OF GERMANY

IN ARRIVAL CEREMONY

Stralsund Market Square

Stralsund, Germany

9:55 A.M. (Local)

CHANCELLOR MERKEL: Mr. President, Mrs. Bush, Minister President, Lord Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, citizens of Stralsund, let me say that I am delighted to be able to welcome you on behalf of the representatives of the land, and also of the city. I'm delighted to welcome most warmly the President of the United States of America. Mr. President, a very, very warm welcome to you. (Applause.)

Mr. President, I'm delighted to be able to welcome you here in this part of our country that I can truly call my political home, the Hanseatic City of Stralsund. Stralsund was part of the League of Hanseatic Cities -- that is to say it is imbued with a spirit of openness to the rest of the world. And in 1989, it was also one of the many cities where on Monday demonstrations took place, where people went out into the streets to demand freedom, to demonstrate for freedom. And we're happy to say in these days it is part of the land of Mecklenburg-Vor Pommern and also part of the Federal Republic of Germany.

And I think that this is a very good opportunity, indeed, to say a word of thanks -- thank you for the contribution, for the support that we have enjoyed throughout from the people of the United States of America, from the American government, to help us along the way towards German unification. I think we owe you a big debt of gratitude for being able to finally live within one country in peace and freedom; one country -- Germany. (Applause.)

I think one can safely say that ever since we were able to achieve German unity a lot has happened, and, indeed, Stralsund is a case in point. If you look at the fact that when the GDR finally collapsed you had about 600 monuments here of historic importance in the city, itself, that were slowly decaying, that were slowly in ruins, and part of them have been restored over time. But there are still quite a lot of problems that remain to be solved. One of them, obviously, is the fairly high unemployment in this particular part of the country, the need for economic progress and economic upturn. And this is why I am also delighted to have you here, to show you here in my constituency what it means when people try to take their own fate, their own future into their own hands and try to turn it to something positive, they are willing to work for the future of the city, for the future of this region.

And I think it also clearly illustrates what we can do together in order to confront the international dangers, the threats at an international level that are common to us all, and that we can do in order, together, work for peace and freedom for our two countries.

Yet again, a very, very warm welcome to you, Mr. President. (Applause.)

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all. Thank you, Chancellor Merkel. Thank you all for coming. Laura and I feel welcome here in Stralsund. To the Mayor, and Minister President, and the people of this beautiful town, we say, Guten Morgen. (Applause.)

For decades, the German people were separated by an ugly wall. Here in the East, millions of you lived in darkness and tyranny. Today your nation is whole again. The German people are at the center of Europe that is united and free and peaceful.

You've given Germany a fine Chancellor in Angela Merkel, who I'm proud to call friend. (Applause.) The American people and the German people see the same qualities of character in your nation's leader. We see a bold vision and a humble heart. We see that she's willing to make hard decisions and eager to build strong partnerships. And like many others in the international community, I respect her judgment and I value her opinion. (Applause.)

It's such an honor to be in her constituency. When I met with her in the Oval Office, she said, when you come to Germany, you need to come to one of the best parts of Germany. (Applause.) She didn't predict the weather. (Laughter.) But I want to thank the Mayor for delivering such a beautiful day. (Applause.) And she forgot to tell me I was going to get some herring, and I thank you for that gift.

I bring a message from the American people: We're honored to call the German people friends and allies. (Applause.) We share common values and common interests. We want to work together to keep the peace. We want to work together to promote freedom. There's so much that we can do, working together, and that's -- part of my visit today is to pledge to you and the Chancellor, America and Germany stand side-by-side. (Applause.)

Thank you for your warm welcome. May God bless you all. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

END 10:14 A.M. (Local)

[Michael81Dus]

[Michael81Dus]

[DustyMoment]

And, your point is??

[Michael81Dus]

I bring a message from the American people: We're honored to call the German people friends and allies. (Applause.) We share common values and common interests. We want to work together to keep the peace. We want to work together to promote freedom. There's so much that we can do, working together, and that's -- part of my visit today is to pledge to you and the Chancellor, America and Germany stand side-by-side. (Applause.)

...Merkel, who I am proud to call my friend,...

If that´s not a "political friendship" I don´t know. Merkel has announced that the Frankfurt book fair chooses the USA as top theme country, she and Bush are close on Iran, N Korea, Israel, Russia. And despite the differences with Schröder, the economy and military have cooperated greatly - so it´s hardly possible to increase that.

[DustyMoment]

Merkel, who I am proud to call my friend,

"All sound and fury, signifying nothing" (Shakespeare). Michael, let me educate you to the ways of American politicalspeak - Politicians in America are notorious for referring to their political opposition on the other side of the aisle as their "good friend" or their "colleague on the other side". It means nothing. Americans know that if they could get away with it, these politicians would gleefully stab one another in the back in a dark alley. But, instead of acknowledging the fact that they don't like one another, in public they refer to their opposite as their "good friend" and, in private, they say what they really feel about their political opposition. These are still words. There are no actions to back them up. I repeat, actions speak louder than words. If you look for the substance beyond the political rhetoric, you'll find nothing there. Everything you are seeing in the press is all a staged and orchestrated political show.

Let me ask you a question - If al-Zarqawi sang the Star-Bangled Banner while he sawed Nick Berg's head off, would that make him pro-American? The actions belie the words. This is what I am observing between Germany and the US. So far, we just have a lot of friendly words being exchanged, but no actions that support them. The jury's still out.

[Michael81Dus]

That´s just because you refuse to acknowledge that phonecalls, visits, gestures are "actions", too. Merkel phones on a regular basis with your President, she has met with him 3 times within 8 months for bilateral talks, that´s a lot more than Schröder got. Each time they meet, they extend the timeframe. Bush got a personal invitation by Merkel. Merkel has done a whole lot for the new "unity" between the five permanent UN Sec Council members + Germany on Iran. This form of cooperation is excellent and serves our common interests. Schröder was already talking about "no war against Iran" - Merkel cannot rule military steps out.

[Michael81Dus]

I obviously don´t understand you - and all the political spectators/commentators of the left and right-wing media share my view. I think Germany and the US are friends again, the ice-age is over - at least until we get a new socialist Chancellor.

[Atlantic Bridge]

Europe has grown quite smug about the peaceful relations they have with the rest of the world, while cowering behind our skirts. We're in the process of removing our defense shield from Europe...you'll have to test drive your ideas about human rights and governance for a hundred years or so before they need be taken seriously. We'll see how well they work without having your bodyguard standing there.

Then stop whining around. Just do it and remove your millitary. I can't stand all this lamentation about the American deployment in Europe. Since those troops are absolutely not needed in Germany anymore since 16 years it would be the most logical thing to relocate them elsewhere. Believe it or not: We can take care on ourselves alone in the meantime.

Besides - as a German I am very thankful for the friendship, help and security those troops provided for more than 60 years now. Thank you America and Americans that you made it possible to live in freedom and wealth for such a long time!!!!!!!! Anyway it is not our fault that your political system takes that long to do some decisions that are overdue.

[gogeo]

LOL...it's the German govt that is slowing the process down...we weren't there unilaterally, and we wouldn't leave the same way. The US military presence supports a lot of German jobs, as it turns out.

It's a given that we're no longer wanted somewhere when America bashing becomes a predictable political tactic. It's not by chance that Merkel has to mend relations.

[Atlantic Bridge]

at least until we get a new socialist Chancellor.

Or America Mullah Omar as its new President - (amused sarcasm)

:-)

[Atlantic Bridge]

LOL...it's the German govt that is slowing the process down...we weren't there unilaterally, and we wouldn't leave the same way. The US military presence supports a lot of German jobs, as it turns out.

It would be idiotic to butcher a cash cow. Anyway the economic effect of the American deployment is not that impressive anymore. The official actual manpower in Germany is roundabout 70.000 GIs. Due to the war in Iraq there are maybe 25.000 left on German soil. Germany has 82,422,299 inhabitants. That means -even if we add 150.000 other people to the full US deployment of 70.000- (summa sumarum 220.000 with families and civilian employees) that we are speaking about 0.267 % of the German population. We will survive it.

I understand very well that the US wants to use expensive installations like Ramstein now and in the future. But the reason to this deployment is not the direct security of Germany or Europe anymore, it is used as a hub to other millitary interest zones of America all around the world. Therefore we should not be hypocritical. It is up to you if you want to go or if you want to stay. We can live perfectly with both possibilities. Just do me a favor - do not whine about it.

[gogeo]

Point of order...I wasn't whining about the deployment. I was whining about the whining.

[Atlantic Bridge]

Well I do not belong to the whiners about Gitmo or all this other BS. Personally I think that it should have a better legal frame, but it would be hypocritical to say that everything was possible to plan properly after 9/11. Anyway it is nessecary to lock away terrorists. No doubt about that. It is better to have them in Gitmo than in our towns.

America and its administration made some fundamental faults in public relations, but the basic decisions are all okay.