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Bush, Merkel pledge closer trans-Atlantic cooperation on trade, Mideast, global warming
International Herald Tribune ^

Posted on 01/05/2007 8:27:26 AM PST by Michael81Dus

WASHINGTON: President George W. Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are pledging closer cooperation on combating global warming and in trying to prod a Middle East peace, brushing aside lingering differences between the two countries.

Merkel was in Washington for a brief visit Thursday just days after Germany assumed the rotating presidencies of the European Union and the Group of Eight major industrialized nations. She said she intended the visit as a signal that trans-Atlantic relations would be an important item for Germany during its six months as leader of Europe and the G-8.

Merkel said her trip to Washington was no coincidence.

"It is clearly an expression of the fact that there are a lot of common interests between our two countries, and that there is also a lot of need for enhanced cooperation between the European Union and the United States."

The two leaders, speaking at a joint White House news conference after talks, said they conferred on issues ranging from war and energy problems to the economy, trade and dealing with the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region. They also touched on issues that have divided Europe and the United States during Bush's presidency, including policies on global warming and Iraq, but brushed aside lingering differences.

(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Germany
KEYWORDS: bush; eu; g8; globalwarming; iraq; merkel; mideast
With British Prime Minister Tony Blair expected to step down this year, Merkel is emerging as Bush's top ally in Europe.
1 posted on 01/05/2007 8:27:29 AM PST by Michael81Dus
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To: Atlantic Bridge; GOPGuide; Dog Gone


2 posted on 01/05/2007 8:32:24 AM PST by Michael81Dus
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To: Michael81Dus

I love Merkel. While Germany and the US still view some of the issues a bit differently, we see most things the same way.

She is such a breath of fresh air following Herr Schroeder's reign. We can do business with Germany. They're good people.


3 posted on 01/05/2007 8:39:30 AM PST by Dog Gone
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To: Michael81Dus
"It is clearly an expression of the fact that there are a lot of common interests between our two countries, and that there is also a lot of need for enhanced cooperation between the European Union and the United States."

A breif moment of sanity out of the EU?

4 posted on 01/05/2007 8:39:44 AM PST by Always Right
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To: Dog Gone
Yeah, but I feel so sorry that President Bush has such a low standing in Europe.

He even said "She has got a lot of wisdom. I don't know if this helps her or hurts her for me to say this, but nevertheless, my consultations with Angela are very productive and very important.”

This is so sad, that the President even acknowledges in public that compliments made by him could harm the praised. I deeply hope that his presidency will not be viewed as a failure in the history books. God bless this man.

5 posted on 01/05/2007 8:43:59 AM PST by Michael81Dus
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To: Always Right

Well, there are lots of voices saying that the bureaucracy in the EU must be stopped, the denied approval for the EU constitution by the Dutch and French are an indicator for that. There has been enough socialism in the EU up to this day, I think we reached a turning point. The latest VAT tax raising in Germany was enough, the budget deficit is going down to 0,6% 2008, and we can have a balanced budget in the next years. So even economically, things are getting better, and less bureaucracy, more flexibility can help to support this trend.


6 posted on 01/05/2007 8:47:59 AM PST by Michael81Dus
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To: Michael81Dus

I wouldn't worry about President Bush's standing in the history books. It takes 20 years or more for the enemies of any President to quit poisoning the analysis.

The accomplishments of President Bush are huge, both in foreign policy and domestically. And he did it with a sense of decency that has been missing from the White House for awhile.

It's true he is not well-liked in Europe. Heck, he's not well-liked here. All he has done is to do everything he said he would do. He's not a liar.

History will treat him far better than the media ever did.


7 posted on 01/05/2007 8:55:03 AM PST by Dog Gone
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To: Dog Gone

One hting I don't like is that Bush is agreeign to 'global warming' issues- it is simply sad that we're going to sign onto the complete scam- it absolutely does not matter how many facts you present the alarmists- they have their mind set on tapping into the cash cow and nothign is going to stop them from foisting the largest scam on the world they have ever seen! http://sacredscoop.com


8 posted on 01/05/2007 9:56:09 AM PST by CottShop
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To: CottShop

Agreed. It is simple common sense that wealth enhances environmental well-being. The U.S. is not poisonng the globe - it is the third world, China, and India. You know, the ones EXEMPTED from transferring their wealth to the others.


9 posted on 01/05/2007 10:19:41 AM PST by mallardx
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To: CottShop

I'm not sure what those "pledges" entail. There's no hint that Bush will put the Kyoto treaty up for ratification.

Global warming is probably occurring, although the earth has cooled and warmed dozens of times over history without humans having the slightest influence on the process.

It's warming on Mars, for pete's sake. That ought to end the argument about whether we're doing anything to affect it, and whether we CAN do anything to reverse it.

If it's a matter of reducing pollution, fine. Very few people are in favor of pollution. But I think that's a different issue. I don't think greenhouse gasses are pollution. They're plant food.


10 posted on 01/05/2007 10:36:10 AM PST by Dog Gone
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To: Dog Gone

Good point about Mars- Yep- we're in nothing more than a cyclical warming trend- but sadly, the alarmists have taken that fact and tried to assert that we're to blame- and equally as sadly, the majority of the world seem to think it is the case- I swear we are blind gluttons ofr punishment- we'll enact all kinds of 'global warming' laws and taxes and fines, pay through the nose for it and find out it didn't do a stinking thing for the environment


11 posted on 01/05/2007 1:03:54 PM PST by CottShop
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