The New New Schroeder

WALL STREET JOURNAL ^ | November 24, 2003 | Editorial

[OESY]

What a difference a year makes. In September 2002, Gerhard Schroeder was attacking U.S. policy toward Iraq for political gain. These days, the German Chancellor is taking pains to present himself as a loyal American ally.

At a meeting with Journal editors in New York Friday, Mr. Schroeder said he favors cancellation of some of the 4.5 billion to 5 billion euros in sovereign debt that Iraq owes to Germany as a contribution to Iraq's reconstruction effort. Relieving Iraq of that burden, particularly if other important creditors follow suit, would make a significant contribution to Iraq's rebuilding effort.

[NTegraT]

"German Chancellor is taking pains to present himself as a loyal American ally"

He may fashion himself as an ally, but LOYAL he ain't.

[ClearCase_guy]

Schroeder's heart isn't in it. If he follows good foreign and domestic policies, things will get better for Germany. But, as soon as things get better for Germany, he will feel more comfortable going back to the policies which he "feels" are more just: taxing productive people, and subverting freedom around the world.

[witnesstothefall]

Schroeder is cracking me up this week, with his talk of how the world community must fight terrorism inside Iraq and around the world, just as long as the Germans themselves don't have to fight. Dumkopf!

[Always Right]

Now it is France who is standing alone with their unilateralism arogance..

[DustyMoment]

Schroeder is setting Bush up for another sucker punch. He has done it twice before. Frankly, the cancellation of the debt to Germany by the Iraqis is so much blather. In diplomatic circles, when one regime is ousted, all loans, debts, etc. are considered uncollectible by the succeeding regime since they had no part in creating the debt.

Schroeder is going to blindside Bush . . . again!

[RJL]

a highly placed German official told us that America is Germany's "most important strategy partner," pointedly putting the U.S. ahead of France in that category.

Talk is cheap. What matters is what allies do when the chips are down. Germany stood firmly with Saddam Hussein and France.

[Cicero]

When you know a debt will never be paid you'd might as well look big-hearted and cancel it.

Schroeder is a treacherous liar.