Bush, Schroeder Put Bitter War Feud Behind Them

Reuters ^ | 02/27/04 | Steve Holland

[Pikamax]

Bush, Schroeder Put Bitter War Feud Behind Them

By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder put their bitter feud over the Iraq war behind them on Friday but Schroeder brought up a new problem: the dollar's weakness against the euro.

"We've had differences in the past. But there's nothing wrong with friends having differences and we are both committed to put the differences behind us and move forward," Bush told reporters as he and Schroeder sat side-by-side in the Oval Office.

Schroeder said he told Bush of German concerns about the weakness of the dollar versus the euro, which Germany feels is depressing German exports.

The official U.S. position on the dollar -- which Schroeder said Bush repeated to him -- is that the administration backs a strong U.S. currency. But a cheaper dollar has helped the United States cope with its current record trade imbalance because it makes U.S.-produced exports cheaper in foreign markets.

Schroeder said Bush told him that while he is interested in a strong dollar, governments only have a limited ability to influence currencies.

"I conveyed that we are obviously concerned about the euro-dollar relationship," he said.

NOT WON OVER ON WAR

German officials have said they are still not convinced of the reasons for the Iraq war that Schroeder had tried to head off in a fight that pitted Germany, France and Russia against the United States, Britain and Spain.

European opponents to the war feel vindicated by the U.S. failure to find weapons of mass destruction that Bush had cited as the key justification to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Now the debate is over how to guarantee a democracy arises in Iraq.

"We talked not about the past. We very much agreed on that. We have to talk about the present and the future now. We both have a great interest in seeing a stable, democratic Iraq develop," said Schroeder.

Germany helped thwart a U.N. resolution that Bush wanted as international backing for the war. But Bush had long been angry at Schroeder before that debate, since Schroeder had campaigned against U.S. Iraq policy during his 2002 re-election campaign.

It was Schroeder's first return to the White House in two years. Bush and Schroeder broke the ice in what had been a frosty relationship in September on the fringes of the U.N. Security Council session in New York. Bush is trying to put the Iraq war feud behind him this year and make peace with traditional European allies.

Besides Iraq, the two leaders discussed resolving the problem of North Korea's nuclear program, finding peace in the Middle East and stabilizing Afghanistan.

Speaking of their relationship, Bush said: "The chancellor has got a good sense of humor. And therefore he is able to make me laugh. And a person who can make me laugh is a person who is easy to be with."

[kellynla]

W may have put the bitter war feud behind him but Marines have much longer memories. I won't ever buy another German car again. PERIOD! Semper Fi, Kelly

[DustyMoment]

Bush is an idiot. Schroeder has played him for a patsy and will do so again.

Bush doesn't learn.

[zarf]

Perhaps you'd like to nuke Berlin?

Jerk.

[Michael81Dus]

It´s election campaign, and the President wants to be re-elected. He plays against the Democrats by pretending to have good relations with his former Iraq-opponents. These pictures will definitely help him with respect to the accusations that once good allies have turned against the US.

Btw, today -surprise, surprise- a poll was released, saying that 70% of Germans think that the US are one of the countries following most recklessly their aims. However, 90% of the Germans wished to have good relations with America.

[XJarhead]

Notice he's not doing the same thing Chirac....

The French were worse than the Germans when it came to the war. The Germans actually cooperated with us to some extent, even though they were not in favor of the war.

Bush has figured out who he's going to nail for this, and its France. By "burying the hatchet" with Germany, he further isolates France and makes our dislike that much more obvious. Divide and conquer.

This isn't about making up with the Germans; it's about digging the knife deeper into the French. Go Dubya!

[kellynla]

Oh, I wrote off the French long ago and they are DOA in my book. My father put his life on the line for France and helped liberate France. There is no way I will ever forget their betrayal. Semper Fi, Kelly

[AmishDude]

Btw, today -surprise, surprise- a poll was released, saying that 70% of Germans think that the US are one of the countries following most recklessly their aims. However, 90% of the Germans wished to have good relations with America.

You know, if there were a poll in the US, 70% would say that the French are rude. Make that 95%. It's just that the American stereotype is serving political purposes in Europe.

[DustyMoment]

Take a page from your own book, pal. All I said was that Bush doesn't learn. How'd you get "Nuke Berlin" out of that?

[Michael81Dus]

You´re right, I know. But guess what, I´d agree with these 70%. The U.S. is following their aims recklessly. There´s no doubt about it - at least for me. But does that mean that this is negative? This is the more interesting question.

[Liberty Valance]

As I understand it, Germany has boots on the ground in Afghanistan. That is a good thing. Besides, sausage, saurkraut and hearty dunkel dark beer sound perfect for Friday afternoon. Who wants a beer?

[zarf]

He doesn't learn what? That a grudge should be carried indefinitely?

The Germans are contributing handsomely to the Afganistn mission. Bush is savy enough to make his point and move on.

The Krauts know who their dealing with now.

Why continue to have a pissing contest?

[DustyMoment]

Schroeder buddied up to Bush, then bashed him for political gain at home. Bush forgave him and buddied up to Schroeder again, only to have Schroeder do the same thing.

THEN came the whole Iraq mess.

Other than our military bases, Germany has no real strategic value to us any longer and schroeder is hoping to use Bush to prop him up politically at home. At the first opportunity, when it becomes politically expedient for him to do so, Schroeder will piss on Bush again.

Befriending Schroeder does NOTHING to improve Bush's standing among conservatives. As for Afghanistan, Germany has a small force on the ground, but it is not enough to be of any significance; certainly not in comparison to the contingents from other nations.

[Dilbert56]

Shaking his hand costs nothing. The President and SecState have tried to get the point across that Iraq is but one issue. We and France disagree on Iraq but their soldiers and pilots are fighting in Afghanistan. Same with Germany.

The media focus only on the disagreements regarding Iraq. It fits their preconceived notion that the Bush Administration doesn't conduct diplomacy. A story about French troops killing Al Qaeda will never make the news because it doesn't fit through the mediot filter.

The Administration is trying to counter that image by portraying Iraq as an exception, one of a few, in an otherwise constructive relationship.

Note the bias in the article. It completely ignores the other European countries that supported us. Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and the Ukraine.

Personally I think I'll avoid going to France the rest of my life if I can. Probably Germany too but at least their foreign minister wasn't flying around the world to screw us at the UNSC.

[DustyMoment]

Notice my reply #13 to zarf. I could care less about the media's focus on Iraq, it isn't mine. Schroeder has used Bush as his whipping boy on TWO occasions before Iraq ever came to the table. THAT'S my concern. IMO, Schroeder, because he has twice betrayed Bush before Iraq ever came up, is untrustworthy and a backstabbing Judas. Neither the US nor Bush need anything that Schroeder or Germany has to offer. US bases aside, Schroeder needs the US for his political future far more than we need him. He's in deep kim-chee at home and is desperate to make it appear that everything between Germany and the US are hunky-dory.

That's my concern. It has nothing to do with the tiff over Iraq. It has to do with Schroeder's prior behavior.

[BroncosFan]

He's a lame duck. The Christian Dems will sweep the next elections, which might come sooner than GS thinks.

[swampfox98]

How much money does Schroeder need from America? If he's shaking hands with the president, it means he needs lots of cash.

[Michael81Dus]

So, you claimed that the number of German forces in Afghanistan is small and not comparable to those of other nations? Well, here we go with the figures:

Germany provides a significant contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom, including the Army, Air Force and Navy up to a total strength of 3900 soldiers.

Additionally, Germany is the main contributer to the INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE (ISAF). The total personnel in ISAF rounds up to 5500 soldiers, 2500 of which belong to the German Armed Forces.

Germany runs a field hospital for ISAF, open to civil patients as well, operates an air staging unit in TERMEZ/ Uzbekistan, and provides substancial support in operating Kabul International Airport.

Well, if you don´t like it... we don´t need to be there! My comrades surely would rather be in our rotten socialist society than in Afghanistan.

http://www.operations.mod.uk/fingal/orbat.htm

http://www.centcom.mil/operations/Coalition/Coalition_pages/germany.htm

Sorry for being there! We surely have learned our lesson to stay out of YOUR way.

[Michael81Dus]

Not one cent. Schröder is not (yet) the leader of a third world country. Shaking hands serves both: Bush to slap the Dem´s and Schröder brings home some nice pictures with really important people.

[texasflower]

That was a silly thing to say. It's a really good thing you aren't in charge of diplomacy.

He certainly can't say what he really thinks. Get real.