Welcome in Germany (commentary by Chancellor Schröder!)

BILD ^ | 02-23-2005 | Gerhard Schröder

[Michael81Dus]

Welcome in Germany!

Europe is the destination of the first trip to the foreign of President Bush in his 2nd term. That is a strong signal for us Europeans, it is a confession to the friendly cooperation across the the Atlantic.

The visit in Mainz is furthermore a clear message to Germany: America sees a special weight in the relations between us.

We Germans know to value this message. The United States have played a major role in preserving our freedom and re-uniting our country. For that, the USA deserves our grattitude.

16 years ago, the father of the current President, George Bush sen., has renewed his vision of a united, free and strong Europe, based on common values. This vision has become reality, the European Union is the success story of the present.

We Germans and Europeans need the unity with the USA. Vice versa, the Americans need the Europeans as their closest allies. The capabilities of Europeans and Americans complement each other perfectly. We ought to strengthen this friendship for the future!

Whenever situations get serious, we are depending on each other – that´s valid for the solutions of international crises, the defense of our common values and security as well as for the global challenges.

We are allied and partners in the war against terrorism, against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, against poverty and epidemics, and in preserving the creation and in preventing dangers from the world climate.

We participate in the solution of regional crises in the Balkans, in Afghanistan and in the Middle East. Our continents can do lots of good things in our "one world" - if we are united.

Objective differences are in a close partnership normally. It´s decisive that we talk about that and reach common decisions. That increases the legitimacy of our acts. That´s why I have proposed to search for ways how we can improve the transatlantic dialogue even within NATO.

I´m looking forward to meet with President Bush and his wife Laura and welcome them cordially in Germany.

[This -roughly translated- commentary was published today by Europe´s most read daily newspaper, the BILD.]

[Michael81Dus]

If you could accept my -rough- ;-) translation, I´d be thankful when you´d use your Ping List.

And regarding the subject: Americans and Europeans perceive the terroristic threat different, but this isn´t that serious that we could not get over it. Nobody wants Iran to get nukes, I´m hopeful we can fix this problem.

[lula]

This is all good,but Germany has seen its highest unemployment. Yesterday I was on the phone with a German friend who was upset because her tax euros were being spent on all the security surrounding President Bush's visit. Autobahn closures, no rail, no shipping on rivers, airspace restrictions, plants closing, to list a few. Also a special tent with computers for the press.
He's the leader of the free world, and needed this magnitude of security. Unfortunately the press here has tainted their peoples thoughts. Sound familiar?

[Michael81Dus]

Yeah, the security is unprecedented here. Several motorways have been closed, incl. alternative routes. The people appreciate that Bush spends time here - and on his request he will also meet with the opposition leader Dr. Angela Merkel. I´m pretty sure that a majority understands the necessity of this visit.

[longjack]

German ping.

longjack

[elhombrelibre]

Hopefully, Herr Schroeder will be unemployed soon.

[MadIvan]

Schroeder is obviously scared of something - am I right in thinking he's alienated America too much in the eyes of his countrymen?

Regards, Ivan

[SkyPilot]

Most Germans had not nearly the animosity towards America that France had.

[MadIvan]

Agreed. Germany is the weakest link in the Weasel Axis. If the SPD / Green alliance is thrown out of office, France may well be isolated.

Regards, Ivan

[Arpege92]

Germany is a very beautiful country. I had the pleasure of living in Germany twice when my father was stationed at Rhein Mein AFB. I'd love to see Germany again but I'm not so sure I'd be welcomed.

[longjack]

This "Die Welt" article gives an idea of the security measures.

It's nice for those of us who know the area somewhat. Nothing like a good old-fashioned Stau on the A3 to start your day off right.

---

		Mi 23. Februar 2005

Enormous Security Force for Bush Visit

The U.S. The US President's visit has begun. Thousands of police are protecting him. Schools are closed. The traffic is backed up on the autobahns. Citizens are grumbling about the security costs

US-Präsident George W. Bush lands at Rhein-Main-Air-Base near Frankfurt photo: rtr

Mainz - U.S. President George W. Bush was welcomed in Frankfurt by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD), Secretary of State Joschka Fischer (Greens) and Hesse's Governor Roland Koch (CDU). The president arrived on "Air Force One". Bush subsequently rode in a convoy to Mainz 60 kilometers away. The exact route on the closed autobahn has been kept secret for safety reasons until just recently. 40 flights were cancelled at Frankfurt airport. All trains into the airport were shut down. Autobahn approaches to the airport were also closed.

The safety precautions for the visit by U.S. President, George W. Bush, have already led to traffic delays across the entire Rhine-Main area in the morning. According to police the traffic was stopped on autobahns and federal highways - it will get even worse, a police spokesman said. The situation was aggravated by an accident involving a truck on the Autobahn 3 Frankfurt - Cologne just before the Wiesbaden interchange, in which three lanes were blocked.

Several thousand policemen are providing security for Bush and Schröder. Up to 4000 officers from Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse are supported by almost 4900 federal  policemen.

Welded Manhole Covers and Resident Checks

Policemen searched the restricted areas around the Elector's Palace with bomb-sniffing dogs. Barriers were set up in the governmental quarter, man-hole covers were welded shut and the last cables were laid down for the live broadcasts.

Tens of thousands of commuters in the Rhine-Main area must plan for chaos on the roads due to the meeting. More than 1000 people who live in the security zone on the Mainz bank of the Rhine can only get to their apartments after preliminary checks.

Parking Bans und Sharpshooters

Since Tuesday, an absolute stopping ban has been in effect on all streets which are part of the security zone. The residents were asked not to go onto their balconies during the passage of Bush's convoy. Those who didn't comply were specifically addressed by the police, a police spokesperson said.

According to unconfirmed information by the agency Associated Press (AP), sharpshooters are in place on high buildings during the Bush visit to protect the President. Police helicopters and fighter planes are in the air to fend off possible intruders to the Mainz airspace.

Air Force is Allowed Shoot-downs in an Emergency

Pursuit aircraft of the Bundeswehr have, for the first time, the right to shoot down an airplane identified as dangerous. The airspace over Mainz is closed for all visual flight aircraft.

Several freeway sections in the west of the Rhine-Main area remain closed on Wednesday between 8.30 and 10.30 as well as between 17:00 and 19:00. The A60 from autobahn interchange Mainz south to the Rüsselsheimer triangle, the A67 from Rüsselsheimer triangle to the Mönchhof triangle, the A3 from the airport to Wiesbaden interchange, the A66 fromWiesbaden interchange to Schiersteiner interchange as well as the A671 from the Mainspitz triangle to Wiesbaden-Erbenheim.

Commuter Joys and No School

The authorities have called upon all commuters to leave their car at home if possible. Ship traffic is also stopped for the day on the Rhine and on the Main in the Mainz region. The suburban train station Mainz-Kastel isn't being used because of Bush's visit.

For many students in Mainz and Wiesbaden the Bush visit brings a day off. Thus, all of the Mainz schools are closed with the exception of a private elementary school in Gonsenheim. In Wiesbaden, the schools are closed in the districts Amöneburg, Kostheim and Kastel, as well as the elementary school in the Delkenheim area.

"An optimal setting", says Schröder

"An optimal setting for successful discussions", Schröder told the "Allgemeinen Zeitung" in Mainz. Some of the people affected probably see this differently: About 30 cars which were parked in no- parking zones in the security area were towed away on Tuesday, according to information from the city.

WELT.de

Artikel erschienen am Di, 22. Februar 2005

"Die Welt"....Enormes Sicherheitsaufgebot zur Bush-Visite

Translated by longjack

[Schiller]

I'd love to see Germany again but I'm not so sure I'd be welcomed.

Why shouldn't you be welcome over here? Especially the people from Rhein-Main-Area here share a lot in common with the U.S, more than anywhere else in Germany (with the possible exception of Heidelberg, thank's Mr. Presley.. *g*). There are a lot of friendly folks in this country, and in contrast to the left media, most of them like America and even more they like Americans. I strongly believe, that people from all over the world are welcome here, and especially Americans, who have been or friends and allies for the last 6 decades.

[henkster]

Thanks for the ping longjack.

While Germany is the weakest link in the Axis of Weasel, it is because as noted elsewhere the German public is not so dominated by Anti-Americanism as is France. The opposition leader with whom Bush will meet is fairly supportive of our efforts in Iraq.

Having said that, I'm not so sure we have it right when we think that Chirac is calling the tune and Schroeder is dancing to it. I've suspected that it is the other way around; Chirac is a nice "front man" for Schroeder, who would like to pursue a leftist foreign policy independent of the US, but doesn't have as firm domestic support that Chirac has. Thus, it is easier for him to let Chirac fire off the anti-American rants and Schroeder can kind of nod his head. Since the German economy dominates the EU, France's deeds will follow the German lead. Of course, the French leadership will say anything; just watch what they do.

As for whether Schroeder will be out of a job, I'm not so sure. The defeat in Schleswig-Holstein was good news. However, the political landscape within Germany changed with reunification. The Eastern provinces will domestically tend to be more socialist as that is their "comfort zone" after so many dependent decades under Soviet Communism. That those people found a home in the SPD, and thus swung the national majority to that party after reunification, comes as no surprise. The question is whether the inevitable failure of socialist economic policies will swing the political pendulum back to the center. If so, it's not just a minor blip in German politics, it would be quite significant.

And it would be a major development for the EU as well. Until the German ecomonic engine gets back on track, the EU will continue to suffer economic stagnation.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

I heard the same from my parent's,but it is not the US,at least i don't think it is,that made the requests of shutting everything down.
IMO,it's the German government that went overboard.Did Belgium go through that much trouble to keep the President safe?

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Thanks for the ping.

[angcat]

My husband loved it also. He patrolled the border during his Army days. He said he would love to take me there.

[Michael81Dus]

Lots of Germans welcome Americans - as soldiers, their families or tourists. You don´t have to fear of being insulted or something else on your trip here. But there are always idiots. Just like I - when I was a young teenager - was called a f*in Kraut in Great Britain because of having spoken German to a friend, there´s a possibility that you will hear criticism for the Iraq war. The bias I have experienced then is for me unprecedented. Even today, when I praised the presence of President Bush among fellow-students, I heard generalizations and leftist propaganda against the US. One even considered the Korean war a "crime against humanity". Unbelievable. But generally, I hear from 95% of Americans who have been here positive feedback. Come if you like, when the Euro is cheaper - and we have a new government! :-)

[Michael81Dus]

I think we stepped up security measures because we don´t want the President being killed here. In D.C., he is as much at risk as here, but then it is his responsibility. In Belgium, the roads were closed too and he drove through empty streets. Sadly, actually.

[Michael81Dus]

LOL, and the commuters probably love it.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

I agree,I was just trying to explain that the US doesn't actually have to much in saying what security measures are taken on foreign ground.