Posted on 02/23/2005 3:20:22 PM PST by Kaslin
Germany loves to criticize US President George W. Bush's Middle East policies -- just like Germany loved to criticize former President Ronald Reagan. But Reagan, when he demanded that Gorbachev remove the Berlin Wall, turned out to be right. Could history repeat itself?
Quick quiz. He was re-elected as president of the United States despite being largely disliked in the world -- particularly in Europe. The Europeans considered him to be a war-mongerer and liked to accuse him of allowing his deep religious beliefs to become the motor behind his foreign policy. Easy right?
Actually, the answer isn't as obvious as it might seem. President Ronald Reagan's visit to Berlin in 1987 was, in many respects, very similar to President George W. Bush's visit to Mainz on Wednesday. Like Bush's visit, Reagan's trip was likewise accompanied by unprecedented security precautions. A handpicked crowd cheered Reagan in front of the Brandenburg Gate while large parts of the Berlin subway system were shut down. And the Germany Reagan was traveling in, much like today's Germany, was very skeptical of the American president and his foreign policy. When Reagan stood before the Brandenburg Gate -- and the Berlin Wall -- and demanded that Gorbachev "tear down this Wall," he was lampooned the next day on the editorial pages. He is a dreamer, wrote commentators. Realpolitik looks different.
But history has shown that it wasn't Reagan who was the dreamer as he voiced his demand. Rather, it was German politicians who were lacking in imagination -- a group who in 1987 couldn't imagine that there might be an alternative to a divided Germany. Those who spoke of reunification were labelled as nationalists and the entire German left was completely uninterested in a unified Germany.
When George W. Bush requests that Chancellor Schroeder -- who, by the way, was also not entirely complimentary of Reagan's 1987 speech -- and Germany become more engaged in the Middle East, everybody on the German side will nod affably. But despite all of the sugar coating the trans-Atlantic relationship has received in recent days, Germany's foreign policy depends on differentiating itself from the United States. And when Bush leaves Europe, the differences will remain. Indeed, Bush's idea of a Middle Eastern democracy imported at the tip of a bayonet is, for Schroeder's Social Democratic Party and his coalition partner the Green Party, the hysterical offspring off the American neo-cons. Even German conservatives find the idea that Arabic countries could transform themselves into enlightened democracies somewhat absurd.
This, in fact, is likely the largest point of disagreement between Europe and the United States -- and one that a President John Kerry likely would not have made smaller: Europeans today -- just like the Europeans of 1987 -- cannot imagine that the world might change. Maybe we don't want the world to change, because change can, of course, be dangerous. But in a country of immigrants like the United States, one actually pushes for change. In Mainz today, the stagnant Europeans came face to face with the dynamic Americans. We Europeans always want to have the world from yesterday, whereas the Americans strive for the world of tomorrow.
During the Cold War, these differences were covered up by clearly shared security and political interests; now, the gaps are becoming visible. The two continents will continue to drift apart despite all of the smiles exchanged today in Mainz, yesterday in Brussels and tomorrow in Bratislava.
It was difficult not to cringe during Reagan's speech in 1987. He didn't leave a single Berlin cliché out of his script. At the end of it, most experts agreed that his demand for the removal of the Wall was inopportune, utopian and crazy.
Yet three years later, East Germany had disappeared from the map. Gorbachev had a lot to do with it, but it was the East Germans who played the larger role. When analysts are confronted by real people, amazing things can happen. And maybe history can repeat itself. Maybe the people of Syria, Iran or Jordan will get the idea in their heads to free themselves from their oppressive regimes just as the East Germans did. When the voter turnout in Iraq recently exceeded that of many Western nations, the chorus of critique from Iraq alarmists was, at least for a couple of days, quieted. Just as quiet as the chorus of Germany experts on the night of Nov. 9, 1989 when the Wall fell.
Just a thought for Old Europe to chew on: Bush might be right, just like Reagan was then.
"It was difficult not to cringe during Reagan's speech in 1987. He didn't leave a single Berlin cliché out of his script. At the end of it, most experts agreed that his demand for the removal of the Wall was inopportune, utopian and crazy."
So "trigger happy," "unilateral" American cowboys get the job done where Euro-weenies and socialists fail? Hmm. Who woulda thunk it? (answer: the majority of Americans!)
A glimmer.
I was surprised the editorial was so positve coming from the left wing magazine Der Spiegel
I didn't know that "culture" required 1000 years. Maybe a technical anthropology definition of "culture" requires a certain passage of time.
God save me from being smug.
But wait about ten minutes Lord, I want to enjoy this one.
Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . .
Cynicism followed but that's not the point...from our authors, to our inventors, to our faithful, to our immigrants, the dream of what can be has always been the inspiration of this country.
"Maybe some in Germany do get it."
Here in the U.S. some are getting it.
Tom Friedman was on with Ted Koppel last night saying that the Iraqi elections were indeed a 'tipping point' that has changed the momentum in the Middle East.
He sees the vigorous reaction of the Lebanese against Syria as a direct result of the Iraqi elections.
I believe this is the 3rd European view that "Bush could be right". I find that very, very interesting.
And .. it further proves to me that the liberals in this country are losing their influence and power in the rest of the world.
Article for the English edition. Was it in the German one also? Doesn't look like it.
Notice that Lebanon was left off that list. Flash to Sgt. Schultz "I see nothing ..." yet the truth is unfolding before their very eyes.
"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . ."
... in that vast obscurity beyond the city, where the dark fields of the republic rolled on under the night.
From Die Welt:
"One almost has the impression that the Bush government is loathed not despite, but because of, its commitment to defending freedom." The paper argues that a roll reversal has taken place, with the idealists now living on the American side of the Atlantic and Realpolitik being practiced mostly in Europe.
Interesting comment!
History will prove that Bush is right on this. I don't give a whit about the leftiy protestors, they will remain non-relevant and laughable as always.
"... the entire German left was completely uninterested in a unified Germany. "
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Saudis allowed elections at the smaller levels of government, such as Mayors of cities...etc
Wait until the German's whine about Rumsfeld's plan to close the US military base s in Germany ($6 billion per year) and move them "closer to the front" in the Czech Republic or Hungary. They'll really start to understand Bush then.
Not only will history prove that President Bush is right on this. History will see him as the greatest president of this century, if not of all times
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