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Gerhard Schroeder's Sellout
WP ^ | December 13, 2005

Posted on 12/12/2005 6:40:34 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe

IT'S THE SORT of behavior we have -- sadly -- come to expect from some in Congress. But when Gerhard Schroeder, the former German chancellor, announced last week that he was going to work for Gazprom, the Russian energy behemoth, he catapulted himself into a different league. It's one thing for a legislator to resign his job, leave his committee chairmanship and go to work for a company over whose industry he once had jurisdiction. It's quite another thing when the chancellor of Germany -- one of the world's largest economies -- leaves his job and goes to work for a company controlled by the Russian government that is helping to build a Baltic Sea gas pipeline that he championed while in office. To make the decision even more unpalatable, it turns out that the chief executive of the pipeline consortium is none other than a former East German secret police officer who was friendly with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, back when Mr. Putin was a KGB agent in East Germany. If nothing else, Mr. Schroeder deserves opprobrium for his bad taste.

But the announcement should also raise questions in German voters' minds about the real reasons Mr. Schroeder was so keen to see this pipeline project launched. The pipeline has cost Germany diplomatically by infuriating its Central European and Baltic neighbors. They point out that the Russian government chose to use the sea route rather than run a new pipeline alongside one that already exists on land, despite the far greater expense. The only possible reason for doing so was political: The Baltic Sea pipeline could allow Russia, a country that has made political use of its energy resources, to cut off gas to Central Europe and the Baltic states while still delivering gas to Germany.

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


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Germany; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: china; communism; eussr; nomorenato; perestroikadeception; russia; schroeder; sovietunion; thirdway

1 posted on 12/12/2005 6:40:35 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
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To: Tailgunner Joe

This is not surprising at all.


2 posted on 12/12/2005 7:12:09 PM PST by muawiyah (u)
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To: Tailgunner Joe
The Baltic Sea pipeline could allow Russia, a country that has made political use of its energy resources, to cut off gas to Central Europe and the Baltic states while still delivering gas to Germany.

Smart Germans if you ask me.

3 posted on 12/12/2005 7:14:26 PM PST by gotribe (Hillary: Accessory to Rape)
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Eurotrash are essentially simpleminded children,(see how the primitive moslem savages steal their lunches) and this sort of transparent garbage is just what we should expect from them. The average small-time drug dealer in Chicago is far more sophisticated, dare we say nuanced? than these hyperventilating peasants.
4 posted on 12/12/2005 7:19:04 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: hinckley buzzard

A new spin on the Oil for Food program.


5 posted on 12/12/2005 7:26:05 PM PST by JUST A BARTENDER (A Minority Conservative living In Massachusetts. Fighting OUR Fight Everyday!)
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To: gotribe

Keep those "smart germans" from starting a formidable army, or we'll soon be seeing the "Fourth Reich".


6 posted on 12/12/2005 7:30:33 PM PST by wrathof59 (2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox, Life is Good!)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Is this how the Russians pay off Schroeder regarding Iraq's Oil for Food?


7 posted on 12/12/2005 7:32:19 PM PST by stocksthatgoup (Polls = Proof that when the MSM want your opinion it will give it to you.)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

I wonder what position Germany's Greens are taking on this. Hopefully several, as that might help Merkel.


8 posted on 12/12/2005 7:35:54 PM PST by dr_who_2
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To: Tailgunner Joe

About 500 years ago the Europeans got tired of "transit fees", tolls and imposts on spice trade - and so, Portuguese King sent Vasco da Gama to organize a direct supply route from spice growers. On this occasion, the modern day "spice growers" took the initiative, but that's about the only difference.


9 posted on 12/12/2005 7:40:57 PM PST by GSlob
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To: wrathof59

Germany can't now and wont be able in the future to punch it's way out of a paper bag.

No matter how sophisticated their weapons were they do not have what it takes inside them.


10 posted on 12/12/2005 7:41:26 PM PST by BookaT (My cat's breath smells like cat food!)
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To: stocksthatgoup; jb6
Is this how the Russians pay off Schroeder regarding Iraq's Oil for Food?

From Russian Internet-press we can see that: In the first minute of his first presidency Putin signed first decree about "prohibition of criminal prosecution concerning former president Yeltsin". Now, Putin want to obtain the same guarantee after his presidency but no one political partner can give him such guarantee. Moreover, there are 6 criminal cases concerning "citizen" Putin about his shady dealings in St. Petersburg. All 6 were suspended on the time of his presidency. It is so-called "hook" on which he had been hanged when had been chosen as "successor". In such unfavorable circumstances, Mr.Putin (most likely) decided to live in Germany after his presidency. May 13 of 2005, Russia proclaimed about payment 13bln. debt to "Paris club" before the appointed time. 6,5bln. of them must obtain Germany. (Debt was multi-currency: 65% in euro, 22% in US dollar 13% in others..). Using transfer such huge money like "umbrella", Putin has transferred own money to Germany. Now he is ready escape from Russia in case of any unfavorable circumstances. Unfortunately (for Mr.Putin) that Gerhard Schroeder ceded chair of chancellor but we can see how both friends make business helping to each other..

11 posted on 12/12/2005 9:11:30 PM PST by nativeRussian
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To: hinckley buzzard
Hello. Know anything about tariffs. The poles wanted a big tariff to run the pipeline through their country and the baltics too. This way they dont need to pay any. That is why the Pole are mad.

Pretty smart of the russians if you ask me. You I wont comment on.

12 posted on 12/13/2005 11:51:56 AM PST by oilfieldtrash
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To: Jan Malina

PING!


13 posted on 12/13/2005 12:48:41 PM PST by Thunder90
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Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: Jan Malina; jb6
May I be slightly not agreeing with you?
1.Russian press inform unambiguously: Angela Merkel has much worse expectancies toward Russia than her predecessor Gerhard.
2.In addition to my post (11) above.. official opinion: Gerhard Schroeder became "chairman of shareholders' committee company for construction & operation marine part of North-European gas pipeline" to guarantee successful result of construction in 5 years. Moreover, G.Schroeder will realize idea to integrate Russia into EU not as member but as strategic partner (do you remember Putin's speech in Bundestag in Sept.2001?). Gerhard's rate of salary is 1.5mln US dollar/per year.
3.Chief executive of all this enterprise has been appointed Matthias Warnig who was:
former agent GDR-secret service "Shtazi" who has met with V.Putin 20 years ago. They cooperated as secret service officers.
Since 90's Warnig was chief "Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein" and Moscow branch of "Dresdner Bank".

That is absolutely real..
But Angela Merkel is not "very friendly with the KGB criminal Putin".
15 posted on 12/13/2005 9:02:45 PM PST by nativeRussian
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Aw come on...it's just Schroeders way of giving Germany the super finger for not reelecting him.


16 posted on 12/13/2005 9:03:52 PM PST by Katya (Homo Nosce Te Ipsum)
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Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

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