US-German Relations - Berlin's Concern about America's Image

Der Spiegel ^ | January 4, 2006 | David Crossland

[Atlantic Bridge]

German Chancellor Angela Merkel can look forward to the red-carpet treatment in Washington next week as US President George Bush -- who never got on with her predecessor Gerhard Schröder -- hopes to signal a fresh start. But a top German official warns that despite improving trans-Atlantic ties, America's reputation among the European public is waning.

[Atlantic Bridge]

There is indeed much misunderstanding between both sides of the Atlantic. The possibilities of the pro-american Merkel and her party, the CDU, are very limited since she is forced to gouvern together with the SPD, the party of the former chancellor Schroeder due to the outcome of the last elections.

My impression is that the vision of America inside the German society is completely different to the one we had during the 80ties or 90ties. Permanent leftist propaganda and existing differences in values and views spoiled the positive image that the US had in Germany. Today many Germans believe into a caricature that has nothing to do with the realities. They see America somehow as a christian theocracy with a Walt-Disney-justice that raids other countries because of Halliburton. Of course there are enough informed Germans who are staunch friends of the US, but the public mainstream goes a different way.

What can be done if we want to maintain our friendship? First of all Germany needs more time to solve its own problems. It will be easier if Merkel is a littlebit more settled than in the moment. Furthermore it would be helpful if both sides are mature enough to accept that there are differences in values and views. There is much more than just different opinions about gobal warming. It is worth a try.

[peyton randolph]

America's reputation among the European public is waning.

Good. Let's pull all of our troops out of Old Europe, withdraw from NATO, and see what happens. Scr#w them.

[vbmoneyspender]

Bump to that. Old Europe has become Brat Europe.

[familyop]

"First of all Germany needs more time to solve its own problems."

And so do other western European countries. IMO, too much European focus is on the USA without reason. French and British political people have assumed that we are somehow lusting for "empire" and have told me that they wish for the same.

[Senator Bedfellow]

Today many Germans believe into a caricature that has nothing to do with the realities. They see America somehow as a christian theocracy with a Walt-Disney-justice that raids other countries because of Halliburton. Of course there are enough informed Germans who are staunch friends of the US, but the public mainstream goes a different way.

Nothing personal, but what you're telling me here is that there's a significant fraction of the German public that is essentially delusional. In the face of that, I don't know that there's much we here on the other side of the Atlantic can do to improve things, unless you want us to start carpet-bombing you all with thorazine or something. I don't deny there's a problem, but it sounds like the solution is all on the German end of things...

[MinorityRepublican]

Germany sucks. France sucks.

[denydenydeny]

"I'm concerned that the image of America as a haven of state legality where the state protects the personal freedom of individuals has suffered," said Karsten Voigt, the German Foreign Ministry's co-ordinator for German-American cooperation, who will be traveling in Merkel's delegation during her visit on Jan. 13. "I hope people in the US are aware of problem."

Infuriating.

The "personal freedom" of the 9/11 hijackers to plan the whole thing in Hamburg with absolutely no interference from the German government resulted in the deaths of 3000 Americans.

There is no more important "personal freedom" than the freedom to continue to breathe air, which is something that many Germans seem to have forgotten. I am very much aware of THAT problem.

[Finalapproach29er]

The EU should have 100,000 troops in Iraq.

They are Godless and worthless as allies.

[JLS]

As Mark Steyn might conjecture the US repuations in Germany is declining as the Moslem population in Germany is rising. Now is that a surprise?

[Billthedrill]

Merkel may depend on a friendly welcome. But attitudes in the United States toward its European image range from apathy to outright hostility. We have dealt with Iraq and despite a truly vicious campaign of mischaracterization in the European press that country has had a peaceful election (more, incidentally, than might be said for the Palestine Authority) and its people are freer than they have been for decades. Quite a bit freer than the erstwhile citizens of East Germany were before 1989 but that seems to have been quickly forgotten. Image did not do that, action did.

My question is simply what Germany is prepared to do about a nuclear Iran beside talk on the one hand and deal armaments on the other. Berlin will be in range of Iran's missiles long before New York will. Given the choice between a wall of anti-missile defense between Iran and the U.S. and a nice image I'll take the missiles. What the Germans will prefer is up to them.

[tarepeter]

Are you completely, or only halfway out of your mind? Germany needs time? Just how old is that nation/organization/fiefdom/state/federation? If Germany has not yet deciphered its core cultural values it desires to project and instill in subsequent generations of its citizens at what time in the history of the earth does it intend to do so? Why ask the US for time? Or, behind this introspective self-exam, maybe you ought to ask the Muslim brotherhoods right there in Munich and Stuttgart for their input--they seem to be in the vanguard of all things European now.

Why don't you dig a slit trench from border to border and wave a white flag-- while you proceed to bury what little remains of your collective dignity (facing Mecca and that of your future of course)?

[bannie]

Since we left Frankfurt, how many US bases are left in Germany?

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

My impression is that the vision of America inside the German society is completely different to the one we had during the 80ties or 90ties. Permanent leftist propaganda and existing differences in values and views spoiled the positive image that the US had in Germany.

Good call. On the European side, these people who have bought into such propaganda are going to sooner or later have to realize that you cannot embrace the Russians and the Chinese (as the EU left have done) and live on non-stop criticisms of America without being thought of as a total joke. This is the reason #1 IMO why Europe in general has a very low influence on US decision-making at the moment. Of course the US is not perfect, but we are supposed to believe Russia and China are somehow moralistically better?

[Atlantic Bridge]

The EU should have 100,000 troops in Iraq. They are Godless and worthless as allies.

Love it or hate it - the EU is absolutely no ally of the US in Iraq. Nobody ever said or did so.

[river rat]

I'm resigned to the acknowledgment that "Old Europe" is in fact - Dying Europe.

From Spain, through France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland --- they wear the pasty smile of accommodation for the lunatic Islamists and cast their feminine sneers and insults toward America....

There has been too much bad blood spilled - literally -because Dying Europe didn't stand with us and by their cowardly behavior encouraged the enemy...

A POX on their worthless asses.

Semper Fi

[Rokke]

Interesting thread. I wonder if the Germans have any idea what the image of Germany is amongst Americans. As old Europe fades to quaint obscurity in a world dominated by rising economic powerhouses in every continent but Europe, Europeans are going to have to accept the fact that their relevance is becoming the equivalent of a much larger, but much more poorly managed Epcot Center.

[Eurotwit]

bookmark

[gr8eman]

There are still many bases in Germany between the Army and Air Force. I work on a small base near Darmstadt and there are many (over 100) bases and installations for various purposes. Some are solely for housing troop's families...some are golf courses.

The problem with the Germans is the same problems with the leftists in the US. Their stupid ideas buttressed by the propaganda parroting supercedes commom sense. I have always said that if I ever become rich I will try an experiment. I will offer an average German citizen 1 million Euros for working a regular job for a year, the catch being that he must work 50 hours a week, no holidays and no health care. It will be interesting how many takers there will be.

[expatguy]

I would agree with you.

[Atlantic Bridge]

Let's pull all of our troops out of Old Europe, withdraw from NATO, and see what happens.

This is exactly what the European left is dreaming of. Personally I expect the complete withdrawal of US forces from Germany during the next decade since they have no function here anymore. It is simply not economical to maintain such big bases against political resistance without any need. If we search for similarities we should not fix it just on the millitary.