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Posted on 01/04/2006 11:45:20 PM PST by Atlantic Bridge
You got that right. Remember how the Germans cheered Clinton? 80% believe in negotiating all the time, and they hope that they can save the world by doing so. But they realized that sometimes, it´s not like that - so they supported the war against Yugoslavia.
I believe that with the right information, they can be persuaded that Iran as a threat to Europe and Israel cannot be stopped other than by force.
As far as I know (please correct me if I am wrong) the biggest part of the US-troops originally based in Germany are fighting for freedom in Iraq. There isn't even enough manpower left to secure your own barracks against terrorists in the moment. Therefore the German Army, the Bundeswehr, must help you out to do so.
I doubt that the current US-presence is more than a symbolic contribution to Germanys security. It would not be nessecary since there is no direct threat of a foreign nation like during the cold war anymore. The US-bases in Germany are rather a starting point of other global activities of the US-forces.
In 1989, 250-300,000 US soldiers were in Germany. In 2007, it´ll be 25-30,000. See a change?
The current deployments are as AB described it "rather symbolic", although there´s lots of cooperation with regard to the common defense. For instance, German fighter jets should still carry US nukes in case of an attack against the NATO territory. But most US soldiers in Germany are here because of NATO, e.g. Ramstein is a NATO AB, not a USAF facility.
I do intend to return to Germany to visit in December of this year. My best memories are of the Weinachtmarkts in Rudesheim, Rothenberg, Nurnberg, Bad Kreuznach, Wiesbaden, etc. The price to fly in December is extremely low, and the weather really is not that bad. With the train system, the weather is really not a problem, anyway.
The US is the world's lone superpower. We are going to be disliked by many for that reason alone. Germany is becoming more "anti-American" (read independent) as the Cold War fades in the rear view mirror. I say that advisedly since my wife is German and my daughter is currently studying there. I have been visiting Germany regularly for nearly 40 years and lived there for four years in the mid-80s. We have many common interests and share a common culture, but a reunified Germany is now acting like any other nation state in pursuit of its own interests.
Are you capable of understanding English? Where did I write that the holocaust never happened?
It´s funny that you can´t admit that you were pretty dumb by bringing Hitler into the discussion about the bilateral relations between Germany and the US, knowing that birthplace and home country Austria was the country that "gave Hitler to the world". So, are we living in the fourties of the past century or what is your point here? I can´t see one. I just see your childish behaviour.
As I said I owe you a meal if you come in December.
:-)
I going to send you my adress via Freepmail.
Who said it never happened???! Michael????! Absurd. I can read it nowhere. Since I had a few discussions with him over related issues I can ensure you that he hates such murderers with the bottom of his heart. Furthermore "his" people never did that. You should be extremly careful with your primitive argumentation here.
Take a look at my #139.
Thank you.
is that a catastrophy or just sound competition ?
I think there where shocks to absorb on either side.
The same could be saod of the U.S. as well.
It is certainly a key number and loosing production facilities but gaining with engineering and brands is a german story as well as an american.
The only difference in our economies is, that your 'unemployed' are working as a sign holder or lift boy.
+ we have to pamper new democracies in the east.
We are doing the same thing here, are we not? Muslims in America just haven't reached their 'critical mass' yet. We're behind a few years but catching up.
Neither. Natural competition.
Are you saying we can't get along ? And what's the name of the school teaching that ?
We can get along when our interests coincide. The school of Real Politik.
...and what I really don't see is an isolated world view assigned to those with German passports.
No, each nation has its unique perspective.
... and getting Germany into lockstep with the US shouldn't be a target of both of us. if you asked me - I like my friends independent and diverse in character by many means.
And I am not suggesting that they should.
I see a deep interest of our nations to work together - not in spite but because of this difference in attitudes and because of our common and highly interwoven base of moral and economic values.
If we want to see the continued advance of the ideals and values of Western Civilization, it is essential that we work together. Free and democratic societies should be our common goal. The decline of Europe is of great concern to me. Demographically, Europe is dying. If present trends continue, Europe will be an irrelevant theme park populated by Islamic fundamentalists.
"So, don´t come me with "they empowered Hitler to destroy and murder"."
They just sat on their hands watching people being taken away in railroad cars with no idea what was going to be the fate of the jews - BULL$#!T.
I'm sure that no German ever help take a jew away, and it must have been someone else who force the jews into the famous German gas rooms. GIVE ME A BREAK
The German's treated Hitler like a rockstar. And now the childred of the Nazis want to blame everyone but their rotten country. Your a sick individual - Don't come on this board and try to rewrite history. Hitler was a German leader and the German people loved him until he lost.
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