Posted on 01/12/2006 11:26:24 AM PST by Michael81Dus
Germany's new Chancellor Angela Merkel, due for a warm welcome in the Bush White House tomorrow, represents a new political phenomenon in her country. Her government embraces her conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) with their Bavarian allies in the Christian Social Union, and the Social Democrats, the first time such lineup in 37 years.
It is quite unlike its predecessor, the Red/Green coalition of 1998-2005, in which the ranks were filled with "sixty-eighters,"offspring of the 1968 anti-Vietnam War and anti-establishment student revolt, in whose new-leftist hearts dislike and distrust of America lingered.
Germany's relations with Washington have nearly always been better with CDU-run governments.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Worth to be repeated.
She thinks we should close Gitmo.
...in the longer term, to quote her correct. I agree with her, Gitmo is dirt on the white vest of the US. We have differences, nobody says that under Merkel Germany behaves as Americas 51st state. But we´ve no longer a climate of distrust. Merkel supports the war on terrorism more than Schröder did, and having lived behind the iron curtain she knows that freedom is not for free. Merkel is trustworthy.
Uh, Germany could use a friend like the United States, whose friendship they scorned fairly recently.
Amen. And time to close the rest of the bases and posts.
Oh, NOW YOU CAN LEAVE!! EURO TRASH!! AND DON'T COME BACK!!
Have you (Americans) such a low self-esteem that you can´t admit a "yes, we welcome Mrs. Merkel and hope she and Bush establish a relation of trust and friendship between our governments"?? Or why is it that you always point your finger at "you need us more than we do"??
Are you running out of arguments or why do you shout??
Sorry, but honestly, with friends like this who needs enemies?? So far I have seen nothing to think Frau Merkel is any better than Schroeder. I hope I prove to be wrong about that.
Why do you type?
Please elaborate your point.
Ok, now you are stepping over the line. I'll be nice since I know you aren't from here, and if you're like most Germans my brother met on his trip over in '03, you're getting your news from a flawed source(s). The Americans who are serving at Gitmo have behaved honorably. In MY opinion, the majority of terrorists being held there, once they have outlived their intel usefulness, should be executed. Instead they are well-fed and housed and given medical attention.
It's a hell of a lot easier to sit over there across the pond and criticize how someone else does the work than to actually get off your butts and do it yourself isn't it??
As a German, I have seen a whole lot of things. In foreign policy, she embraces the smaller states in the EU, she isn´t talking of a Franco-German axis. She doesn´t call Putin a friend or a clean democrat like Schröder did. She expressed understanding for Poland´s concerns and has granted them 100 million Euros from the EU on our costs more than expected. Merkel has solved the budget crisis of the EU during her first meeting with the 24 others heads of governments and earned respect for that. She speaks a clear language, addresses differences (Gitmo) and common interests (WOT). Merkel will promise to do more for Iraq´s stabilization tonorrow as a "gift" for your President. What else do you need during her first 7 weeks?
Merkel supports the war on terrorism more than Schröder did
Hmm, How much more? Time will tell.
The problem with Gitmo is the lack of transparency and the lack of judicial control, not the treatment of the prisoners. And I was for the war against mass-slaughterer Saddam Hussein, unlike 80% of my fellow-citizens.
As a gift for our President? Oh brother.
She doesn´t need to offer more help, and everything that backs the Iraqi government backs your President. You are not in the mood of being nice to Mrs. Merkel, are you?
Glad to hear at least some Germans still have some political sense and don't want to kiss Saddam's rear end!
You are correct about that.
There has been plenty of transparency - way more than there should have been, IMHO, when dealing with an ongoing war against terrorism.
Your difficulty in ascertaining the transparency is not America's fault.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.