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 ...
I note that she is concerned with reviving the EU constitution and disagrees with the French (read: Chirac's) idea of picking individual pieces out of it. Do you get the sense that the German electorate agrees with her on that?
BTW, are you still flying?
Thanks. I was wishing for that moment to come for many years, especially since I registered to FR: Now, Merkel as my Chancellor and Bush as your President can finally re-establish a relation of trust between our governments. I´m really happy about that. :-D
You're ready to accept the arrogance that U.S. needs Germany more than vice versa, in exchange for a chump's claim that he opposes one of the most heinous dictator's of our time? Not a fair trade, I would say. I hope you're not in agreement with the euro-weenie's slander of our military.
Thread shopping ???
I already noticed that it´s not only internationally a sensible issue.
There is too much transparency.
The terrorists there try every day to hurt, maim, or kill the U.S. soldiers watching them.
And the terrorists know how to game the press.
Gitmo is far from being a 'torture zone'.
But, you know what the terrorists feared above all else upon capture?
They feared torture, they see any other treatment as a sign of weakness on our part.
They see kindness as weakness.
All I have to say to that is that actions speak louder than words. Like I said -- it's much easier to criticize perceived shortfalls than it is to do the work. Germany has had the luxury of sitting back and complaining about how things are done BEACUSE of the U.S. -- out presence in that country ensures, to a certain degree, it's safety. And yet all we here is bitching and moaning about it. So I turn the tables -- what is it YOU want? If your country is to be a true friend of the US, it needs to be prepared to shoulder it's portion of the burden.
I totally disagree about your philosophy on Gitmo. I do not think you know the facts.
Yes, I hope both German and the USA come away with a better understanding of both sides position. However, if Freeprs come a cross a little harsh, you need to understand OUR viewpoint, not just demand we understand Europe's.. We are upset because people who are not putting up any money or blood to fight the Islamic terrorists always start out by lecturing the USA on how it should fight that war. After bearing the vast bulk of the cost to defend Europe for 50 years, we get tired of being lectured much better Europe is then the USA. That is a common theme among Europeans these days.
We get a little tired of being told by people hiding behind our shield what our policy has to be. Asia understand this war, the EU seems unable to.
GITMO is a prison that NO ONE in the EU has any right to sneer at. The treatment there is completely in accordance with accepted international rules. What you have heard is a LOT of European Left wing political groups MAKING accusations that are completely unsubstated by fact. In fact, Terrorist training manuals captured in Afghanistan and Iraq TELL terrorists to make accusations of torture because they KNOW various American and European groups will fall all over themselves defending the terrorist then. An accusation is NOT proof, something Europeans would be wise to remember. Under International Law the terrorists are Unlawful Combatants, not Prisoners of War. We would be perfectly following International Law to execute them. Instead they are given pray rugs, told the time and direct to pray, religious materials and 3 meals a day in keeping with their dietary restrictions. Europe faces an awful lot of burdens in integrating Eastern Europe into a joint system. Frankly, Europe could be a big help by taking over ALL of the Balkans missions we currently perform. Maybe Europe should focus on Europe and leave US to take care of our own affairs. Maybe NATO has outlived it usefulness and should be replaced with a purely EU centered organization?
As far as closing Gitmo is concerned: Not now, not ever!
Absolutely! Thanks for stating this.
Oh grasshopper, you have much to learn. Have you ever heard of OPSEC?? (Operational security)
Hey be careful LE, Michael81Dus is not euro trash. I've had a few conversations with him. He's a very cool guy. If he was euro trash he wouldn't join our discussions at FR.
Sure. If Chirac wants parts of the constitution to be excluded, he should ask for a completely new debate on the constitution. The Germans aren´t really informed about that paper, since our parliament and the states have decided on that. I would have voted "no", and I´m glad that the French and Dutch refused the proposal. But generally Merkel´s popularity is on the rise. As strange as it may sound for you, but her critcism on Gitmo (what Schröder didn´t dare) combined with her general support for the US and the WOT makes her even more popular.
Not at all. Just saying that at least some support the Iraq war and for that I'm glad.
Wow, thank you for these nice words!
That was very well stated and needed to be said.
JA, if you get a chance to look at this thread; it's proof of what has happened to FR, as you said ...
And I am sorry that you connect the undisputed need for justice with the unjustified lack of judicial control and transparency in Gitmo. Fair trials for criminals are the basics of our western world... or shall I say "were"??
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