"Exactly. You wanna tell me something, freema?"
"And Star, isn´t this all about you saying Good-Bye to one of the standards we used to have as common sense in the western world: keeping people behind bars if convicted or in preparation of a soon trial and that people are innocent until guilt proven? I don´t wish to defend these nice guys in Gitmo, but you compel me to do so as long as you don´t treat them with the judicial standards you used to spread around the world. I guess (and have read it in several papers) the difference between you and me is, that I perceive the WOT as a military operation for law enforcement. You say law doesn´t apply in this fight. Haven´t you also put Japanese in camps during WW2? Must be this kind of over-reaction when the USA gets attacked on its territory. The urge to fight your enemies by all means is understandable, of course. But you shouldn´t forget our standards."
I hope you got a good night's sleep, Michael. I am excited Merkel has come to visit.
I can see why you would think it very well could be about 'saying goodbye to one of the standards we used to have as common sense in the western world', Michael, because that sums up in a nutshell how it felt in America on the morning of September 11, 2001. I understood your comment about the white vest. I would alter that statement however. While you see mud on our vest, if you take a closer look....you'll see what we see.... our own blood.
I don't understand your remark about over-reaction in defending ourselves when we're attacked. Having just been in a sniper thread, where the catch phrase being discussed was: "You can run, but you die tired" sums up our philosophy of eliminating an enemy combatant who does not abide by the rules of engagement. Those at Gitmo aren't dead. They're sitting on prayer rugs, having nice meals, and bitching because they haven't been able to get their 72 virgins.
We shouldn't forget your standards?! We are well aware that we are expected to shoulder the burden. We don't expect Germany to stand up and share in the burden. We expect we will, at any given point, need to CYA. We really don't appreciate being critiqued on how we should do that. We paid the lion's share to rid the world of problems years ago, and we're doing it again. We would certainly hope Germany's assistance would have been (and still might be) forthcoming, but we can't expect it, and we take whatever assistance does come with a smile.
No, you shouldn´t forget our standards. You shouldn´t forget OUR (you incl.) standards. Except this, I think it´s all said and done on this. I can leave it by that. After all, we here cannot change anything on it. Let´s wait and see who turns out to be right.
You wrote:
'We paid the lion's share to rid the world of problems years ago, and we're doing it again. We would certainly hope Germany's assistance would have been (and still might be) forthcoming, but we can't expect it, and we take whatever assistance does come with a smile.'
with deepest respect to a great nation (I mean it !):
Don't forget that you, the US of A allways stood to your way of life and that was, what won our hearts after you freed our country in 49. I am not that old but I carried the one or other star spangled banner in my mind - as every free spirit in the world secretly or openly admires the american spirit. Boy I loved those westerns where john wayne fenced of the mob. And when the WTC fell the parking lot in front of the supermarket was full of star spangled banners on cars. There was wide spread compassion and even our lefty chancelor schroeder had to shed a tear on that.
There's so much love to regain in germany - believe me these folks love the texas rangers with their strong urge to fight with the bare fist - you could win our support for iraq very easily - as easy as you won our support in afghanistan. Sometimes I think it wasn't welcome in the first place.
How else can it be explained that we where not consulted but simply asked to join the war in iraq after we took a role in afghanistan that was exceeding all our after WWII military roles so far ?
How else could one more efficiently block our hearts for support ?
Maybe Schröder blocked the consultations - even likely so - but if you like to share the risks of war you must share some of the leadership.
We cannot be addressed as underlings. That was, what people heard when W. had us adressed as the axis of weasels - it was taken as either you follow us blind or we will have vays to make you...
Sharing your responsibilites would mean to share your rights aswell.