German President Horst Koehler to Resign

FOX News ^ | 05/31/2010 | FOX News

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Just the Breaking News banner... wonder what gives?

[central_va]

Is Berlin Burning?

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

BERLIN — German President Horst Koehler says he is resigning following criticism about remarks he made on German military deployments abroad.
Koehler’s surprise announcement Monday came only a year into his second term as the largely ceremonial head of state. He said he would step down immediately.

[gusopol3]

Probably horst around too much ?

[Uncle Ike]

Kohler’s been doing a passable Joe Biden impression lately - evidently, the German powers-that-be aren’t as tolerant of mouthy loose-cannons as we are...

[COBOL2Java]

German President Horst Koehler announces resignation following remarks about military

BERLIN — German President Horst Koehler says he is resigning following criticism about remarks he made on German military deployments abroad.

Koehler's surprise announcement Monday came only a year into his second term as the largely ceremonial head of state. He said he would step down immediately.

[jimbo123]

"Ze Vaterland should be occupying Poland, not Afghanistan!"

[Carley]

Reminding us why we had military bases for decades after the war (s)

[Carley]

Reminding us why we had military bases IN GERMANY for decades after the war (s)

[Sooth2222]

In recent day's Mr. Köhler had come under pressure for comments on Germany's deployment in Afghanistan. Following a visit to troops, he said in a radio interview that, in case of an emergency "military action [might become necessary] ... to safeguard our interests, for instance free trade routes."

He's resigning? Over that?

Was something lost here in the translation from German??? (If not, the Germans have become so PC and open-minded that their brains have fallen out.)

[wolf78]

From what I can gather:

Koehler while in Afghanistan on a troop visit made a remark that German troops first and foremost defend German interests, adding that those include economic interests. What he meant was that they also secure trade routes, like e.g. the German Navy off the African coast (you know, those damn pirates), but the media turned it into a sh*tstorm about Germany having economic interests in Afghanistan.

He gave lacking respect for the office of the President as the reason for his resignation.

[wolf78]

Was something lost here in the translation from German??? (If not, the Germans have become so PC and open-minded that their brains have fallen out.)

The office of the German president - not unlike the English queen is largely ceremonial. In that way he depends on the goodwill of the people to be an effective communicator. The real power however lies with the chancellor and no chancellor would ever resign over a silly remark.

BTW: The real equvalent of Joe Biden would be Heinrich Luebke, German president during the 1960s and supposed Alzheimer's sufferer. His legendary gaffes included such classics as "Ladies and Gentlemen, dear negroes..." and adressing the wife of the malagasy president by the name of the nation's captial.

[coaltrain]

Yep, and by doing so, Koehler flushed his duty down the toilet.

[cartan]

Strange decision. He could just shrug it off. Who cares if the socialists and communists don’t respect him and criticize him over nothing? They did the same to all the other CDU presidents before.

[Think free or die]

"He gave lacking respect for the office of the President as the reason for his resignation. "

That's an idea I could support . . . Hey 0 - Here's an opportunity to act like a European!

[wolf78]

Acting president: Jens Boernsen, Social Democrat, as President of the Federal Council (or Bundesrat, the equivalent of the President pro tem of the Senate), serving until a new President is elected.

[bert]

[Verginius Rufus]

With a first name like Horst I wondered if he was born during the National Socialist era and he was—February 22, 1943. Chances are his father was a Nazi.

[grey_whiskers]

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Cheers!

[investigateworld]

Damn ... I’ll Wessel all day with that question now.