White House reacts coolly to German apology [Bush-Hitler comparison]

Reuters | September 20, 2002

[HAL9000]

WASHINGTON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - The White House on Friday reacted coolly to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's apology for the offense caused by a report that his justice minister had compared President George W. Bush's methods to Hitler's.

"We received a letter," said a spokesman, declining further comment.

The election-eve report in a regional daily angered a U.S. administration already upset about the center-left chancellor's outspoken -- and highly popular -- opposition to a possible U.S.-led war in Iraq.

Justice Minister Herta Daeubler-Gmelin tried to calm the transatlantic dispute on Friday by denying the report she had told a preelection gathering that, by threatening to attack Iraq, Bush wanted to distract from his domestic political problems, as Adolf Hitler had.

Schroeder wrote to Bush, saying: "I want to let you know how much I regret the fact that alleged comments by the German justice minister have given an impression that has offended you."

"Let me assure you that there is no place at my cabinet table for anyone who makes a connection between the American president and such a criminal," Schroeder said, according to a German text provided by his office.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer called the remarks "outrageous and inexplicable" and Secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer to complain.

[fhayek]

"We received a letter," said a spokesman, declining further comment.

Well you don't have to get snippy about it.

[aristeides]

This is the second report I've seen in the past few days that called Schroeder "center-left" (I think the other one was Reuters too). The man is a socialist, the leader of the German socialist party, the SDP. That's left-wing. Center in Germany is the liberal party, the FDP.

[aristeides]

White House seems to realize it's a non-apology. I wonder why Schroeder even bothered to send it, if that was all he was going to do.

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

Schroeder wrote to Bush, saying: "I want to let you know how much I regret the fact that alleged comments by the German justice minister have given an impression that has offended you."

It seems Schroeder speaks Clintonese. He must get it from his friend Lucy.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Bush [allegedly]wanted to distract from his domestic political problems, as Adolf Hitler had.

That was a cheap shot. Bush doesn't have to hide behind anything. She's the one hiding, exploiting German hatred of conservatism to hide people from looking at her and how she stands on the issues. Further, Germany simply adores anti-semites like Saddam. Anyone who wants to kill Jews seems to get their support.

[cynicom]

Bush should have rejected the letter.

[Paul Atreides]

Notice that any time that someone disagrees with a liberal, that person is labeled a Nazi or a Hitler.

[Shermy]

"I want to let you know how much I regret the fact that alleged comments by the German justice minister have given an impression that has offended you."

Like there was any possibility offense wouldn't be taken in any circumstance?

The guy's weaseling because he feels the same way.

[Paul Atreides]

My first thought was "THAT's an apology?!".

[Godebert]

Screw the Germans. Buncha bolshevik goose-stepping losers. If I recall.... during the eighties, the local Kraut populace would often give us the bird as we rolled our 2nd Armored Division tanks through the streets on the way to training. More than once I felt the urge to unload my 50 on them.

[Shermy]

Powell should publicly state that the apology "seems less than sincere" or "wholehearted". Maybe add that we "need clarification."

[aristeides]

"We received a letter" is pretty scorching, in diplomaticspeak.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

A German doing it against a president who wants to destroy an anti-semite is plain creepy.

[Godebert]

Don't expect Powell to take a hard-line with the Germans. Heck....he probably agrees with them.

[Paul Atreides]

It reminds me of Bewitched, in which Endora's apology consisted of "I regret my slight trangressions of today, however deserved."

[stainlessbanner]

You are so right. Southern conservatives have fought off that label for years. Liberals like to apply everywhere they can.

[drew]

Anyone for another fire-bombing of Dresden?

[Vince Ferrer]

I wonder what her opinion of Clinton's well timed wars is.

[dts32041]

Nope I think we ought to leave the Kaserenes in the same way we found them in 45.

Hand on to our war reprations and return them to their former splendor, the Soldaten Stadium in Nurenburg with its lovely Swatiska, and maybe the IG Farben building, makers of Zylkon B.

Of course, these people would know what a hItler was like, wouldn"t they?