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Will you tell me why? You should know better how Germany proves solidarity and it fulfils its obligations to the alliance - more than the non-military NATO-member France or the non-NATO-member Russia does!!

BTW, I have contacted Prof. Pommerin. I couldn´t believe what I have read.
He told me that these reproaches ARE NOT TRUE and that he reserves his right to sue the claimers.

BTW, I have contacted Prof. Pommerin. I couldn´t believe what I have read.
He told me that these reproaches ARE NOT TRUE and that he reserves his right to sue the claimers.

Throughout the two days, Pommerin set the tone with an aggressively antagonistic attitude toward all things American. "Thank God we had the 11th of September," he declared--for this showed the U.S. how it feels to be humbled. Herr professor-colonel went on to suggest that Americans often feel nostalgic for the "good old days of slavery in the nineteenth century." He told ludicrous stories about seeing empty bottles and litter piled "one meter deep" along roadsides in America, illustrating our environmental slovenliness. He insisted the seemingly mighty U.S. military was now a hollow force, all flash and no substance.

Invite him to come on FreeRepublic and respond to the above quotes attributed to him. He deserves a fair hearing. I promise that if he does, I will send an e-mail to Mr. Zinsmeister at the American Enterprise magazine. However, in all likelihood Zinsmeister will not be able to respond quickly as he is currently embedded in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division.

Zinsmeister's article is rather pessimistic for the future of European-American relations.

For a still-critical, but less harsh, view please read Americans are from Mars, Europeans are from Venus by Robert Kagan. It seems that Kagan is more hopeful than Zinsmeister for the future, and more willing to make allowances for European differences of opinion.

However, average readers of Der Spiegel or Le Monde are so deeply indoctrinated with resentment of American policy, it is unlikely that they will be able to recognize Kagan for what he is: a true friend of Europeans, willing to go the extra mile to be understanding and patient.

Will you tell me why?

I think Schroeder's incompetent and unreliable. I think he's also a tar baby. The German opposition can't unify to oust him. There's no sense in dealing with Germany.

JMO.

longjack