Munich Conference Opens With Sharp Differences Over Iraq (RUMSFELD ALERT)

Deutsche Welle ^ | February 8, 2003 | Deutsche Welle

[MadIvan]

Good. Nail Schroeder and Fischer to the wall.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[nonliberal]

Time to pull out of NATO.

[MadIvan]

Agreed. Let's set up an alliance starting with America, Britain, Australia and Israel. The few countries willing to hunt evil where it lives.

Regards, Ivan

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

In the latest development, the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag has reported that the United States is reportedly putting economic pressure on Berlin. The paper says that the U.S. has decided to cut its planned multi-million investments in German military bases.

We're playing hardball. Good.

[CWOJackson]

Siemens has a large presence here in the U.S. and most old European nations that don't side with Germany/France (Italy in particular). That could be costly...far more costly then the returns they've received selling forbidden materials under the table to Iraq. I'm sure the majority stock holders are going to feel comfortable with this.

Couple that with the U.S. moving it's remaining bases from Germany to Poland and it could get interesting.

[Trust but Verify]

How did we allow the focus to be on inspections rather than disarmament? We can inspect from here to eternity and if no disarmament results, what is the point?

[MadIvan]

I'd say Bush should squeeze the German Government till their eyeballs pop. Schroeder has been insulting and a nuisance.

Regards, Ivan

[Timesink]

Munich. How apropo. Did they pray to the ghost of Chamberlain before getting underway?

[MadIvan]

I think there is a sense that is growing in much of Europe that the French and Germans have gone much too far in trying to shove their demands down the rest of Europe's throat.

If say, America starts talking about extending NAFTA as an alternative to Eastern Europe to EU membership, you might see the EU collapse very rapidly.

Regards, Ivan

[guitfiddlist]

We never have held Germany quite accountable for World War II. Right after the war - we had to adopt them as allies to combat the Soviets in the Cold War. That's over. They sink or swim now. Squeeze the frikkin' bastards or chuck them over the side to swim with the sharks. I'm sick of their whining, self-serving traitorism.

P.S. I have nothing against the German people - but if they persist with this government - I have EVERYTHING against the German people.

[Hipixs]

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U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld, left, smiles while watchig German chairman Horst Teltschik, right, during the opening ceremony of the Security conference in Munich's 'Bayerischer Hof' hotel, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003. Leading politicians and high-ranking representatives of the armed forces from more than 40 countries gather in Munich to discuss issues of European, transatlantic and global foreign and security policy. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

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US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (C) smiles as he listens to Bavaria's conservative Prime Minister Edmund Stoiber (R) before Rumsfeld's opening speech of the 39th security conference in Munich, February 8, 2003. Rumsfeld said on Saturday Washington still hoped war against Iraq would not be necessary, but said the world was serious about disarming Baghdad. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

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U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (L) and NATO (news - web sites) General Secretary George Robertson smile before Rumsfeld's opening speech of the 39th security conference in Munich, February 8, 2003. Rumsfeld said on Saturday Washington still hoped war against Iraq would not be necessary, but said the world was serious about disarming Baghdad. REUTERS/Michael Dalder

[Hipixs]

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[CWOJackson]

You are a devious one.

We have some dear friends from Italy who just visited home this passed summer and were livid over the conditions imposed upon them by the EU. According to them Italy is being forced to destroy some of it's olive crop and buy olives from Greece (you really don't want to mess with their olives).

[Dog Gone]

Germany is imploding, both financially and politically. I don't know if Germany can replace the national government early, but if they can, these politicians speaking for Germany today will be out of a job.

[MadIvan]

I don't blame the Italians for being angry - there is nothing like Italian olive oil.

Regards, Ivan

[PLK]

"It is simply not wise to carelessly endanger a partnership that has been so important to us with such irresponsible comments," said Karsten Voigt, the government's coordinator for German-American affairs, in a radio interview.

It's the Germans who have been careless and irresponsible. Their problem is arrogance born of total ignorance, or total denial; who knows with these fools.

[GirlShortstop]

"I am not convinced. That is my problem. I cannot go the public and say that these are the reasons because I won’t believe in them," Fischer said.

Germany embraces logic absentia, IMO.   Fischer can't say he's for war... because he doesn't believe in them, well, why then has he *yet* to articulate the reason(s) that war against Iraq is wrong?

[Nick Danger]

"It is simply not wise to carelessly endanger a partnership that has been so important to us with such irresponsible comments," said Karsten Voigt, the government's coordinator for German-American affairs

What am I as an American citizen, to make of comments like "the U.N. weapons inspectors should continue their work and be given more time" and "we should finish with Afghanistan and Al Qu'eda"?

What this sounds like to me is, "We do not really care if these weapons fall into the hands of terrorists, nor do we care if Saddam Hussein completes his work on a nuclear weapon. What we care about is our $366 million Euros we get out of Iraq every year. If thousands of you Americans die in some kind of attack, we will send you our condolences... but surely the $366 million Euros are more important than your lives."

Then after telling me that, you tell me we have some kind of partnership. I say to Hell with you.