[defenderSD]

You really have to question the intelligence and politcal savvy of Gerhard Schroder. (Joschka...Hold mein bier) Only an idiot would have a foreign minister who was once involved in firebomb attacks. Good gracious...have they heard of background checks, or is anyone acceptable as a cabinet minister?

[pepsionice]

Schroeder had to bring the Green party into his coalition. And 40 percent of the cabinet posts had to go to the Greens...to appease them. And then the Greens said they wanted to have a top post...hint: foreign ministry. When you go across the top 25 Green list of people...almost all of them were environmental types without any foreign knowledge whatsoever, except for Fischer. It was a no-brainer for Schroeder. He had almost no choice in terms of competence. But Fischers first major speech after assuming office set off bells already...without consulting the military ministry or Schroeder...Fischer announced that Germany would review and change its nuclear weapons stance (hint: no US weapons anywhere near Germany and NATO would have to assume the same position too). Both the military ministry and Schroeder got upset...and Fischer was called in and told to get in line with the government.

Fischer is currently the most popular politican in Germany, with an approval rating around 60 percent. Schroeder is barely making 29 percent. Merkel is barely 50 percent. The bottom line here is that the Greens are awful happy with their program and how Fischer has achieved success. It would be interesting if someone could now come up with information of Fischers former life and pin him on some violent act or sabotage. This would take the government down easily.

[VaBthang4]

Schroeder knew. All Germans know as well as the mainstream media. They just find his behavior acceptable. Remember, to these guys...we are the bad guys. The Israelis are the bad guys. The terrorists are the good guys.

It's not rhetoric....it's reality.

They wink and dismiss his beating of an unconscious officer of the law as nothing more than youthful indescretion. In this country....you go to jail....in Europe....and here in the village...you are simply a good little socialist/Anarchist.

[Valin]

You really have to question the intelligence and politcal savvy of Gerhard Schroder. (Joschka...Hold mein bier) Only an idiot would have a foreign minister who was once involved in firebomb attacks.

Have you ever considered the possibility that he is an idiot?