German Official Declare U.S. Acting Like 'Dictator'

Yahoo! News/ Reuters ^ | Sun Mar 9, 2003 | Reuters

[yankeedame]

Top Stories - Reuters

German Official: U.S. Acting Like 'Dictator'

Sun Mar 9,11:07 AM ET

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German junior minister said on Sunday the United States was behaving like a dictator over the Iraq (news - web sites) crisis, a statement likely to put relations between Washington and Berlin under further strain.

"The Americans look more and more like dictators with their unilateral decisions," Walter Kolbow, junior minister in the Defense Ministry, was quoted as saying in the "Welt am Sonntag" newspaper.

Kolbow confirmed to Reuters he had made the remarks and said they referred to the U.S. stance on Iraq and environmental issues.

Transatlantic tensions remain high over Germany and other European nations' opposition to a U.S.-led war in Iraq.

Kolbow said his comments were a criticism of the phrase used by U.S. leaders: "Anyone who is not with us, is against us."

Kolbow said he was addressing a meeting of Social Democrats at a traditional Ash Wednesday political rally in the Bavarian town of Mainbernheim. The rallies tend to be spirited affairs.

"You tend to express yourself a bit more strongly at the Ash Wednesday rally in Bavaria than you do at a gathering of diplomats," Kolbow said.

Kolbow also said Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) was a dangerous dictator who oppressed his people. "He's the best monitored dictator that I know of," Kolbow was quoted telling the rally.

Last year, relations between Washington and Berlin were soured after Justice Minister Herta Daeubler-Gmelin reportedly compared Bush's political tactics with Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler's.

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder did not reappoint Daeubler-Gmelin to his new cabinet after winning an election in September although some commentators said his decision not to fire her immediately was viewed in a poor light by Washington.

German conservative opposition leaders called on Kolbow to resign.

Kolbow denied a version of his speech reprinted in a Bavarian newspaper, the Kitzinger, where he was quoted calling President Bush a dictator, rather than the administration.

[americanbychoice]

They are just feeling their oats. Anti-Americanism has always been strong, though covert before. The Master Race is seeking it's just status now.

[Spruce]

The Krauts are not our friends.

[Blue Collar Christian]

I'm with their oppostition leaders. Who are these ingrates to set any kinds of standards.

It's like the Hollywood types jumping down America's throat because we're so immoral.

[longjack]

Comments and Translation (post 31)here:

German Official: U.S. Acting Like 'Dictator'

longjack

[Paleo Conservative]

We ought to move our tank divisions out of Germany and put them in Poland along the border and facing Germany.

[CrimeOf73]

Reuters is really going fishing by publishing the remarks of minor German officials like this junior minister.

[Asclepius]

"The Americans look more and more like dictators with their unilateral decisions," Walter Kolbow, junior minister in the Defense Ministry, was quoted as saying in the "Welt am Sonntag" newspaper.

A German thinks we look like a dictator? What irony. I suppose now the French are going to say we look like cheese eating surrender monkeys.

[George W. Bush]

Okay, Wolfgang, just repeat after me: Heil, Bush! Heil, Bush! Heil, Bush!

Just keep repeating it. Soon you'll really like it. Trust me. You Germans always go for that heil thing.

[VaBthang4]

....and the beat goes on.

</whatever>

[Antoninus]

German Official: U.S. Acting Like 'Dictator'

He would know. Come on Germany! Toss out these left-wing scumbags!

[mississippi red-neck]

If the U.S. acted like German dictators a large number of the Henies would be on the inside of an oven looking out. Let'm go kiss a Frenchmen.

[mississippi red-neck]

We ought to move our tank divisions out of Germany and put them in Poland along the border and facing Germany.

I agree, but on the way out we should put the wall back up.

[dennisw]

They don't have a military. All they have are their big mouths. We're gonna do good for Iraq and do good for ourselves. This is not an option for craven EUros with their socialism for all and hollowed out militaries that allow them to dole out so much in social programs.

So get out of our way Froggies and Germans!

[Renatus]

The next time we conquer Germany we'll keep it. The Germans
killed our soldiers now buried in France and now they want
to tell us what to do. They can suck eggs! I personally would like to see all the remains of the soldiers buried in France brought home.

[Mister Baredog]

Kolbow denied a version of his speech reprinted in a Bavarian newspaper, the Kitzinger, where he was quoted calling President Bush a dictator, rather than the administration

A DISTINCTION WITHOUT A DIFFERENCE FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT NUANCED LIBERALS

[muawiyah]

Yeah, those subtle nuances - frankly, I can't tell the difference between the Nazis and the Greens. Do you suspect they're all the same thing, like the Naderites and the Falange?

[WaterDragon]

Hitler was extremely well monitored, as I recall. It wasn't that anyone was deceived about his activities, as it was that no one wanted to believe what they KNEW. Just like today with Saddam.

[geedee]

Reuters is really going fishing by publishing the remarks of minor German officials like this junior minister.

LOL. That's what I was thinking. Gerhard can step on his own tongue enough without the media having to pick on his under-underlings.