Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

German foreign minister supports regime change in Iraq in clear turnaround
Yahoo! News ^ | 4/7/2003 | STEPHEN GRAHAM

Posted on 04/07/2003 11:23:21 AM PDT by yonif

BERLIN - German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Wednesday that he hoped Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s regime would collapse quickly, marking a bold turnaround from previous opposition in the anti-war German government to regime change as a goal of the U.S.-led campaign.

"We hope the regime will collapse as soon as possible and we'll have no further loss of life — civilians or soldiers," Fischer said before a meeting with his British counterpart, Jack Straw at a luxury hotel in Berlin's Grunewald suburb.

Both foreign ministers stressed common ground in Europe on Iraq (news - web sites) — a position that seems hard to stake out in the wake of diplomatic rifts over whether war should be waged to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.

Germany firmly opposed the war, joining France and Russia in diplomatic efforts against any U.N. resolution that would have authorized force, arguing peaceful means to disarm Iraq had not been exhausted. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has condemned regime change as a war aim.

Britain, joined by Italy, Spain and a raft of eastern European countries, have stood firmly behind the United States' conviction that Iraq would never disarm voluntarily.

The divide over how to disarm Iraq "disguised a great deal of agreement," Straw said.

Fischer grounded his wish for the Iraqi regime's demise in the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Iraq — a similar argument to the one he laid out when he threw his support behind NATO (news - web sites)-led military campaigns to end the Bosnian war and the Kosovo conflict.

"The humanitarian situation is very alarming," Fischer told reporters.

Straw said that Germany's sponsorship last week of a U.N. resolution to restart the oil-for-food program augured well for future cooperation among the anti-war and pro-war camps when it comes time to discuss rebuilding Iraq.

He said he could imagine U.N.-sponsored talks on rebuilding Iraq similar to talks on Afghanistan (news - web sites)'s political future held in Bonn in 2001.

"We're not there yet," Straw said. "We have to wait until the military action comes to a proper conclusion."

Both Germany and Britain have emphasized the importance of the United Nations (news - web sites) in re-establishing civil order in Iraq.

"The United Nations must remain in the driver's seat," Fischer's spokesman Walter Lindner said earlier.

"(Fischer) has always, even before the war broke out, pointed to the precarious situation in the region and the dangers of destabilization," Lindner said. "These concerns have not diminished since the beginning of the war."

"On the other hand, we also have always appealed to countries in the region to stick to a strict course of restraint, to behave responsibly and contribute to deescalation," Lindner added.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Germany; Government; Israel; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: fischer; foreignminister; germany; iraq; israel; silvan
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-51 next last

1 posted on 04/07/2003 11:23:22 AM PDT by yonif
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: yonif

2 posted on 04/07/2003 11:23:48 AM PDT by yonif
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Guess this was never translated into German...


The Little Red Hen

One summer day the Little Red Hen found a grain of wheat.
"A grain of wheat!" said the Little Red Hen to herself. "I will plant it."
She asked the duck: "Will you help me plant this grain of wheat?"
"Not I," said the duck.
She asked the goose: "Will you help me plant this grain of wheat?"
"Not I," said the goose.
She asked the cat: "Will you help me plant this grain of wheat?"
"Not I," said the cat.
She asked the pig: "Will you help me plant this grain of wheat?"
"Not I," said the pig.
"Then I will plant it myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.
Soon the wheat grew tall, and the Little Red Hen knew it was time to reap it.
"Who will help me reap the wheat?" she asked.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Not I," said the cat.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Then I will reap it myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.

So she reaped the wheat, and it was ready to take to the mill to be made into flour.
"Who will help me carry the wheat to the mill?" she asked.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Not I," said the cat.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Then I will carry it myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.

So she carried the wheat to the mill and the miller made it into flour, and she carried the flour home.
When she got there, she asked, "Who will help me make the flour into dough?"
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Not I," said the cat.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Then I will make the dough myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.

So she put on a white apron, and mixed the dough. Soon the bread was ready to go into the oven.
"Who will help me bake the bread?" said the Little Red Hen.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Not I," said the cat.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Then I will bake it myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.

After the loaf had been taken from the oven it was set on the table to cool.
"And now," said the Little Red Hen, "who will help me to eat the bread?"
"I will!" said the duck.
"I will!" said the goose.
"I will!" said the cat.
"I will!" said the pig.
"No, I will eat it myself!" said the Little Red Hen.

And she did.



Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies

French Fear They Will Be Left With 'Crumbs' at Time of Reconstruction

Posted by adam_az
On News/Activism 04/05/2003 1:41 PM MST #20 of 99

The Little Red Hen

One summer day the Little Red Hen found a grain of wheat.
"A grain of wheat!" said the Little Red Hen to herself. "I will plant it."
She asked the duck: "Will you help me plant this grain of wheat?"
"Not I," said the duck.
She asked the goose: "Will you help me plant this grain of wheat?"
"Not I," said the goose.
She asked the cat: "Will you help me plant this grain of wheat?"
"Not I," said the cat.
She asked the pig: "Will you help me plant this grain of wheat?"
"Not I," said the pig.
"Then I will plant it myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.
Soon the wheat grew tall, and the Little Red Hen knew it was time to reap it.
"Who will help me reap the wheat?" she asked.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Not I," said the cat.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Then I will reap it myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.

So she reaped the wheat, and it was ready to take to the mill to be made into flour.
"Who will help me carry the wheat to the mill?" she asked.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Not I," said the cat.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Then I will carry it myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.

So she carried the wheat to the mill and the miller made it into flour, and she carried the flour home.
When she got there, she asked, "Who will help me make the flour into dough?"
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Not I," said the cat.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Then I will make the dough myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.

So she put on a white apron, and mixed the dough. Soon the bread was ready to go into the oven.
"Who will help me bake the bread?" said the Little Red Hen.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Not I," said the cat.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Then I will bake it myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.

After the loaf had been taken from the oven it was set on the table to cool.
"And now," said the Little Red Hen, "who will help me to eat the bread?"
"I will!" said the duck.
"I will!" said the goose.
"I will!" said the cat.
"I will!" said the pig.
"No, I will eat it myself!" said the Little Red Hen.

And she did.

3 posted on 04/07/2003 11:27:36 AM PDT by adam_az
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yonif
"The United Nations must remain in the driver's seat," Fischer's spokesman Walter Lindner said earlier.


The UN should not be allowed to even touch this car, let alone get inside and sit in the drivers seat.
4 posted on 04/07/2003 11:28:29 AM PDT by showme_the_Glory (No more rhyming, and I mean it! ..Anybody got a peanut.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: showme_the_Glory
The UN can do whatever we permit them to do (like humanitarian aid). We should not turn over the building of a new Iraqi government to a body that is dominated by dictatorships.
5 posted on 04/07/2003 11:36:22 AM PDT by My2Cents
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: yonif
"The United Nations must remain in the driver's seat,"

Ah, sorry fellas, you were offered a seat in the front, you refused it, and we already have the back seat full of democrats.

6 posted on 04/07/2003 11:36:43 AM PDT by wayoverontheright
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: showme_the_Glory
Now that he has failed Plan A, it's time for him to go to Plan B.


7 posted on 04/07/2003 11:39:46 AM PDT by m1-lightning ("We ought not politicize this war" - Tom Daschle, 09/25/02)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: adam_az
The Little Red Hen

One summer day the Little Red Hen found a grain of wheat.
"A grain of wheat!" said the Little Red Hen to herself. "I will plant it."

She asked the French duck: "Will you help me plant this grain of wheat?"
"Not I," said the French duck.
She asked the Belgian goose: "Will you help me plant this grain of wheat?"
"Not I," said the Belgian goose.
She asked the Canadian cat: "Will you help me plant this grain of wheat?"
"Not I," said the Canadian cat.
She asked the German pig: "Will you help me plant this grain of wheat?"
"Not I," said the German pig.
"Then I will plant it myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.

Soon the wheat grew tall, and the Little Red Hen knew it was time to reap it.
"Who will help me reap the wheat?" she asked.
"Not I," said the French duck.
"Not I," said the Belgian goose.
"Not I," said the Canadian cat.
"Not I," said the German pig.
"Then I will reap it myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.

So she reaped the wheat, and it was ready to take to the mill to be made into flour.
"Who will help me carry the wheat to the mill?" she asked.
"Not I," said the French duck.
"Not I," said the Belgian goose.
"Not I," said the Canadian cat.
"Not I," said the German pig.
"Then I will carry it myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.

So she carried the wheat to the mill and the miller made it into flour, and she carried the flour
home.  When she got there, she asked, "Who will help me make the flour into dough?"
"Not I," said the French duck.
"Not I," said the Belgian goose.
"Not I," said the Canadian cat.
"Not I," said the German pig.
"Then I will make the dough myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.

So she put on a white apron, and mixed the dough. Soon the bread was ready to go into the
oven.  "Who will help me bake the bread?" said the Little Red Hen.
"Not I," said the French duck.
"Not I," said the Belgian goose.
"Not I," said the Canadian cat.
"Not I," said the German pig.
"Then I will bake it myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.

After the loaf had been taken from the oven it was set on the table to cool.
"And now," said the Little Red Hen, "who will help me to eat the bread?"
"I will!" said the French duck.
"I will!" said the Belgian goose.
"I will!" said the Canadian cat.
"I will!" said the German pig.

"No, I will eat it myself!" said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.
 

8 posted on 04/07/2003 11:42:22 AM PDT by DensaMensa (He who controls the definitions controls History. He who controls History controls the future.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: yonif
"It's easy to be charitable when it ain't costin' you nothin."

-- Archie Bunker
9 posted on 04/07/2003 11:42:54 AM PDT by Starrgaizr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: yonif
This is no turnaround; it's the same crass opportunism it was before the war.
10 posted on 04/07/2003 11:44:09 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (Because there are people in power who are truly evil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: yonif
I'm more than sick of the krauts, french & russians on this. I'm beginning to think the US should run Iraq for a while, just to keep the foxes outta the hen house!
11 posted on 04/07/2003 11:53:13 AM PDT by the Deejay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yonif
Hey UN, Kiss my lily white A$$, you have no rights to anything, not only do you NOT belong in the driver seat, you just got run over by the car that we are driving!!!

Your stupidity, arrogance, and socialistic tendencies and total failures in anything and EVERYTHING that you touch, means that you should be tossed onto the ashheap of history and forgotten.

The democracies need to put together a new UN,l one that will actually work.

If you are a dictator, a socialism, or a communism, you are not welcome. If you do not have the military might to defend your own country, you are NOT wanted, if your military spending is less then 1% of your GNP, then you can kiss off.

We are in the driver seat, and we are gonna back up and run your little butt over again!!!

And I say we keep doing it until there is NO chance of resuscatation.
12 posted on 04/07/2003 12:05:29 PM PDT by Aric2000 (Are you on Grampa Dave's team? I am!! $5 a month is all it takes, come join!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yonif
So when do we set up the new government in Germany?
13 posted on 04/07/2003 12:12:39 PM PDT by jriemer (We are a Republic not a Democracy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: the Deejay
I agree.
14 posted on 04/07/2003 12:13:27 PM PDT by republicanwizard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: jriemer
I think Kerrey would do a great job. Hillary would love to run their social security (and her husband could have all the girls standing in the streets of Berlin near the restaurants; they charge almost as little as Monica). Daschle would be a good Bordeux mayor.

Let them all go.

15 posted on 04/07/2003 12:23:34 PM PDT by TopQuark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: yonif
That's the problem, the UN has never been in the driver's seat. They have been in the back seat with the Leftist cabal holding their foot on the break.
16 posted on 04/07/2003 12:24:57 PM PDT by Eva
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yonif
"We hope the regime will collapse as soon as possible and we'll have no further loss of life — civilians or soldiers," Fischer said before a meeting with his British counterpart, Jack Straw at a luxury hotel in Berlin's Grunewald suburb."

I think they mistranslated from the German. What he was really saying was:

"Were really sorry we can't sell anymore high tech material to nutcase Saddam and his lunatic henchmen right now. And so, we hope that a new government is in place as soon as possible so we and our new French and Russian Friends can have markets for our technological material in return for Iraqi petrodollars. It could be just like old times again except with a different buyer. After all, Colin Powell wants to get along with his old allies doesn't he?? Just as the U.S. State Department. They'll tell you!!!"
17 posted on 04/07/2003 12:32:25 PM PDT by ZULU
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: adam_az
ten to one it was translated "from " the german.
18 posted on 04/07/2003 12:37:28 PM PDT by nkycincinnatikid
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: showme_the_Glory
The UN is a car wreck with no survivors.
19 posted on 04/07/2003 12:38:31 PM PDT by RetiredArmy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: TopQuark
TopQ,

I agree and Bill could set up shop in and round the Berlin zoo and keep the working girls busy until the end of time.

20 posted on 04/07/2003 12:38:44 PM PDT by jriemer (We are a Republic not a Democracy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-51 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson