Schroeder Regrets Words That Hit U.S.-German Ties

Reuters ^ | April 19, 2003 | Erik Kirschbaum

[jern]

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Saturday he deeply regretted "exaggerated remarks" critical of U.S. moves against Iraq (news - web sites) that soured his relations with President Bush (news - web sites).

In a further attempt to repair U.S.-German relations strained by his outspoken criticism, Schroeder said he was confident the dispute over Iraq would not cause long-term problems between the two countries.

"I deeply regret there were exaggerated comments -- also from cabinet members of my previous government," Schroeder told Der Spiegel magazine when asked if there were "grounds for self-criticism" for damage he caused to U.S.-German relations.

The declaration was the furthest Schroeder has gone in trying to mend fences with the U.S.

He and his center-left government had criticized U.S. steps against Iraq right up until the war started. In early April, Schroeder began making a slow retreat, saying for the first time he hoped U.S.-led forces would win the war quickly.

Last week he said: "It is always good for mankind when a dictator is removed."

In speeches in his re-election campaign last year, Schroeder derided plans to attack Iraq as a military "adventure" that would "set ablaze" the Middle East, and angered Washington by refusing to send German troops to Iraq under any conditions.

Schroeder said Germany would not "click its heels" and follow the United States into a war.

His stinging criticism of the Bush government, including accusations it changed the goal of disarming Iraq to one of overthrowing President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), was hugely popular in Germany and helped Schroeder come from far behind in surveys to beat challenger Edmund Stoiber in the September election.

Tensions were further worsened just before the election when Schroeder's Justice Minister Herta Daeubler-Gmelin reportedly compared Bush's political tactics with those of Adolf Hitler -- an analogy she partially denied. Schroeder accepted her resignation shortly after winning a second term.

But Schroeder's sharp language sent the traditionally close relations between the world's first and third largest economic powers into a tailspin. Commentators in Germany called the last eight months an "ice age." Bush Administration officials have called the ties "poisoned."

SCHROEDER'S U-TURN

Bush pointedly did not congratulate Schroeder on his narrow victory. The two have not spoken since November. German media have reported Bush has declined to take calls from Schroeder.

"Even though differences of opinion on this question were so serious, it does not impair transatlantic relations," Schroeder said. "I think political leaders on both sides are professional enough to recognize relations are on a solid foundation."

Schroeder dismissed criticism he was making a U-turn to mend the dispute only after it became clear the United States would win the war.

"I view politics from a rational point of view, and do not like to ride in slipstreams," Schroeder said. "I don't have any problem at all cultivating contacts with the American president. They're necessary and desirable. But to measure this question on how long a handshake lasts is ridiculous."

Several German newspapers and television networks focused on a brief handshake between Schroeder and Bush at a NATO (news - web sites) meeting in November as an indication of the state of the ties.

[hoosiermama]

"German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Saturday he deeply regretted "exaggerated remarks" critical of U.S. moves against Iraq"

I'LL BET HE DOES! :)

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

hopefully he will have even more regret when the last us jet leaves ramstein heading for poland

[Minty]

I hope this will not get him off the hook to be tried as what he became a Saddam regime of terror accomplice and enabler

[Redbob]

Texas to Germany:
"Fvck you!"

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

Change of hearts ALWAYS happens AFTER THE FACT!

[dansangel]

Too bad, so sad.

[irish_links]

"....For the head of a country to ap(o)logize in public, is an extremely important thing and should be accepted by GWB, as I'm sure it will be....."

Well, you're probably half right. The apology is important, but insufficient evidence of German good intentions and contrition. Talk is cheap after all. GWB will need to see something more tangible before the fence is indeed mended.

May I suggest to Herr Shroeder that he 1) sack the Red Brigade alumnus he has as his foreign minister, Herr Fisher; 2) pledge German financial and political support to Iraqi reconstruction; and 3) pledge enchanced German efforts to upgrade its military technology and work closer to integrate German/Nato/U.S. military operations with a view toward dealing with rogue regimes with WMD.

Add these tangible actions to his words and Herr Shroeder might just have an ounce of credibility with the good guys in Washington.

Carry on.

Irish_Links

[irish_links]

Bill:

Well written and conceived post. Thanks for the effort. You don't seem like a familiar name on this board. Hope to see more of your interesting and knowledgeable views in the future.

Regards,

[irish_links]

....Germany allowed overflights because they want their Pilots and Air Defense Artillery folks in Texas trained in the future, no doubt. Without training, they would have the same performance as Soviet equipment in any conflict 18-months down the road:)...."

The Germans permitted overflights for one reason and one reason only. To do otherwise would have been a violation of the Nato charter and would have hastened the withdrawal of U.S. forces from German soil, thus costing billions in U.S. expenditures in Germany and far more in increased defense costs for the sauerkraut-eating-enviro-monkeys.

[ABrit]

Germany's Socialist Party governments are always anti-American. In the sixties Willy Brandt was the Socialist Chancellor, and he had a KGB spy in his private office. The Russians knew everything that was known to the Germans then. This Socialist Chancellor is no different. When the Germans elect a Christian Democrat, things will be better,

With the French, it is different, both the Socialists, and the Right of Centre Gaullist Party are anti-American. Whatever government you get in France will be anti-American. Don't ask me why it's that way, but it is.

[Spirited]

Seems to me we just had a post that went something like this:
"German spies offered help to Saddam in run-up to war"

How does this weight on that scale? I figure Germany does not need any of my dollars or support so they can provide enemies of America with their support or their intelligence to kill my kin.

And I think we should move American hospitals and support of their economy out. If the tax dollars of my parents had not fed them and put that country back together they wouldn't even exist!

[Henchman]

The boycott of France has a trickle down effect on Germany, with 12% unemployment. PS German-Americans should have no sense of guilt. You acquitted yourselves well in WWII and in this War as well.

[Enough is ENOUGH]

Putin, Chirac & Schroeder and the United Nations socialists are the enemies of the United States.

Never forgive. Never forget.

[capocchio]

Schroeder regrets

You're darn right he regrets his comments - but only because they were so wrong. And Bush showed that for the whole world to see. This is not an apology, he's not showing any genuine remorse. This shouldn't change a thing, Bush owes him nothing.

If Schroeder were really interested in mending fences, then he would produce the information about how German companies helped build Saddam's WMD arsenal. That would be something of value, something to help Bush really nail down what Saddam was doing. We're going to find out anyway, he'll be better off in the long run to come clean now.

Schroeder should also join in the demands for Syria to quit shielding Iraqi escapees. Maybe even sponsor a resolution in the UN and fight it through.

Finally, he should publically and thoroughly tell the world how right Bush was and how wrong the UN was to not assist . Weasel word it if necessary to downplay what a complete and collosal ass he was, but give Bush and Blair full credit for doing something that absolutely, positively needed doing.

Then and only then do I feel that Bush should consider Germany a partner once again. We and Great Britian are the ones who had our soldiers killed. Germany et. al. have a lot of catching up to do.

[Grampa Dave]

Sounds like sales of Mercedes, BMW's, Audis and Volkswagons are slumping.

Their unemployement rate before the war was 12 to 14%, and it will be higher.

Also, no mor Iraqi oil for WMDS and other war toys sold for decades to their cash cow Saddomite.

Germany like France will be wearing their so sorry suits to get us to like them again.

So Sorry, Germans! You the frogs and the Russians deserve each other.

[lizma]

BWWAAHHHH!!!

German art at it's finest!

Several years ago I went to a major German modern art festival in Kassel. The rage that year was a block of chocolate with garden gnomes encassed in it.

I agree with Condi, these people are best ignored.

[winner3000]

I bet he didn't regret getting elected! Since he used his anti-american comments to get elected, it's hypocritical to say he's sorry. Bush puts a lot of credence into a leader's character. The fact that Schroeder's character is so awful means that W will never rely on him. Other leaders would have made it easy to Schroeder to get back into our graces. Nowadays it's almost expected that world leaders will lie to each other. After all Klintoon STILL wants us to negotiate an agreement with N Korea even after they used the last agreement as toilet paper! W is different. I am so proud of him!

[capitan_refugio]

"Punish France.
Ignore Germany.
Forgive Russia."

We can bring France to its knees economically. Don't go there. Don't buy their products. Patronize their main economic competitors (U.K., Spain, Portugal, U.S.).

Don't give this German government the time of day. It is about to collapse anyway. Schroeder has worse poll numbers that Gray Davis of California!

Show Russia the way. They have the potential to be a huge economic leader in Europe and Asia. They are inching along into western-style capitalism, so, in this case, we cut them a break.

I'm off the soapbox, for now.

[friendly]

Schroeder and his anti-American socialist scum are utterly destroying Germany with massive taxes and ferocious anti-business policies.

He has an approval rating in the 20% range and will be toast come next election cycle.

Then and only then will a better relationship with the US be possible.

[AFPhys]

"Even though differences of opinion on this question were so serious, it does not impair transatlantic relations," Schroeder said. "I think political leaders on both sides are professional enough to recognize relations are on a solid foundation."

Wow, is Schroeder ever a dreamer!? As others have pointed out, though, it is not our government refusing to buy german products, it is We the People.

As you and others, also, stated, "Apologies are easy. Let's see him do something to help us. Like come out publicly against France and Russia for the efforts to keep the sanctions on Iraq"