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.

[BillF]

Schroeder is just sucking up.....if he and Chirac could stick it to us again they would..

Right you are. The French and German govts. were up to their eyeballs in illegal trade with Iraq and were simply covering for their customer. The French were selling them arms (through cut-outs) very aggressively.

Give France back to Germany and make them both suffer!

[hobson]

bookmark

[Tribune7]

should be accepted by GWB, as I'm sure it will be.....

Not yet. What Dubya must insist on before any return to normalcy is that Schroeder do a sincere act of penance -- like a Sgt. Schultz impersonation on a major American prime time show. The O'Reilly Factor would be good

The Man Show would be good too. Probably better actually.

[Jorge]

Schroeder doesn't sound very sorry to me....

[bart99]

Yours was the best post in this thread......

IF Gernamy would actively work to end the oil for food sanctions, against the actions of France and Russia, then Germany would have shown by their actions that they were a bit.... ummm..... misguided...... and want to make up.

But they do have to be active. Words of apology aren't enough. Sorry Germany, but some concrete action is required.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

What Dubya must insist on before any return to normalcy is that Schroeder do a sincere act of penance -- like a Sgt. Schultz impersonation on a major American prime time show.

That is a great idea. Or he could have to dance on Sprockets and say, "Touch my monkey. Touch him. Love him."

[DaiHuy]

Yep, now he can explain the deals he tried to cut with Iraq to keep us from attacking.

[WoofDog123]

"We need to pull our military out of Germany"

My understanding on this is that Ramstein is a base the US could not functionally replace. the cost of placing a similar infrastructure in a friendly ex Warsaw Pact country would be something simply not in the budget, nor would the lease we would need (many decades, not one) be necessarily forthcoming.

The us moved out of Howard afb in Panama nearly 4 years ago (as far as ops went) and has yet to replace the net utility of that base in their replacement forward airfields (ecuador, aruba, some other i can't remember). ditto it would be for main airbases in europe, if the gringos pack up and go.

[WoofDog123]

"What has happened this time is different; the American people have been aroused.
We have long memories."

I would argue that all people have long memories, but the difference here is that the people in question are from the most powerful country on earth, and are still new at this War in the Homeland thing, and so remember every single slight in much greater detail. (unless it is TSA doing the slighting, of course)

[truth_seeker]

In time it will be revealed just what QUALITY this apology is.

In the future, if a more cooperative position is taken, without the extreme comments, it will have been genuine.

I lived in Germany, and to atone as a society, there is a strand of Pacifism. I'll grant them the right to oppose military attacks.

But to loudly oppose the US, and make inflammatory remarks, goes beyond what "friends and allies" do with each other.

Judge by actions, not merely by words.

[Rasputin_TheMadMonk]

Hey Scroter! Gehen Sie zu Hölle! Sie Stück Abwasser!

[Ronin]

If Schroeder wants to do something positive for Geman-American relations he can resign and retire. Nothing else is going to work.

I doubt if Bush will act to punish Germany (Rummy might, but that's another story) but Schroeder can apologize until he is blue in the face and it will won't make the slightest difference.

Bush is not going to forgive or forget and he certainly is not going to trust Schroeder again -- ever.

[greasepaint]

I G Farbensaddam...OUT OF BUSINESS

[RockBassCreek]

I agree with you. Also, he knows that there is no necessity to return all our troops to Germany that were based there. I expect some to return to Hungary and Poland. The German economy is precarious. That loss of military money will hurt deeply.

[dsc]

"Ooops, picked the wrong side. Time to do the weasel dance."

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

All my mom's grandparents came from Germany. I don't care. I'm renouncing my German heritage. I'm pure American.

[Tom Bombadil]

German media have reported Bush has declined to take calls from Schroeder.

When are Bush's detractors going to learn that he doesn't play pattycake after you dis him?

[dennisw]

This skunk figures all he has to do is look better than Chirac to get back in our good graces. He might be right.

[Ole Okie]

When are Bush's detractors going to learn that he doesn't play pattycake after you dis him?

I suppose this might happen when they finally discover that George W Bush ain't Sick Willie Klintoon.

[Tribune7]

Or he could have to dance on Sprockets and say, "Touch my monkey

I like it. Make him do both. Every night for a month.