Posted on 01/07/2006 6:08:02 AM PST by mcg2000
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in an interview published days before her first visit to the United States, said Washington should close its Guantanamo Bay prison camp and find other ways of dealing with terror suspects.
"An institution like Guantanamo can and should not exist in the longer term," Merkel said in an interview with the weekly magazine Der Spiegel published on Saturday. "Different ways and means must be found for dealing with these prisoners."
Merkel has vowed to repair ties with the United States, severely strained over the U.S.-led Iraq invasion, which her predecessor Gerhard Schroeder strongly opposed.
But her comments to Der Spiegel -- also covering ties with Moscow and the European Union -- suggested she would not shy away from speaking out on issues where disagreement exists.
There is widespread skepticism in Germany about the way the United States is fighting its "war on terror", compounded by the recent scandal over the CIA's abduction and detention of German citizen Khaled el-Masri -- later acknowledged to be a mistake.
Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. detention center in Cuba denounced by human rights activists and many governments, is deeply unpopular in Germany.
Merkel travels to Washington next week for her first visit since becoming chancellor in November, and will meet U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday.
Merkel told Der Spiegel she expected to speak to Bush about the fight against terrorism. "But I want to accentuate that our relationship with the U.S. will not be reduced to talking about fighting terrorism and the Iraq war," she added.
NO FRIENDSHIP WITH RUSSIA
Merkel described relations with the United States as a "friendship", but said the term "strategic partnership" would be more fitting to describe Germany's relationship with Moscow.
"I don't think we share as many of the same values yet with Russia as we do with the United States," she said. "But we have a huge interest in seeing Russia develop in a sensible way." Continued ...
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.
Now there is a great group to be giving lessons on the operation of a prison Camp.
When she gets here have her T.V. Tuned to the history Channel for the true horrors of im;prisonment under the Germans.
"Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. detention center in Cuba denounced by human rights activists and many governments, is deeply unpopular in Germany."
There are so many ways to counter this statement. But, they would seem as low blows.
How about Germany mind its own business? I couldn't care less what they think.
>>Merkel . . . said Washington should close its Guantanamo Bay prison camp and find other ways of dealing with terror suspects.
Summary battlefield execution of illegal combatants would obviate the need for Gitmo's prison camp.
I agree.
We should deport all the terrorists to Germany after we implant them with chips that allow us to track them just in case they find a way back to the US.
Works for me. We interrogate them chemically, castrate them (sans anesthesia. . .), then shoot them, wrap 'em in
pig-skins. . .and leave them on Merkel's door-steps.
It's the German way, after all. . .
And become overrun with Islamofascists like Germany and the rest of Eurabia?
I think not..
The response should be, "Thank you for your input, now STFU and have a nice day!"
america's wcgo2 says merkel should be shut.
She's out to repair relations with the US and she jumps out there and knocks Gitmo?
She must be betting on HRC in 08.
Apparently she doesn't know that everyone on the other side of the fence in Cuba would give their right arm to be on our side.
I am not surprised. I hope this comes back and bites her in the ASS!
Out of all the people I've seen suggest that Gitmo should get shut down, I haven't seen one of them who has a suggestion for what should be done with the prisoners. Are they saying we should set them free? Or just open a new prison somewhere else, 'cause they don't dig the location?
"Summary battlefield execution of illegal combatants would obviate the need for Gitmo's prison camp."
First thing that came to my mind too.
Terrorist lampshades and soap - now selling in German department stores!
Well, isn't that nice? Now when does it get to be our turn to kvetch about Germany's handling of its Muslim problem situation?
Who gives a flyin' fish fart what the Germans think?
Perhaps we could build some of those big gas chambers disguised as showers. You still have the blueprints, don't you, Angela?
Hey Germany actually pony up some blood or treasure to fight the war and you can have a say about Gitmo. What amazing arrogance the Old Europe has. Don't want to actually do anything about Terrorism but want to lecture US on how we should be defending ourselves.
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