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.
Frau Chancellor,until the German Reichtag,or the headquarters of the German Central Bank or some other vital institution in Germany is attacked by two 767s piloted by 9th Century Muslim pig fornicators,I respectfully request that you keep your opinions to yourself.
Well, a good first step would be to keep your stinking "advice" to yourself.
Nobody asked for your two-pfennings worth, Angela.
Shut up about how we could improve and go to work doing something about your countries runaway inflation, 22% unemployment, out-of-control pension disbursements, welfare abuses, etc, etc.
Seems like every damn body else knows what is good for us, but can't see the crap in their own backyard.
Do ya hear me, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, France...etc?
All of you, ESAD.
After railing for ages about liberal bias in the media, why does anyone here assume they're getting the full story here, which is a Reuters (!) story that cherry-picks a quote from Der Spiegel, one of the most notorious anti-Bush rags in Europe.
Ooooh the Germans are mad at me, I’m so scared. Oooooh, the Germans! Uh oh, the Germans are coming to get me! Oh no, don’t let the Germans come after me. Oh, no the Germans are coming after me. No! They’re so big and strong. Oh, protect me from the Germans, the Germans!
She's no different than the last dumb arse they had in place BUMP!
Time to accelerate closing our bases in Germany.
Sometimes these people are funny.
In Germany where they just turned loose a terrorist murderer who killed an American soldier, they would pardon them all and they would be back in Syria or Afghanistan doing more terror before the sun set.
Mrs Merkel I got news for you lady your turning loose terrorists to buy back hostages doesnt set too well in America either.
At least it doesnt sit well with real Americans. Some Dems may agree with the way Germany treats terrorists.
Come close it yourself, my dear.
LOL!
Oh, well! In that case, we'll jump right on it.
No, her predecessor sold them to the Palestinians.
WAY TO GO FRAU MERKEL!!!
That some strong advice, but will she think it's relevant?
And she visited when?
I guess German schools have had revised history for years also.
WAY TO GO FRAU MERKEL!!! Betray the Folks that freed you. Were the NAZI's still in power, you'd still be just a haus frau and a mutter pumping out kinder one after the other.
Sheeeeeeesh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now she's just another euro-weenie, minus der weenie.
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