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.
Sure, we send the terrorists to Germany where they can be released in the morning with safe passage to Syria, Iran, or perhaps the Sudan.
If she came here and won a seat in our Congress, would she be a "house frau"?
Just wondering.
Germany lets them go.
I want none of that.
I think it´s more a chill pill for a) the socialists in her government and b) the people who oppose Gitmo overwhelmingly, and have been eagerly looking on how Merkel supported Bush 2002/2003. Of course she will address that topic seriously, but she won´t risk that her visit becomes a failure because of that.
just before closing it......introduce them to a pig greased bullet.
Well, obviously the Leftist Stern magazine asked her about her opinion. Why shouldn´t she say that? I´ve been in opposition to Gitmo, too, because I think that these people shall be judged. I know that it´s not that easy, but then, Merkel just says that your government should find other ways.
This smacks of Prince Charles' recent visit -- he made sure beforehand to announce that he would take GW to the woodshed for being so hostile to 'the religion of peace.'
Nice pic! :-)
As I said, she is a realist, and I think it´s a chill pill for the Volk.
No from the way she's behaving a Sen. Shrillery Wanna-be.
I starting to find the "typical" FR knee-jerk reaction somewhat annoying.
Yeah, we'll just let them all go like you did with the killer of Navy serviceman Stead you stupid b****!
And again - Who the hell cares what Merkel has to say about the US?
I don't.
Nobody asked her, nobody cares, nobody in the US is interested in her remarks about our country, other than as a point of contention.
As my sainted old granny used to say: "Be sure you sweep your own doorstep before you say something about how dirty your neighbors is."
Yep. I mean, she didn´t say "this fast-shooting cowboy in Washington needs to shut this fuc*in´ KZ NOW!!" A conservation about different opinions must be allowed.
I agree an alternative to Guantanamo should be found. It's not nearly harsh enough. These bastards want to kill us. Therefore let's put them in conditions that will make them wish they were dead.
Regards, Ivan
She is Chancellor of Germany, not of the US. You´re also talking about the war in Chechnya or the executions of religious people in China, not to speak of Irans nuclear program. Foreign policy is an issue, especially for heads of governments. The Frau Bundeskanzlerin was asked by a German magazine, and she answered. She wasn´t interviewed in the US TV or addressing the American people. Are foreign states(wo)men not allowed to speak to their people without permission from you? I don´t think that Bush or Rice have problems with that.
Another example of what Steyn called focusing on secondary issues, as if war is all about prisoners. Give me a break! They are lucky they were not shot on the battlefield.
1. It wasn´t Merkel releasing Hammadi. He was released after having been 19 years in prison, which is ca. 1 or 2 years above the average for murder in Germany. Complain about the German laws, not about the Chancellor, who is in office since 50+ days.
2. The Chancellor isn´t a "b****", just like your President isn´t a "2nd H*****".
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