Posted on 09/19/2002 11:46:19 AM PDT by Pokey78
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush's spokesman on Thursday expressed outrage that Germany's justice minister drew a link between Bush's saber-rattling on Iraq to the tactics used by Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.
Spokesman Ari Fleischer said the United States and Germany have long had a strong relationship, "but this statement by the justice minister is outrageous and is inexplicable."
The regional Schwaebisches Tagblatt newspaper quoted German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's justice minister, Herta Daeubler-Gmelin, as saying "Bush wants to divert attention from his domestic problems. It's a classic tactic. It's one that Hitler used."
The Bush administration has been none too pleased that criticizing the United States over Iraq has been a key campaign plank for Schroeder in his re-election battle but has refrained from publicly commenting on the issue.
This radical local rag means nothing. Of course, the Minister was just mumbling something about a Bavarian soccer team, a partially overheard conversation. Happens all the time.
I just read the comments made by Gerhard Schroeder's Justice Minister regarding my president.
I would like to address Ms. Daeubler-Gmelim's comment by saying that the American people have noticed that through the years the Germans are prone to supporting despotic dictators who are into mass murder, so it's no wonder they are supporting Saddam Hussain now, but to compare our president with Hitler goes a step too far.
I understand that they're playing politics, but this is far too much and is not at all acceptable. An apology should be immediately forthcoming.
BTW, the next time your people are starving (which, looking at your dismal economic conditions doesn't look too far off) don't expect us to perform another Berlin airlift.
We've had to clean up your messes before, looks like we're going to be doing it again. Thanks for showing your true colors.
The woman denied saying this and Schroeder said he was glad because he didn't have room in his cabinet for someone that would say such a thing. GOOD!
Justice Minister Herta Daeubler-Gmelin told a small group of labor union members on Wednesday that Bush was going after Iraq to divert attention from domestic problems. ``That's a popular method. Even Hitler did that,'' the German newspaper, Schwaebisches Tagblatt, quoted her as saying.
The minister called the report misleading but did not deny the remarks.
``I would regret it very much if this matter were to cast the slightest shadow on my respect for the president of the United States,'' she said.
Opposition conservatives vying to defeat Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats in Sunday's parliamentary elections called for her resignation.
``This shows what Schroeder and his Social Democrats really think of our American allies,'' said Thomas Goppel, an aide to conservative challenger Edmund Stoiber.
A German government spokesman said Schroeder could not imagine Daeubler-Gmelin had meant to liken Bush to Hitler.
``If anyone were to compare the American president with a criminal, they would have no place in the government,'' Schroeder said on German television network ZDF.
Too bad my older brother hasn't figured it out yet.
German 1: Vizzout Saddam who vill kill ze Jooz for us?
German 2: Vell, ze French are tryink veddy hard to do it.
German 1: Ach, ze French?! Zey can't do anytink right!
I wish some enterprising young hacker would take down that website.
Meant?
MEANT?
There you have it folks. Another example of Clintonista, Third Way, relativistic, "no-controlling-legal-authority" leftistspeak.
It was tiresom years ago. Now it just pi$$es me off.
Ah, but we need to kno what the enemy is DOING.
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