Posted on 12/24/2002 9:16:23 AM PST by Sparta
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Berlin — Germany intends to work for more diplomatic pressure by European countries against a war in Iraq, a member of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's cabinet said in an interview published Monday that portrayed U.S. President George Bush as misguided.
"Bush's priorities are baffling to me," said Development Aid Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, renewing an argument by many German officials that solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should come first.
"War must not be the extension of politics or the economy by other means," she was quoted as telling the on-line service of Der Spiegel magazine. She said it was "depressing that the U.S. administration is preparing for war apparently regardless of the result of weapons inspections."
Members of Mr. Schroeder's government and his Social Democratic party have stepped up their antiwar warnings in recent days since the Bush administration declared Iraq's report on its weapons programs flawed and in breach of a United Nations resolution demanding a full accounting.
"We are still working on preventing a war. That is the most important thing," Ms. Wieczorek-Zeul said, without giving details. "We hope that more European states will join in and together send a strong signal to the American government."
The Minister renewed criticisms repeatedly heard from Mr. Schroeder: that U.S. plans for a post-Saddam Iraq "absolutely rudimentary," and that a war would undermine the U.S.-led fight against terrorism and hurt the world economy.
Mr. Schroeder ruled out German participation in any war on Iraq during his successful re-election campaign last summer.
I wouldn't even know where to begin. Let's just say that it's pretty stupid to take foreign policy advice from socialists who at one time thought it was a great idea to exterminate a race of people.
All the free education in the world is worthless if your mind remains closed. Now go away.
Please stick around and listen to the answers, as they may surprise you.
During the 1970s, I proudly served with the American Army protecting your borders. During those years, I fell in love with Germany and the German people and they are still dear to my heart.
Unfortunately, things have changed since I was living in Germany and it saddens me to watch it happening.
In many ways, the unification between East and West Germany has been very destructive. Today, we see Germany falling into the Socialist trap which has a long history of destruction. Instead of learning from the West Germans, the East has worked very hard tearing down their greatest achievements.
Was there anything accurate in his list of questions?
If you are talking about college education, the reasons are simple. First, we see ourselves as individuals with individual desires and abilities. Second, as individuals, we do not see taxing people who won't go to college (75% of he population) to pay for the 25% of the people that do. It is the difference betwen a society that focuses on realistic convictions of what people are like versus a utopian version where the government not only solves all problems but defines the problem as well.
Good luck. Your English is good.
If you are simply going to spout the daily propaganda being passed around Europe, then I will save myself the time and effort in responding to your questions.
Some of us absolutely love Bavaria and know much more than you may think.
Can you explain this remark? In both of our countries, anyone who wants an education can receive it. Your remark has me a little confused.
I agree, your English is just fine and we appreciate your efforts. Believe me, even after studying German for years and actually living there, my ability to speak using your language would be disgusting. I compliment you for learning English as well as you have.
You, apparently believe the purpose of government is to ensure fairness of an egalitarian variety.
I believe the government that governs least is the best. I do not see the goal of government to ensure some arbritrary form of fairness by taxing 3/4 of the population to benefit 1/4.
Finally, by loans, grants and other means it is possible to attend college. Scholarships and so forth also exist. Please remember, that in this country a college degree means you make 60% over your lifetime than a person with a HS diploma. This means the college person as an individual benefits and, consequently, should be responsible for his own investment in him or herself.
This is why we Americans have a hard time understanding what you are talking about. If you remember just 4 years ago, President Clinton was bombing Baghdad for the exact same reasons.
Notice, as of today, President Bush has not dropped a single bomb upon Baghdad, unlike Clinton. On the contrary, if Iraq agrees to disarm and eliminate the illegal weapons, then no bombs need to ever fall upon Baghdad. Iraq has a choice, and if a war starts, it will have been their decision.
If this was so important, then where was Chancellor Schroeder 4 years ago in protesting the bombings?
Where did you learn this? This is not true, but it sounds very much like the kind of propaganda leftists from the 60's era were fond of spreading. It sounds like much of what you think you know about the United States is not correct. But I thank you for posting on Free Republic and adding to the discussion.
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