Schroeder faces rout in German state polls

The Times of India ^ | Februari 02 2003 | Reuters

[A. Pole]

By tackling him down, the western democracies will become safer.

I am not so sure.

[Michael81Dus]

Now what would you do? Leaving Saddam in Iraq and waiting until his agents or fellow-terrorists blast a nuke in DC, Paris, London, Berlin or elsewhere? I don´t wanna be blackmailed by him, so it´s better to do the right now.

But I also respect your opinion, here are many who think like you, and we live in a free society (some may disagree now regarding our economy) so you may believe in what you think is right.

[FreedomPoster]

You've got a username like A. Pole. Does the name Neville "Peace in our Time" Chamberlain mean anything to you? Do you not see some parallels?

[FreedomPoster]

That's what I said to him, with a hearty, evil laugh!

[the_doc]

How the overthrow of secularist regime in Iraq will help Western democracy?

It will eliminate one of the most dangerous enemies of the United States of America.

If you don't see how this will help Western democracy, well....

[Pining_4_TX]

Maybe they just realize that the enemy is Islam and not Iraq. Conquering Iraq will just give us one more dirt-bag country to occupy for the next 100 years. We will not be any safer from terrorists than we were. This war is nuts.

[DoctorMichael]

This was my 5th time in Berlin in the last 5 years and I have always had a great time there. I try to combine my business trips with a little 'pleasure' to take advantage of the free airfare and lodging.

Naturally, I've played tourist in Berlin.........The new Reichstag (with the spiral staicase embedded in the see-through dome) is pretty cool. I've walked to the top. Also, I've been to the top of the East Berlin Radio-Spike-Tower, Brandenburg gate, The Tiergarten, Berlin Zoo, Checkpoint Charlie, Ka-De-Vay and the Kurfurstendamm shopping district, Potsdam and various museums etc., etc., etc.

My 'pleasure' trip to Celle this time was to contact a possible distantly-related relative who I have been in contact with over the internet. We, coincidentally, have both been doing geneologies on ourselves. I took a 'bullet' train from Berlin to Hannover. The town-center of Celle was amazing and a lot of the buildings were built in 16 & 1700's. It reminded me of an old European village out of the middle ages with a castle at one end. Very, very beautiful!!!!!!!

Celle Castle
Celle Town Center

There was a Christmas Festival going on at the time and we walked around 'Old-town Celle' eating and drinking our way through the city center for hours.

As it turns out my host MAY be related to me...........we both trace our father's ancestries back to the same town (Gorlice) in southeastern Poland {This area has changed hands many times and was once part of both Austria and Ukraine}.

Interestingly, both the American Presidents, Harry Truman and Franklin Roosevelt, trace their ancestries to Celle.

[A. Pole]

You've got a username like A. Pole. Does the name Neville "Peace in our Time" Chamberlain mean anything to you? Do you not see some parallels?

No, I do not believe that Iraq is a threat comparable to Nazi Germany. I am more afraid of re-militarisation of Germany. If Germans want to be pacifists, let them remain so!

[FreedomPoster]

No arguments on both counts - but that doesn't mean that the Iraqis aren't a serious problem, likely to get much worse with inaction, and doesn't mean Germany has to oppose our actions.

[Michael81Dus]

I had the chance to play tourist when I served in the armed forces (showing comrades our capital to inform about governments security policy and our democracy). Berlin is full of history, everywhere you go you see footsteps of the past.

You haven´t visited the KZ Sachsenhausen? We did on our tours. Well, that wouldn´t have been a pleasant trip for you anyway.

What you´re describing to me is nearly all Americans having visited ´old Europe´ think: they´re impressed by the old castles and inner cities. Of course, it plays a little role that so many Americans have European heritage so that these towns are the roots from your ancestors.

[Michael81Dus]

You don´t have to be afraid. This time, we have a strong democracy, and a stable constitution. We´re integrated in the western world (and should remain there) - what we all have to fear is isolation.

[A. Pole]

Now what would you do? Leaving Saddam in Iraq and waiting until his agents or fellow-terrorists blast a nuke in DC, Paris, London, Berlin or elsewhere?

Saddam will die anyway like Castro. Little pressure and some sanctions (I would limit them to the military stuff) are more than enough.

I would focus on Islamists, on help for secularists in Muslim countries. Exert pressure on Saudi Arabia to stop promoting Mulism radicalism, cut all direct and indirect help to the KLA, Wahhabites in Chechnya etc ...

I would limit Muslim immigration to Western countries, I would promote pro-family policies so Western countries can perpetuate themselves without import of people from abroad. Less abortions more support to families with children.

I would work to revive Christain religion and morality - the main source of Western superiority over Muslim world. If Western mass media returned to the roots of Western culture they would become the most powerful tool to reform the worl. Nothing can measure up to the truth. Voice of Solzhenitsyn inspired by the Gospel of Christ had enough power to crumble walls of Gulag. Why not to do the same in Middle East?

I know, it will not happen.

[Michael81Dus]

"I would limit Muslim immigration to Western countries, I would promote pro-family policies so Western countries can perpetuate themselves without import of people from abroad. Less abortions more support to families with children. "

Abortions are ok, if the parents cannot care for their to-be-child. But if they´ve the money to do so, abortions should be forbidden. For the other proposals: agreed.

To reduce the number of terrorists, the US have to install a enduring solution on Mid-East. The day the Palestinians have their own state and accept Israels right to exist, the day our world will be more safier.

[A. Pole]

Abortions are ok, if the parents cannot care for their to-be-child.

You see, this is the key. If you prefer to kill unborn chilren for the sake of material efficiency or for free market competition than we are not superior to Muslims but inferior and deserve to loose.

Christian civilisation was not build on pursuit of material happiness. Remove the Gospel and it will degenerate into something worse than was in pagan times.

BTW, no nation would survive if only well-off had children. Most of people for most of the history were poor and had less than enough.

[Dog Gone]

Maybe US/German relationship isn´t completely destroyed?

No, but it has been severely damaged, and it will be on ice until Schroeder is gone.

Here's to hoping that the state elections today are a total rout of the Social Democrats.

[BlessedBeGod]

...crushing defeats...

I love it! Say goodnight, Gerhard!

[Michael81Dus]

Yeah, Bush is informed, too. That´s important for the relations, so that Bush can work together with a new CDU chancellor.

[knighthawk]

I hope you are happy with the results!

I bet Schroeder won't have much sleep tonight!

[mware]

Schroeder faces rout in German state polls

It couldn't happen to a better person, with the possible exception of the President of France.