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2003-05-29 Europe

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Posted by Ptah 2003-05-29 07:14 am|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 TGA - i should of put this in my prior post but did not. just wanted say that over the last 6 monts or so i have read your post's and your are a true german ally.

Posted by Dan 2003-05-29 17:42:25|| 2003-05-29 17:42:25|| Front Page Top

#2 It may not have been only to tweak their pride. Lack of this training will certainly make the French Air Force less effective. To wit: we didn't invite the Chineese either.

Posted by Shipman 2003-05-29 08:45:44|| 2003-05-29 08:45:44|| Front Page Top

#3 We did invite the Japanese to the Alaska event.

Posted by Chuck 2003-05-29 08:56:38|| [blog.simmins.org] 2003-05-29 08:56:38|| Front Page Top

#4 The Japanese may need their skills if Kimmy doesn't wise up

Posted by Frank G 2003-05-29 09:13:05|| 2003-05-29 09:13:05|| Front Page Top

#5 Hope that German airforce guys will still continue to train in Texas. They do more for US-German friendship than all politicians. Great bunch of people.

Did I mention that only 25% support Schroeder's party SPD right now? (Latest polls)

Posted by True German Ally 2003-05-29 09:58:50|| 2003-05-29 09:58:50|| Front Page Top

#6 TGA - it may be worth noting that while the anti-French attitude seems to still be at a boil, you rarely hear any anti-German voices lately. Now, should Gerhard or any of his ministers decide to opine again, that could change

Posted by Frank G 2003-05-29 10:01:55|| 2003-05-29 10:01:55|| Front Page Top

#7 Frank, I can't vouch for this government. People do crazy things on their way out. And on this way they are, maybe this year already.

The problem is that Schroeder gets most of his electorate in the North and the East which also happens to be more reserved when it comes to the US. South and South West Germany is a completely different story (Guess who has 16% unemployed and who has 5%).

Yet you can't really "punish" Schroeder and wish Germany well. Any Bush snub in Evian will just drive Germany back into French arms. Do we want that? I can understand that Bush doesn't like Schroeder but when the leader of the world's first ecomony snubs the leader of the world 3rd economy that can't be any good. Talking to an opposition man (and not even the leader of this opposition) in the White House and not having talked to the leader of Germany since November.. this is not good politics, this is ...pardon me ... childish behavior. Politics doesn't mean that you only talk to people you sympathize with. If you want a stronger French-German alliance, that's the way to do it. Do you want it? Or do you even care?
Schroeder has at least tried to mend fences, he has acknowledged that he went too far in some respect (understatement but when do you hear politicians apologizing fully?).
No it doesn't have to be Crawford, but some talks in Evian could help.
After all, French might want to fall out with the US, Germany does not. At least not the Germany I bank on.

Posted by True German Ally 2003-05-29 10:51:05|| 2003-05-29 10:51:05|| Front Page Top

#8 TGA - Schroeder ruptured a true friendship that was built on common values and common defense. And for what, for politics. Is it to much to expect a friend, who we have stood by even though we put our homeland at risk for 50 years, to support us?
If you ask me it was a very childish move for Schroeder to do this. And it was all about politics. This iraq thing did not start last november but that is when Schroeder jumped on the weasal bandwagon, for what ? for politics..because the German people do not want to be involved in any wars. In the end was this needed to keep Germany out of combat, no, but it was needed to get Schroeder re-elected.
As for a stronger Franco/German alliance - ask yourself is this really in Germany's best interest? You already have to deal with a snobbish France who flouts your own EU laws (at least when it suits them!) while Germany is mirred in economic stagnation because of its adherence to EU rules.

Posted by Dan 2003-05-29 13:15:08|| 2003-05-29 13:15:08|| Front Page Top

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