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June 08, 2009
Germany Not Happy With Obama ~ I agree!
Rift With Germany Is Next on Diplomatic Agenda
DRESDEN, Germany
A rift has quietly opened up between Germany and the United States, marked by official statements of harmony and private grumbling. It is not an outright crisis in relations, but there are underlying tensions and disagreements on matters ranging from the global economic crisis to the future of inmates held at Guantánamo Bay.
On a more basic level, there is a sense that the Obama administration is ignoring the needs and counsel of longtime allies. Divided Germany was once at the center not only of the cold war, but of American foreign policy as well, which is no longer the case. Yet the United States can ill afford to alienate Europe’s largest economy and its most important intermediary in the strained relationship with Russia.
“They’re not angry, they’re not anti-Obama or anti-American,” said John C. Kornblum, a former United States ambassador to Germany and now a business adviser in Berlin. “But they’re confused by the wave of criticism which has been sent at them by the administration and people close to the administration.
“It’s not that they don’t like him,” he said. “They just feel like things aren’t working, like the levers of government are not being engaged to make issues run smoothly.”
The signs of discord were evident even last summer, when Mrs. Merkel rejected Mr. Obama’s request during the presidential campaign to speak in front of the Brandenburg Gate, saying it was not an appropriate location for a candidate’s address. Mr. Obama drew more than 200,000 people to hear his speech at a nearby monument.
Relations were already frosty as the economic crisis deepened and the German government and Obama administration took sharply differing views on how far to push stimulus spending.
And Germans remain surprised that an ambassador to their country has not been named more than four months after Mr. Obama’s inauguration. There is a sense that, with his focus split between domestic concerns and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the new president is taking his staunchest European allies for granted.
“There is definitely this disappointment in Europe, complaining that there’s nobody home,” said Stephen Flanagan, senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
Wild Thing's comment.......
LOL is an ass and Merkel and she is right! It is not only that I can't stand Obama for what he is doing to OUR country, but he is also a total embarssment. He is more horrible that I could ever have imagined.
"complaining that there’s nobody home"
LMAO well that is one way to say he is an empty suit. hahahahaa
But is he a VERY dangerous empty suit that is the problem.
.
Posted by Wild Thing at June 8, 2009 07:49 AM
Comments
I thought Obama was going to mend our relationships with the world? Wasn't he going to restore our respect? Let's see, he insults the British, French, and Germans.
Posted by: BobF at June 8, 2009 06:41 PM
BobF., your so right, he just keeps
rolling along insulting all the
various leaders. OH except for the
Saudi's his pals.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 8, 2009 08:25 PM
I wish she'd do what I think she's thinkin! I damn sure would.......repeatedly!
Posted by: forest hunter at June 8, 2009 11:49 PM
