Two old buddies continue to sparr

[Skybird]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...728482,00.html

"We noticed that the intellectual level of the (US president) was exceedingly limited," Uwe-Karsten Heye, Schröder's former government spokesman, told the television news station N24 on Wednesday in reference to Bush. "As such, it was difficult for us to communicate with him."Heye continued: "He had no idea about what was going on in the world. He was so fixated on being a Texan. I think he knew every longhorn in Texas."

Who said there is no life after Bush...?

The book has not received friendly feedback by the few commentators in Germany who thought they must lose a word on it. The author's memory and sense of realism is being questioned. What certainly is no news.

Earlier this week, Bush compl,ained about Schroeder having signalled support, but then having left Bush alone, not standing by his word. Schroeder, asked over the words by which Bush has quoted him, is reported of immediately having put it straight by using no different formulation than: "He lies."

[Takeda Shingen]

In fairness, the German political intellegentsia had it in for George W. Bush well before the man even took office. Asking for Schröder to say anything nice about Bush is like asking a Washington Redskins fan to compliment the Cowboys; ain't gonna happen.

Hot air.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

In fairness, the German political intellegentsia had it in for George W. Bush well before the man even took office. Asking for Schröder to say anything nice about Bush is like asking a Washington Redskins fan to compliment the Cowboys; ain't gonna happen.

As if in return it had been any different! Old Europe, anyone?

Hot air.

Of course. But quite funny to witness from the sideline.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...728336,00.html

"At a G-8 dinner in St. Petersburg," Bush writes, "most of the leaders challenged Putin on his democratic record. (French President) Jacques Chirac did not."

He continues: "That was nothing compared to what Gerhard Schröder did. Shortly after the German chancellor stepped down from office, he became chairman of a company owned by Gazprom, Russia's state-owned energy giant."
Schröder so far has declined comment on the implied insult.

I even admit that here Bush had a point. Even in Germany Schroeder was attacked - and still is - over this. On the other hands, I stick with Helmut Schmidt who said that a country outside Russia should feel lucky to gain such a trustful position inside the most important economic sector of Russia.

Becasue as things are today, Russia simply is quite important for Germany. I would even unsentimentally say Russian-German relations are more important to Germany than German relations to most - not all - European countries.

[Happy Times]

Originally Posted by Skybird

I even admit that here Bush had a point. Even in Germany Schroeder was attacked - and still is - over this. On the other hands, I stick with Helmut Schmidt who said that a country outside Russia should feel lucky to gain such a trustful position inside the most important economic sector of Russia.

Becasue as things are today, Russia simply is quite important for Germany. I would even unsentimentally say Russian-German relations are more important to Germany than German relations to most - not all - European countries.

I think Merkel called in private it a treasonous deal by Schoreder after taking office.

I have sensed you effection with this idea of Russia and Germany forming an continental pact.

No one else in Europe will tolerate such politics if it will lead to any hegemony over others..especially in between.
The Franco-German deals are enough to bare for the rest.

I remind there are others that are net payers in this European experiment and they should have a saying.
If not, secession is the word, but even that right has been taken away by undemocratic means.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Happy Times

I think Merkel called in private it a treasonous deal by Schoreder after taking office.

I have sensed you effection with this idea of Russia and Germany forming an continental pact.

No one else in Europe will tolerate such politics if it will lead to any hegemony over others..especially in between.
The Franco-German deals are enough to bare for the rest.

I remind there are others that are net payers in this European experiment and they should have a saying.
If not, secession is the word, but even that right has been taken away by undemocratic means.

Pact? I see regarding the Russians you are as paranoid as ever.

[Happy Times]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Pact? I see regarding the Russians you are as paranoid as ever.

Regarding Russo-German relations im not alone in observing what path it takes.
The countires in between have their interests to consider, they dont want get trampled.


Germany After the EU and the Russian Scenario
By George Friedman
http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20100...ssian_scenario