What I'm reading: Don't squander U.S.-Germany ties
By Fareed Zakaria
“While calls for full disclosure of surveillance activities are unrealistic, it is now paramount to engage in a continuous intelligence dialogue between the U.S. and Germany to emphasize just how much spying activities can jeopardize the transatlantic relationship,” writes Norbert Rottgen in the Financial Times. “The U.S. policy of non-communication in intelligence matters endangers the transatlantic alliance. Expectations for intelligence co-operation to be shaped transparently among equals cannot easily be met given the global climate of insecurity. However, a strong and trusting relationship at government level is possible if both sides now invest the necessary efforts. In doing so, it is more crucial than ever to include the German public, who are increasingly struggling to see the true value of the German-American relationship.”
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“In his long political career, Netanyahu has shown little appetite for ground campaigns and for the right reasons. Gaza is a messy place to wage war, with two million people crammed cheek-by-jowl into a tiny space,” writes Dan Ephron for Reuters.
“But for all his reluctance, the Israeli leader could well find himself ordering an incursion anyway – mainly because there seems to be no effective mediator available to broker a ceasefire.”
@fareedzakaria on Twitter
The only thing worse than Sarah Palin is Hitler. The only thing worse than Hitler is 2 Sarah Palins.The only thing worse than 2 Sarah Palins is 3 Hitlers. The only thing worse than 3 Hitlers is 4 Sarah Palins. The only thing worse than 4 Sarah Palins is 5 Hitlers. The only thing worse than 5 Hitlers is ....
... Ms.Hillary (nicknamed: Hitlary – she is one secret ss mole and is related to the German Hitler dynasty).
Epic fail comeback.
If I were the German Chancellor, I'd quit taking orders from Washington D.C. and try to find a way to set up a peace plan for both Iraq and Israel. Angie Merkel and Walther Ulbricht are the same Walther Ulbricht took his orders from Moscow just as Angie Merkel is from Washington. As a German American, I find this offensive!
Q: What's the difference between Hitler's SS and Sarah Palin's tea party patriots?
A: The SS wear hobnailed jack boots and tea party patriots wear size 34 floppy clown shoes.
Don't forget that the SS drank beer and tea party patriots drink Everclear from Mason jars on the "lean to" of their trailers.
You are absolutely correct.
Of all the friends Germany has, the United States is Germanys's greatest whethernthey recognize it or not ( most I believe do). Lets remember that after World War II it was the US which stood by West Germany and when the Berlin Wall fell it was the US which encouraged a union of the west and east. I think for all the talk of spying both Germany and the Us should remember their long history. A history which goes to the beginning of the US. Also lets remember that a great majority of Americans are of German descent.
America Germany's friend? Yes, just as Russia was East Germany's friend for a 40 year span (1949-89). Like greg said above, Angie Merkel is to America what Walter Ulbricht was to Russia for 20 years (1949-69).
Germany has different secret intelligence bureaus, such as BND, secret gestapo mafia, secret communists stasi mafia, ... that operate secret networks and also secretly eliminated Americans in Germany and other countries. We want from the White House, US government, from US Homeland Security and other Agencies to address these problems.
Fantasize much @ USA not moving in the right direction? And who is this "we" you speak of?
This fallout with Germany is temporary. Germany is still too weak to be a global power. It needs the EU and the US as its vehicle. So Merkel will remain rational as long as she is in office, provided that the US has learned its lesson.
Wrong, j. von hettlingen. Germany does have the potential to become a world power through diplomatic means. Instead of just back the U.S. in everything it does, most of which is wrong, it can do better by going about independently arranging peaceful settlements, especially in Iraq. Besides, if it wanted to, Germany could develop the atom bomb since it has the scientists to do it with.
And what wonderful diplomatic magic dust do you think Germany can sprinkle on Iraq to solve that mess?
While the U.S. has been clumsy with regard to intelligence gathering, how can it fully trust Germany considering its heavy energy/economic ties to Russia ?
When we hear the German national anthem of Deutschland Uber Alles that is proudly sang by all German's, from the Turkish German women who is a doctor treating a sick child in a hospital in Germany, to an auto work who works in the local VW auto factory who is proudly making VW for everyone to drive across the world. The German and American diplomatic relationships between those two powerhouse countries needs to be reinforced with trust from sharing intelligent information about terrorism groups trying to harm American citizens, or having a more open approach to exporting more German made products to the United States of America. Being an American who has traveled to Germany and spend most of my time in Berlin and the Rhine Valley, I have spoken with many Germans who feel the economic diplomatic relationship between the USA and Germany, is quite weak and needs a different approach form having a better concrete plan from how much German products from cars to consumer goods are exported to the West and more open dialogue when it comes to international global affairs which affect Germany and the USA. Adolf Hitler had a vision for Germany during World War 2 making Germany the economic powerhouse of Europe, and the most feared nation on earth when it came to their military and their beliefs about different cultures and other things. Since World War 2 for many Americans we see Germany as different type of European country in today's global society, which is a nation that welcomes trade from different places and respects all religions from their Turkish immigrants and other Europeans who make Germany one of the best places to live. in. Without the USA and Germany have stronger economic and culture ties will we become two nations that start to drift apart in terms of understanding exporting and culture ideas from both nations for years to come.
The main problem is the espionage on the business sector. It is widely known that the german industry depends on high-tech products. No, i dont talk about cars – i talk about the machinery, chemical, electronic, optical, military a.s.o. stuff. Another point is that the germans ( in general ) are very, very sensitiv about their privacy and unlimited data collection. I think its part of their experience from Gestapo ( WWII ) to StaSi (former Eastern German Secret Police ).