Germany

[BeBMan]

Well, there are of course also other reasons - some from the left are simply of pacifistic (sp?) nature, some others are more "technical" reasons, most military experts believe the Bundeswehr is simply not able to provide real help in a desert war, so even Stoiber, the conservative opponent of Schröder is against German troops in Iraq

Generally, many Germans are not in favour of military ops, because of our past - so even the slightest possibility that Germans will participate in such things provokes a big public discussion here...

[Harovan]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Yes, I did. Now would you like to answer the other question I asked?

If you mean the question about the US style... I wasn't sure to understand you right. Well, I don't see anything special about this election, nothing different (other than the candidates) to the elections 1990, 1994 and 1998. It's the same insulting eachother and mudflinging between the parties as usual and if you mean that by US style, you're right .

[Bereta_Eder]

BeBro, did Germany's participation in peacekeeping operations is relatively recent? (say it started in the late '80s early '90) (I think so, just checking)

[DinoDoc]

If you mean the question about the US style... I wasn't sure to understand you right.

Germans campaign U.S.-style

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by paiktis22
BeBro, did Germany's participation in peacekeeping operations is relatively recent? (say it started in the late '80s early '90) (I think so, just checking)

Yes, the peacekeeping missions on the Balkan were the first actions of German troops outside of German territory after WWII.

[BeBMan]

Dino, I just skimmed through this - I think "the focus on personalities" the article mentions has also a lot to do with Schröder´s popularity. He is much more popular than his own party, so the typical strategy of the SPD must be to place him in the front (to transform the sympathies of Schröder into votes, even when the chancellor isn´t elected directly)

[Bereta_Eder]

I think it is not only/so much "antiamericanism" as it is a genuine avertion to war operations especially where there is little sence behind it.

Germany has become a very conscious country/people

And with all its power it is a force to be reckoned with.

And the axis of Berlin and Paris remains strong.

things look good.

[Bereta_Eder]

of course, and dont kid yourselves, there remains the realpolitik hard/fact that european interests are not coinciding with american ones so much when it comes to iraq.

the US is trying to persuade Europe by promising more good oil deals with the new regime/government of iraq, but Europe remains opposed.

[DanS]

"I'm suprised that anyone is taking statements by any official in the German government seriously until after the election. The most amazing thing though is how much they are making this election a US style one."

Yeh, knowing US-style stump speeches at the close of the campaign, it's amazing that she could put two clauses together that make any kind of sense, even as a slur.

[Harovan]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Germans campaign U.S.-style

I see. Well, the TV duel was really something new, but I completely missed it, because I'll vote for neither of them, so I don't care much what they say. What concerns the other stuff like the "carefully crafted images" and the focusing on the candidates rather than their parties (which is countrary to our parliamentary system), if this is called US style, it must have been adopted long ago, because this hasn't changed since the last few elections.

[DanS]

The other stuff she said is more of a low blow...

The minister, Herta Daeubler-Gmelin, was also quoted as saying that the United States "has a lousy legal system" and that "Bush would be sitting in prison today" if current U.S. laws against insider trading had been on the books when he worked in the oil industry in Texas.

Why on earth is she opining about something outside her purview? She must be trying to divert attention from the domestic situation.

[DinoDoc]

What the heck happened to my avatar?

[Bereta_Eder]

thank god

[DinoDoc]

I mourn for the loss of your's as well.

[Ned]

Originally posted by BeBro


You mean why this "US style of the election" now - hm, good question. Perhaps because both top candidates aren´t really that different in their programs, so they lay more attention into other details - public image etc...



Well, if someone would kick Saddam out, I would not be very angry about it... However, there are still unanswered questions, after the victory, what next? I mean, there are still problems in Afghanistan, how can we hope for a better development in a post-war Iraq when currently even Afghanistan is far away from being a more stable, democratic country?

And if such a process fails in the Iraq, wouldn´t that mean the world has to face the same problems again, when another dictator comes to power there? So, what plans have the USA for the Iraq once Saddam is out?

BeBro, Germany is absolutely the very last nation on earth to complain about America's post war commitment to nationbuilding.

Have the people of Germany forgotten how America was there for the Geman people after WWII?

America is committed to both winning the war and winning the peace.