 |
| |
|
|
MBD
|
|
quote:
Schröder's coalition near collapse over leak
From Roger Boyes in Berlin
GERMANY’S coalition Government was on the brink of collapse yesterday as details emerged of a row between Gerhard Schröder, the Chancellor, and Joschka Fischer, the Foreign Minister, who threatened to quit over differences on Iraq. Herr Fischer, the leader of the Green Party, was enraged over weekend press leaks of a Franco-German plan to establish a UN protectorate in Iraq. The leak, to Der Spiegel magazine, appeared to come from the Chancellery or Social Democrat headquarters.
The Foreign Minister immediately telephoned Herr Schröder to demand an explanation. “It was a loud and emotional exchange of views,” a German diplomat said. “Relations between the Chancellor and his Foreign Minister have plunged into an ice age,” Bild newspaper said. Last night Berlin denied that there was a rift between the men.
Herr Fischer was involved in attempts to boost the presence of UN inspectors in Iraq. He appears to have passed on some information to the Pope during a meeting on Friday. But the detail in the plan published yesterday, including a proposal for UN troops to man roadblocks in Iraq with French Mirage jets flying overhead, did not form part of Foreign Ministry calculations.
German diplomats are well aware that an American plan for a robust UN inspection system was floated last year and dropped, having drawn little international enthusiasm. A European reworking of that plan, drawn up without the consultation of the United States, would be seen only as an affront by Washington.
Herr Fischer has seen his diplomatic options diminish in the past six months as Herr Schröder became more vocal in his opposition to war. Germany’s isolation was evident at the weekend’s defence conference in Munich, attended by Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary, where Herr Fischer bore the brunt of American fury at Germany’s stand on Iraq.
Herr Fischer has now been snubbed at least three times by the Chancellor. He was not warned in advance when Herr Schröder started to mobilise voter support during the general election campaign by warning against a US-led war. He was also wrong-footed when the Chancellor announced that Germany would never accept a UN resolution “legitimising a war” against Iraq. Herr Schröder has also mocked and publicly called to order one of Herr Fischer’s key diplomats, the German envoy to the UN.
Herr Fischer’s authority depends on public support from the Chancellor, on close European co-operation beyond the Franco-German axis, on the trust of Washington and on discipline within his Green Party. All these pillars have crumbled since the general election six months ago.
When rumours of resignation spread three weeks ago, the Chancellor called in Herr Fischer for a “clarifying talk”. But for two hours the men, formerly friends who forged the idea of a Social Democratic-Green alliance in a pub conversation some 20 years ago, conducted a shouting match.
Later the Chancellor declared, to the irritation of Herr Fischer: “Let’s face it, the grass roots of the Green Party are closer to me than to the Foreign Minister.”
|
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/articl...-573483,00.html
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Sir Ralph
|
 |
Long live teh Schwampel!
Dec 2001
time: 06:25
|
|
quote:
How is Schroder's party likely to fare in a new election? |
If elections were right now, he would be crushed utterly. Not because of his foreign policy, but his lousy domestic policy. But next elections are in 3 years and a lot can happen in this time.
quote:
What are the consequences if the government falls? Do the Christian Democrats get a shot at forming a government or are there new elections? |
The Christian Democrats are the only alternative, strong enough to take the power. But I highly doubt, that the coalition will fail. The Greens are miffed, but they are the smaller partner and so far have always given in, when it came to a skirmish with the Social Democrats.
quote:
Germany being rather anti-american and all, probably makes Shcroder look like a hero. |
Pre-Bush Germany was in no way as anti American as it is now, and I doubt it will stay this way after his defeat in 2004. And most Germans see Schröder as a moron, on the even with Bush.
quote:
I'm not sure what to think, especially after reading and hearing about a respected poll conducted in Germany where approximately 56 percent of the respondents considered the American people to be warmongers. |
Does this surprise anyone? I'm rather surprised, that the number is so low.
quote:
Perhaps Germany should get its internal affairs in order before embarking on international adventures, be it military, economic or diplomatic? |
Thank God the US have no internal affairs. 
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Az
|
 |
MACEDONIA - It's the name of the sovereign country to the north of Greece
Apr 2000
time: 07:25
|
|
I support the war, not gladly, but because of a feeling of necessity. The problem is that we can take several courses of action:
1) Retain the status quo: sanctions are in place, the "food for oil" program is still being abused by saddam, people are still dying of deseases.
2) releive the sanctions: another war in the middle east in 5 years tops. Saddam will use oil reveniew to revamp his army, and to build nukes, and it's known that he tries to aquire them.
3) go to war, and try to make it a better place, using oil reveniew.
I am not thrilled by the idea that the US will gain even MORE global power, and certainly not by the prospect of facing a ballistic missile attack in the upcoming war, but I feel that this will be a good thing, on the whole.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
HershOstropoler
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Gatekeeper
I'm not sure what to think, especially after reading and hearing about a respected poll conducted in Germany where approximately 56 percent of the respondents considered the American people to be warmongers.
|
I think the question related to "America". Had it been asked about the american government, you'd have got maybe 80 %. And have to wonder what the other 20 % are smoking.
IIRC the question about Saddam's credibility recieved 1 % on the positive side.
Of course if you want to see everything in terms of absolute good vs absolute evil....
|
|
| |
All times are GMT. The time now is 05:25.
Apolyton Time is 00:25. |
top of page
|
| archivepost |
|
Forum Rules:
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is ON
vB code is ON
Smilies are ON
[IMG] code is ON
|
|
|
|
|
|
11-02-2003 09:54
|