Schroeder's Sellout is Merkel's Advantage

Coming Anarchy has a similar take to Dawn's Early Light on the sellout nature of Gerhard Schroeder's decision to go to work for Russian-owned Gazprom.  However, Coming Anarchy also points to the recent anti-Israel and anti-rational statements of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denying the holocaust and inviting Europe to carve out some land to relocate Israel. 

"What do these two events mean for German foreign policy? Both weaken Germany’s previous policies and continue to chisel away wiggling room. With Schröder’s so-called legacy already severely damaged by the man himself, the SPD is being forced to distance itself from not only Schröder but his pro-Russian policies. This leaves them with an easy cover should they begin to shift their foreign policy not to mention giving the CDU a golden opportunity to force them to do so....

Thus, these two events, completely outside the control of the current government, have served to undermine Germany’s previous policy with regard to Russia, Iran and have tarnished the SPD’s past few years of policy (how much remains to be seen). All of this significantly strengthens Chancellor Merkel’s position domestically giving her more leeway in her upcoming meeting with President Bush and his advisors from January 12th to 14th."

While Ms. Merkel may have misstepped diplomatically with her meeting with Secretary Rice [See DEL post here], she has a golden opportunity to move German diplomacy as her opposition party in her coalition government must move right to distance itself from the remnants of Schroeder's perceived sellout and failed Iranian policies.

Comments

[Chirol]

I appreciate the kind link and words. In the meantime, it seems Poland was also seriously ticked off at Ahmadinejad's holocaust denial.

[Dan tdaxp]

I agree.

The US needs Germany to be on the side of the eastern european states more than anything else. If Schroeder's mistep means that Germany will be on the side of Poland, Lithuania, etc, in future EU debates, that would be as big a success as the US could expect

[Bill Rice]

Chirol and Dan,

I couldn't agree more. Ms. Merkel, who by her background is rightfully Eastward looking in Germany's near abroad while at the same time focused on Germany's historic allies (ie., US), has an excellent opportunity to reorient German foreign policy away from Schroeder's Franco-Russo obsession.

Thanks for your comments.

Kind regards,

Bill Rice
Dawn's Early Light

[ugg]

it is important to address China's growing influence in the Western Hemisphere

[ugg]

decision to go to work for Russian-owned Gazprom. However,

[RachelStorms]

well they are both agents of the globalist regime, in the end it really doesnt matter who's in power, cause the system is ruled from the shadows by the international banking cartel

[Chanel Watches]

China's growing influence in the Western Hemisphere is so huge , everybody can feel it

[vacation rental in Barcelona]

Yeah, I agree with some points of your article. Keep up the good work.