Category Archives: Habitudes
No Difference Between China And The USA
Right? Not in Germany there isn’t.
To understand any German position on any international theme or issue you must understand that US-Amerika is somehow, in some way, in some form, a, if not the, negative factor in it. Once you understand and accept this, everything German politicians and diplomats say starts making sense. Take China and 5G for instance. Please.
The US ambassador to Berlin has sharply criticised German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier for suggesting a parallel between Chinese and US spying.
The row flared up over Germany’s decision not to ban Chinese tech giant Huawei from participation in the German 5G mobile phone network…
Meanwhile, a new opinion poll suggests a wide gap between the views of Americans and Germans on US-German relations.
Three-quarters of Americans surveyed were positive. But nearly two-thirds of Germans felt relations were bad, the Pew Research Center/Körber-Stiftung poll found.
“There is no moral equivalency between China and the United States and anyone suggesting it ignores history.”
German Of The Day: Späti
That means the late-night stores of Berlin. And we should have smelled this rat coming long ago.
How could these popular local convenience stores be allowed to continue running without being inconvenienced by the Berlin city government? They were allowed to open when they saw fit, depending entirely on supply and demand. You know, like in capitalism? Spätis are one of the few things that actually work in this town, by the way. Obviously, somebody had to step in here. Spätis are crying out for government regulation – for our own good.
Since a May ruling by the Administrative Court of Berlin, city authorities have fastidiously targeted family-run convenience stores such as Abels’ if they’re open on Sundays. The crackdown is part of a broader debate that’s erupting over the future of these stores — known as Spätis — that have over the decades emerged as cultural symbols of Berlin.
“Spätis are to Berlin like cafés are to Paris. It’s where all forms of life come together.”
Angela Merkel Must Go
I couldn’t agree more. Enough Merkeldämmerung already (Twilight of the Merkel – as in of the Gods).
But who is strong enough going to push her out the door? And who would want to? She’s the Blob, so don’t touch her. And she’s even cloned herself.
For 10 of the last 14 years, Merkel has presided over grand coalition governments, bringing together the centre-right Christian Democrats and the centre-left Social Democrats. This has given continuous stable government, but at a cost. Consensual centrism has not encouraged the robust political debate essential to a liberal democracy. Conservative Germans have long complained that “we have two social democratic parties”. This is a perfectly competent government for undemanding times, but with none of the ambition needed to face the giant challenges of today.
No Suspicion Here
Yesterday’s German of the day was Terrorverdact (suspicion of terror) but there was never any suspicion in my mind as to who the Germans got their intelligence from.
Who else? From evil US-Amerika itself.
US tips off Germany to ‘radical Islamist’ from Syria suspected of planning devastating attack – Police in Germany arrested a “radical Islamist” from Syria on Tuesday after receiving a tip from U.S. intelligence officials that the man was planning an attack.
Prosecutors said the 26-year-old man was planning an attack designed to “kill and injure a maximum number of people,” according to reports.
Erste Hinweise durch ausländischen Geheimdienst?
German Of The Day: Terrorverdacht
That means suspicion of terror.
A suspected Islamist from Syria was in arrested in Berlin after getting smart about how to make bombs. What he was doing in Berlin is anybody’s guess. Angela Merkel could not be reached for comment.
This story will now quietly disappear. Hope you enjoyed it while it lasted.
In Berlin ist ein 26-jähriger Syrer in seiner Wohnung im Bezirk Schöneberg wegen eines Terrorverdachts festgenommen worden: Wie die Staatsanwaltschaft Berlin am Dienstagvormittag mitteilte, vollstreckten Beamte des Bundeskriminalamts (BKA) gemeinsam mit der Spezialeinheit GSG 9 einen Haftbefehl sowie einen Durchsuchungsbeschluss. Konkret besteht der Verdacht der Anleitung zur Begehung einer schweren staatsgefährdenden Gewalttat.
China
Beautiful German weapon sale of the week.
Because somebody has to admire them.
OK, it’s not exactly a weapon sale this time. The Germans just plan to train 11 Chinese soldiers so they can, you know, better use their weapons in places like, I dunno, Hong Kong or some place like that.
In addition, one soldier is to be provided with special training in “press and public relations.”
Ausland
Foreign countries. Name about any country you want.
Beautiful German weapon sale of the week.
Because somebody has to admire them.
In the first ten months of this year the German federal government has given its OK to the sale of arms valued at 7.42 billion euros, nearing an all-time record.
Die Welt verlangt nach deutschen Waffen: Die Bundesregierung hat in den ersten zehn Monaten des laufenden Jahres Rüstungsexporte im Wert von 7,42 Milliarden Euro genehmigt. Die Summe erreicht damit schon fast das Ausmaß des bisherigen Rekordjahres 2015, als die Große Koalition Ausfuhren von Waffen und anderen Rüstungsgütern für 7,86 Milliarden Euro freigab.
Limits?
Who places the limits and where?
There are no limits. Germany, of all countries, must understand that. Others placed limits on them in the past. On at least two occasions. The results were sub-optimal.
Germany Struggles To Define Limits of What Can Be Said – A debate over the limits of free speech is exploding in Germany, with the left and the right seeking to outdo each other. The political debate has grown intense in this polarized country, but it’s also more vital than ever.
Two-Thirds of Germans Afraid to Say What They Think?
More Like A Stepfather
Who beat you like a red-headed stepchild.
For Germans, Losing the U.S. to Trump Is Like Losing a Father – The 30th-anniversary celebration of the Berlin Wall’s collapse comes with grief over the end of a special relationship.
I don’t know if I can hold back the tears but give me a second or two. There. I’m much better now. Thanks. But this massive output of cheap emotion has a heavy taste of déjà-vu in it for me, folks. The Germans already had their hearts broken and lost their special relationship back with W., didn’t they? And we don’t even want to talk about how heartbroken they were with Ronald Reagan HIMSELF. They don’t even want to have to think about him today. Some thirty years later. You know, thirty years after he made possible the fall of the Berlin Wall? Wait a minute. I’m chocking up again…
Berlin gets unwanted Ronald Reagan statue – Ronald Reagan is already an honorary citizen of Berlin, so city authorities have always deemed a statue inappropriate. Nonetheless, a bronze replica of the former president is set to be inaugurated at the US Embassy.
Observing Hermann 