Angela Merkel: "The
times when we could fully count on others are over to a certain extent.
I have experienced this in the last few days. We
Europeans must really take our destiny into our own hands, of course in
friendship with the United States, in friendship with Great Britain,
with other neighbors wherever possible, also with Russia. But we must know that we need to fight for our future ourselves, as Europeans, for our destiny." Per the New York Times. And Reuters: "BERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday it was right
not to gloss over differences with the United States on climate issues
and added that a G7 debate at the weekend had shown it would be tough to
make the Paris climate agreement successful."
But what Does She Mean?
She is right, "Europeans must really take our destiny into our own hands." But,
"of course in friendship," etc. This was a campaign speech. She duly addressed German angst about Trump. She told Trump to shove it--of course, in a nice way. She proposed that her fellow European leaders stay calm and recognize that they are responsible for their future and that they also have leverage with the U.S., the U.K., and even Russia.
"of course in friendship," etc. This was a campaign speech. She duly addressed German angst about Trump. She told Trump to shove it--of course, in a nice way. She proposed that her fellow European leaders stay calm and recognize that they are responsible for their future and that they also have leverage with the U.S., the U.K., and even Russia.
And while Trump brays as if he's in charge, his Secretary of State and his Generals use their back channels to reassure Europeans that NATO will help defend them and that trade will hold up.
This may be the end of the American Century, but it will be a long time fading away, especially if Merkel is reelected.
Yea? Nay? More nuance?
UPDATE: NYTimes headline (5/30): "With Italy No Longer in U.S. Focus, Russia Swoops to Fill the Void" !!! Remember when Italy had the largest Communist Party in Europe (after WW2). One of the reasons for the Marshall Plan, the European Coal, Iron, and Espresso Union, Etc. The story points out that the U.S. currently has no ambassador to Italy (though we have one named to the Vatican--I can't bear to say her name). This is getting to sound like a Peter Seller's "Being There." Of course, the Italians will outwit the Russians as they have outwitted everyone else, including themselves.
UPDATE: NYTimes headline (5/30): "With Italy No Longer in U.S. Focus, Russia Swoops to Fill the Void" !!! Remember when Italy had the largest Communist Party in Europe (after WW2). One of the reasons for the Marshall Plan, the European Coal, Iron, and Espresso Union, Etc. The story points out that the U.S. currently has no ambassador to Italy (though we have one named to the Vatican--I can't bear to say her name). This is getting to sound like a Peter Seller's "Being There." Of course, the Italians will outwit the Russians as they have outwitted everyone else, including themselves.
Of course it will take a long time to fade away; the British Empire is still fading away. But 2016 will mark the beginning of the end for the American whatever.
ReplyDeleteWe have a great advantage in the coming decades besides our economy. Most other economies, the EU, Russia, China, Japan are stuck with the aging population problem far more than we are, e.g. the Chinese one child policy.
We have two advantages in our age profile: our birth rate is closer to replacement level than most other countries, and we have made up for it by IMMIGRATION. We have the potential for not only an expanding economy but an expanding population, where it will be easier for the younger people to support the older people.
So we as a country could stay on top after all.
But then countries may not matter, just as corporations may not matter, since all the money is going to the billionaires who may not care what happens to them, just as they don't care for what happens to us people.
Sounded pretty unexceptionable to me. That the rest of the world is going to go on with life and not wait to see what the Trump Reality Show twitters next shouldn't surprise anyone. It would be nice if we could do it, too. Unfortunately we are stuck with the hand we dealt ourselves.
ReplyDeleteAnd get this Trump found the 3 leakers about the conversation with the Russian ambassador, and heads are gonna roll! Or something. He noted that they are holdovers from the Obama administration who were out to get him. So it's now Obama's fault.
ReplyDeleteKatherine, it's always Obama's fault. It was Obama's fault for giving Mike Flynn security clearance.
ReplyDeleteI think Merkel is trying not to burn bridges, but to signal Germans (and other Europeans) that they will hold firm to their own interests where they do not mesh with those of the current U.S. administration. She clearly wants to distance herself from Trump. Probably a smart move.
Merkel is symbolic of a unified Europe with Germany as its chief influence. Not sure whether that's good or bad.
I consistently heard Brits refer to those on the continent as "Europeans," so there has always been some disconnect between G.B. and others.
Jimmy Mac posted this over on a different thread. Interesting take in Merkel's comments from Der Spiegel. Chancellor Merkel is tired of playing nice with the school yard bully is my takeaway.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-and-trump-a-trans-atlantic-turning-point-a-1149757.html
And that is one big beer stein!
I think too it's Trump and his unwillingness to stand with Europe plus the UK Brexit too, and if Le Pen had won in France, they might also have left the European Union. So maybe she feels it's every country for themselves.
ReplyDeleteWill the U.S. foreign policy establishment, left, right, and center, Democrat and Republican, now step up to the plate and confront the idiotic Trump. Will they say that Merkel is right? Don't hold your breathe!
ReplyDeleteHumpty dumpty had a great all and all the kings horses and all the kings men could not put humpty dumpty back together again.
ReplyDeleteAll the US foreign policy establishment could never put Trump together. I doubt that with Pence they could do anything to put the US position back together again.
Only a very different president in 2020 elected by a very different America has any chance of inspiring the rest of the world. Obama even had a very difficult time doing that, and he was perceived as a different president elected by a different America.
The rest of the world is going to begin to go their own ways especially since they are not going to see any hope in the USA for another four years.
Jack, such an important point! It's not just Trump but the system and the electorate that has sullied our reputation around the world.
DeleteIn last month's Atlantic, an article by David Frum "Trump's Plan to End Europe" talked about the (historical) problem of a too strong Germany as a threat to peace there. A Germany NOT going it alone, but sharing decisionmaking with the rest of Europe and relying for it's self defense from others (notably the US) was the preferred option.
ReplyDeleteTrump's irrational attack on Europe seems very shortsighted, but one would hope a critical, longstanding alliance can survive an inept administration. Does Congress have anything at all to say about this? The Senate Foreign Relations Committee? One would hope at least a few knowledgeable people would speak up.
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DeleteThe Senate is making noises about holding hearings on the Saudi arms deal. That is going to be a problem either way: Congress forces the prez to reneg on a promise, and his position dealing with world leaders falters. Congress allows the deal to go through, and our ability to curb an unfit president puts us in danger.
DeleteHere's the link to the David Frum article cited by Irene Baldwin: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/05/the-plan-to-end-europe/521445/
DeleteThe French weight in starts alarmist, settles down by the end (in English): http://www.france24.com/en/20170529-merkel-comments-fears-fracturing-transatlantic-usa-alliance-trump-eu-brexit/?ns_mchannel=fidelisation&ns_source=newsletter_aef_france24_info_du_jour_en&ns_campaign=email&ns_linkname=article_newsletter&france24_member_id=1097513295807&aef_campaign_ref=article_newsletter&aef_campaign_date=2017-05-30
DeleteOh, you people! Trump hit a home run in Brussels and another one in Taormina. He said so. Just like you liberals to ignore his truth. Merkel is just mad because he called her out for exporting German cars to the United States from Tennessee and Alabama and for not doing for the past 20 years what Germany is supposed to do in 2024. She is just unreasonable, probably because she is a woman -- and not as svelte as Trump's trophy wife.
ReplyDeleteMerkel doesn't like Mays much either. Mays is mad at Trump. Putin is very, very happy. Trump did in five months what Russia has been trying to do since 1946.
The deep state, for better or worse, will be the only thing that maintains continuity or stability with an idiot as president. The backchannel assurances from Tillerson et al. might be that system at work. But any ambiguity from the US government on statecraft has to take a toll and shake up our allies. Germans know all about collective insanity and the US is having a bout of it (plus collective stupidity) right now.
ReplyDeleteWell, Russia isn't communist. It's an oligarchy with a democratic facade like the US. Why shouldn't the Italians warm up to it? I'm sure they have enough Russian tourists already and can use more.
ReplyDeleteGranted, we're not a pure democracy, and our present fearless leader certainly has oligarchic tendencies. But I'm hoping he is an aberration, and we do better next time. Still would much rather be here than in Russia.
DeleteSK: False equivalency! Russia's democratic facade is a Potemkin Village. Our is still functioning unless we let many more of those Russian oligarchs move in by buying $5 million apartments and HB1 visas.
DeleteI hope you're right. But with Citizens United firmly in place and corporatist Gorsuch in the Supreme Court, and the Democratic Party disconnected from the poor and working class, I feel as if the billionaires are large and in charge.
DeleteWell! I hope I am right, but may be I'm not.
DeleteThat's why we should all read "On Tyranny" by Timothy Snyder. We, who have read it, hope that this is not Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Russia late 20s, early thirties, and thereafter. Sobering.
It reminds us that Trumpdidumpty didn't get there by his vote alone!!!