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Geissler himself denies any move in his position - pretty credible.

Well, yes, on the issues, it's more that his party moved right on the economy (starting already under Kohl). However, in his Cold Warrior years, he did include leftist intellectuals and even SPD figures in his attacks (presaging the Red Socks campaign) -- while presently, he not only dared to be on the same platform with them, but AFAIK he is an advocate of a pragmatic approach to the Left Party.

RAF (I think it is Bader-Meinhof gang in English

Yes, but I often emphasize that that's a misnomer. The phrase was coined by the Bild tabloid (the German equivalent of the Sun), but Meinhof was only the speaker for the first generation (Baader's girlfriend Ensslin was the real co-leader), and the activity of the Second and Third Generations was much more serious and bloody. However, it was pointed out to me that the real name RAF was probably not used because that acronym is already in use: for the Royal Air Force of the UK.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Tue Oct 14th, 2008 at 05:35:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]
the activity of the Second and Third Generations was much more serious and bloody.

Also: by calling Baader & co a gang, Bild also tried to underplay their importance -- but RAF became a 'professional' terrorist organisation with international contacts and a bloody trail, and with this term, English-speakers may not fully contemplate how serious Germany's experience of terrorism was. (At least, the warmongers accusing Europe of cluelessness and cowardice over terrorism displayed such ignorance.)

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Tue Oct 14th, 2008 at 05:43:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]
No, a group, that one can successfully fight more or less within the law, can't be real terrorists. Real terrorists you can only be fought with wars, torture camps, and indefinit detention on the word of the commander in chief. IRA and ETA do not count as well. These organisations have goals. Real terrorists hate us for our freedom.

Der Amerikaner ist die Orchidee unter den Menschen
Volker Pispers
by Martin (weiser.mensch(at)googlemail.com) on Tue Oct 14th, 2008 at 06:13:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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