Germany's Social Democrats are feting Barack Obama's visit to Berlin this week, but behind the scenes they are distancing themselves from the Democratic Party's candidate. Leading SPD members are warning Obama against demanding more German troops for Afghanistan. Barack Obama (right) meets with Afghan President Hamid Karzai: Will the Democratic presidential candidate ask Germany to send more troops to Afghanistan this week? In the run-up to Barack Obama's visit to Berlin, leading foreign and security policy experts for Germany's center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) are warning the United States presidential candidate against making any far-reaching demands on the Germans. "Obama should only ask of us what we are able to deliver," Niels Annen -- a member of Germany's federal parliament, with the left wing of the SPD -- told SPIEGEL ONLINE Monday. "We won't increase our number of troops." Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet, however, has approved a plan to increase the number of troops from Germany's armed forces in Afghanistan by 1,000 to 4,500 soldiers. All troop deployments of the Bundeswehr require a mandate from the German parliament, which is expected to consider the issue in the autumn. And SPD party chief Kurt Beck made clear over the weekend that 4,500 was the ceiling of what could be expected from Germany. The Social Democrats -- who are the junior partner in the grand coalition government with Merkel and her conservative Christian Democrats -- are hoping Obama will take heed of German sensitivities when he visits Thursday.
Germany's Social Democrats are feting Barack Obama's visit to Berlin this week, but behind the scenes they are distancing themselves from the Democratic Party's candidate. Leading SPD members are warning Obama against demanding more German troops for Afghanistan.
Barack Obama (right) meets with Afghan President Hamid Karzai: Will the Democratic presidential candidate ask Germany to send more troops to Afghanistan this week? In the run-up to Barack Obama's visit to Berlin, leading foreign and security policy experts for Germany's center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) are warning the United States presidential candidate against making any far-reaching demands on the Germans.
"Obama should only ask of us what we are able to deliver," Niels Annen -- a member of Germany's federal parliament, with the left wing of the SPD -- told SPIEGEL ONLINE Monday. "We won't increase our number of troops."
Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet, however, has approved a plan to increase the number of troops from Germany's armed forces in Afghanistan by 1,000 to 4,500 soldiers. All troop deployments of the Bundeswehr require a mandate from the German parliament, which is expected to consider the issue in the autumn. And SPD party chief Kurt Beck made clear over the weekend that 4,500 was the ceiling of what could be expected from Germany. The Social Democrats -- who are the junior partner in the grand coalition government with Merkel and her conservative Christian Democrats -- are hoping Obama will take heed of German sensitivities when he visits Thursday.
</snark> "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
Also, the American public is no longer looking for a scapegoat in Europe. We know we've completely botched our foreign policy and we're probably going to have to do some serious fence mending in your part of the world. While you might perceive some Europe-bashing from Obama, I think you'll also perceive some flattery as well. "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
That's not bashing to you and me, but "bashing" is a moronic and subjective term (that is, like "propaganda," it's only "bashing" when those who oppose you do it...) and a lot of Americans would consider it to be so.
But, yeah, this is presented as "america-bashing" in the US press because no reasonable person could possibly oppose US policy.
It's the nature of national identity to define yourself against another - and even Europeans do it.
However, Spain managed to win the Euro2008 without being able to agree to a lyrics for its anthem. Now that's a feat of 'soft' national identity.
While you might perceive some Europe-bashing from Obama, I think you'll also perceive some flattery as well.
I don't even think he knows the answer to that... "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
