Deutsch-amerikanische Kooperation trotz Anti-Amerikanismus der deutschen Medien / German-American Cooperation Despite the German Media's Anti-Americanism

(English translation at end of post)

Die deutschen Medien - und auch die deutsche Politik - zeichnen ein verzerrtes Bild des amerikanischen Einsatzes im Irak. Aber auf der Ebene der Menschlichkeit gibt es positive Beispiele der Solidarität zwischen Amerikanern und Deutschen.

Michael Fumento vom Hudson Institute berichtet in National Review Online empört - aber auch amüsiert - über einen anti-amerikanischen Artikel in der Financial Times Deutschland. Der Artikel in der FTD (kostenpflichtiger Aufruf) weiß aus dem Irak unter dem Titel "Saddam, wir lieben dich" nur von Haß auf die Amerikaner und Zuneigung zu Saddam zu berichten.

Fumento:

"In the city of Fallujah from which the story was reported, among 200,000 residents not one could be found who did not have utter contempt for Americans or didn't think of Saddam as a reincarnation of the prophet Mohammed with a bit of Santa Claus tossed in for good measure.

Given the chance, "I'd have killed every American who passes my way," says one Iraqi in pull-quote. Compared to the British, "The Americans are completely uncivilized," read the other pull quote. ...

Blame on the Americans even extends to winning the war. There's no mention of polls showing the great majority of Iraqis are glad Saddam has fled or hidden. The reporter picked Fallujah precisely because it was a Saddam power base, one of the few cities where he spent the money he stole from the rest of the nation. "Here," we're told, "almost everyone awaits Saddam's return." ...

Nobody needs three guesses as to why the French want to see our butts kicked. Germans, however, like us. But faced with Goebbels-like propaganda such as this, it's easy to see why they — and other Europeans similarly brainwashed — want nothing to do with our efforts to keep the Iraqi people free. Nor do they seem to realize that using Iraq as a terrorist magnet and killing ground makes it that much less likely they will attack targets in America, or more likely in Europe itself."

Nun, es gibt den Beweis, daß die Deutschen die Amerikaner mögen. Von der Web Site von USAFE (US Air Force Europe):

U.S. Air Force, Germany work together to ensure Iraqi children receive healthcare

Eighteen Iraqi children are now receiving long-awaited medical care from the state of Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, thanks to the help of the U. S. Air Force.

The children, ages 6 months to 16 years old, arrived here Oct. 6 on a McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., C-141 Starlifter out of Baghdad International Airport.

Most of the children suffer from congenital, acquired or traumatic conditions; two of them have injuries resulting from the armed conflict. The Air Force provided transportation to the children and their attendants free of charge. ...

Brig. Gen. Erwin F. Lessel III, 86th Airlift Wing commander, greeted the Iraqi families.

“We know you’ll receive excellent medical care here in Germany, and once your treatment is complete, we can provide assistance with getting you back home to your families in Iraq,” said Lessel.

For many years now, the United States has been highly committed to humanitarian assistance throughout the world, said Lessel.

“We are grateful that we have the opportunity to work closely with the Germans to provide assistance … to the children of Iraq,” he said."

Hat jemand einen Hinweis auf diese deutsch-amerikanische Kooperation in deutschen Medien gefunden?

English translation

German-American Cooperation Despite the German Media's Anti-Americanism

The German media - and also German politics - paint a distorted picture of the American mission in Iraq. But on the human level there are positive examples of solidarity between Americans and Germans.

Michael Fumento from Hudson Institute is indignant - yet amused - in reporting in National Review Online on an anti-American article in the Financial Times Germany. The article in the FTD (online viewer fee) on Iraq under the title "Saddam, We Love You" reports only of hate against the Americans and affection for Saddam Hussein.

Fumento:

"In the city of Fallujah from which the story was reported, among 200,000 residents not one could be found who did not have utter contempt for Americans or didn't think of Saddam as a reincarnation of the prophet Mohammed with a bit of Santa Claus tossed in for good measure.

Given the chance, "I'd have killed every American who passes my way," says one Iraqi in pull-quote. Compared to the British, "The Americans are completely uncivilized," read the other pull quote. ...

Blame on the Americans even extends to winning the war. There's no mention of polls showing the great majority of Iraqis are glad Saddam has fled or hidden. The reporter picked Fallujah precisely because it was a Saddam power base, one of the few cities where he spent the money he stole from the rest of the nation. "Here," we're told, "almost everyone awaits Saddam's return." ...

Nobody needs three guesses as to why the French want to see our butts kicked. Germans, however, like us. But faced with Goebbels-like propaganda such as this, it's easy to see why they — and other Europeans similarly brainwashed — want nothing to do with our efforts to keep the Iraqi people free. Nor do they seem to realize that using Iraq as a terrorist magnet and killing ground makes it that much less likely they will attack targets in America, or more likely in Europe itself."

There's proof, that Germans "like us". From USAFE's (US Air Force Europe) site:

U.S. Air Force, Germany work together to ensure Iraqi children receive healthcare

Eighteen Iraqi children are now receiving long-awaited medical care from the state of Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, thanks to the help of the U. S. Air Force.

The children, ages 6 months to 16 years old, arrived here Oct. 6 on a McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., C-141 Starlifter out of Baghdad International Airport.

Most of the children suffer from congenital, acquired or traumatic conditions; two of them have injuries resulting from the armed conflict. The Air Force provided transportation to the children and their attendants free of charge. ...

Brig. Gen. Erwin F. Lessel III, 86th Airlift Wing commander, greeted the Iraqi families.

“We know you’ll receive excellent medical care here in Germany, and once your treatment is complete, we can provide assistance with getting you back home to your families in Iraq,” said Lessel.

For many years now, the United States has been highly committed to humanitarian assistance throughout the world, said Lessel.

“We are grateful that we have the opportunity to work closely with the Germans to provide assistance … to the children of Iraq,” he said."

Anyone who found an article on this German-American cooperation in the German media?

Translation by Ray Drake

Comments

[Seb]

Though I think that Fumento's critic is rather selective and misleading.

[N. Hale 2003]

For the writer of the above message regarding the "average German" and "open-mindedness". I work with students in Düsseldorf who I consider to represent the "average German". They have absolutely no open-mindedness among the lot of them. I am constantly reminded that the Americans have absolutely no culture, no awareness of world politics, and have no geographic awareness of anywhere but the United States. Where have they learned to have such a superior attitude regarding "culture"? Who died and made the "average German" an all knowing, all seeing, supreme being? I hear day after day after day, the same rantings and ravings that are on the television in their biased newscasts, the same biased stories in the magazines, the same biased stories in the newspapers. I must say, that I don't share your opinion that the "average German" looks upon the mass media in Germany with an "open mind". The only slant in the mass media of Germany, that the "average German" is aware of, is the slimy, slippery, slope of misinformation. This misinformation will lead Germany away from what is needed most in the world. What is needed most in the world is factually based and non-biased reporting of world events.

N. Hale 2003