Iraq today is a problem of extraordinary complexity / Irak ist heute ein Problem von enormem Ausmaß

English translation at end of post

Entschuldigung - ein Fehler. Sollte "Deutschland" heißen.

Hier findet sich ein Artikel von Allen W. Dulles, der später US-Außenminister wurde, über die Schwierigkeiten Deutschlands im Dezember 1945. Klingt nicht sehr optimistisch. Er verwendete zwar nicht das Wort "Schlamassel" - aber das ist, was er ausdrücken wollte.

Update: Thomas (vgl. Comments) hat recht: Allen W. Dulles wurde später CIA-Chef, aber nicht US-Außenminister. Dies war dann sein Bruder John Foster Dulles. Mein Fehler.

English translation

Sorry - make that: Germany.

Here's what Allen W. Dulles, who later become US Secretary of State, had to say about Germany's hardship in December 1945. Does not sound very optimistic. He didn't use the word "quagmire", but that's what he meant.

Update: Thomas (vgl. Comments) is right: Allen W. Dulles become head of the CIA, not US secretary of state. His brother John Foster Dulles was US secretary of state. My fault.

Comments

[Interesting]

"most German women did not know about Eva Braun."

I wonder how many know Nicola Leske.

[Barbara Wissinger]

This is a bit OT, but I saw a report on Fox yesterday (and it's linked at LGF) about Operation Heromiles, which asks for unused airline miles to allow soldiers on leave from Iraq to fly from the military's hub airports to their hometowns. It is a wonderful idea, and I ask anyone with such miles to donate them. United is one of the participating airlines, so it might be possible to donate Lufthansa miles.

The website is at www.heromiles.org.

[Werner]

Interesting! Two of Joschka Fischers four wives were journalists. Talk about the press being in bed with the left.

(see comment above)

[Thomas]

Very good article, just a quick point (maybe nit-picking): wasn't it John Foster Dulles who later became Secretary of State, as opposed to his brother who built the CIA?

[James Versluys]

To be fair, Iraq is not Germany. Germany is one of the lands with the greatest thinkers of all time through their history- truly a talented and well organized and efficient people. I don't want to sound racist, but...I don't know how to finish that statement.

[Jokes]

The CIA had an opening for an assassin. After all of the background checks, interviews, and testing were done there were three finalists - two men and one woman. For the final test, the CIA agents took one of the men to a large metal door and handed him a gun.

"We must know that you will follow your instructions, no matter what the circumstances. Inside this room you will find your wife sitting in a chair. You have to kill her." The first man said. "You cant be serious. I could never shoot my wife!"The agent replies, "Then you?re not the right man for this job."

The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet for about five minutes. Then the agent came out with tears in his eyes. "I tried, but I cant kill my wife." The agent replies, "You dont have what it takes. Take your wife and go home."

Finally, it was the womans turn. Only she was told to kill her husband. She took the gun and went into the room. Shots were heard, one shot after another. They heard screaming, crashing, banging on the walls. After a few minutes, all was quiet. The door opened slowly and there stood the woman. She wiped the sweat from her brow and said, "You guys didnt tell me the gun was loaded with blanks. So I had to beat him to death with the chair."