German Media Reactions to Bush Victory: "Bush Derangement Syndrome" Alive and Well / Reaktionen der deutschen Medien zum Wahlsieg Bushs: das "Bush Derangement Syndrome" in voller Blüte

(Deutsche Version am Ende des Beitrags)

(Translation by Jim Cohen)

The election success of President Bush is causing a renewed outbreak of the “Bush Derangement Syndrome” in the German media. Anti-Bush tirades and anti-Americanism go hand in hand.

AP Germany:

John Kerry is for many the exact opposite of George W. Bush. The defeated presidential candidate is seen as both cosmopolitan and literate.

Carsten Schmiester, Washington correspondent NDR:

Let the man (Bush) cope with the consequences of his mistakes himself – or not. Then at the next election people will probably look back with horror at eight years of Bush, remember that fair loser Kerry and his rather reasonable proposals and hopefully at last give the Democrats their long overdue chance. A nice dream, granted, and a European one, too, but the current electoral reality can’t be tolerated otherwise.

Stern:

The world looks with bewilderment at the US.... The current economic upswing belies huge problems.... The consequences of these policies are dramatic: the state is going broke.... Since November 3, 2004, George W. Bush can consider himself to be truly elected. However it might be a rude awakening for his country.

SPIEGEL ONLINE:

He forced a war on this world with threadbare arguments, which the people didn’t want. He split the Western world, although the war against terrorism can only be won together. He overrode rights whenever it suited him. With his false rationale for war he deceived millions.

ZDF Editor-in-Chief Brender (ZDF is one of the two German public tv channels):

The groaning about the outcome of the US election is deafening. Had George W. Bush stood for election in Europe, he would have been blown out of office with drums and trumpets.... Four more years with this man! You Americans, what have you done to us? More brusqueness, more going it alone, more wars? The groaning is deafening.

Until now my impression had been that the groaning was for Chancellor Schroeder – and the massive unemployment, for which he is responsible, the ever increasing national debt (although Germany doesn’t have to pay for a war in Iraq!), as well as the zero growth of the economy.

How wrong can you be...

BTW: Here are other examples in our blog for the German media's post-election "Bush Derangement Syndrome":

• SPIEGEL's Anti-American Crusade
• SPIEGEL ONLINE's post-election blues
• German TV Media and the General Public Will Remain Staunchly Anti-American
• "Bush Derangement Syndrome" at Full Display Among Left-Wing German Media

Update 1: And here's the hysterical reaction of the Austrian media...
Update 2: I love this comment to the Brender quote (see above) : "Us Americans, what have we done to you? Uh... for one thing, you're not Nazis anymore. Sorry about the brusqueness..."
Update 3: Check our posting "Thank you, USA".

We Need Your Vote! Medienkritik Nominated in 'Best Topic' Category of "Best of the Blogs" Award.

Deutsche Version

Reaktionen der deutschen Medien zum Wahlsieg Bushs: das "Bush Derangement Syndrome" in voller Blüte

Der Wahlerfolg von Präsident Bush bringt das "Bush Derangement Syndrome" der deutschen Medien erneut zum Ausbruch. Anti-Bush-Tiraden und Anti-Amerikanismus gehen Hand in Hand.

AP Germany:

John Kerry ist für viele das genaue Gegenteil von George W. Bush. Der unterlegene Präsidentschaftskandidat gilt als weltoffen und belesen.

Carsten Schmiester, Washington correspondent NDR:

Lasst den Mann (Bush) doch mit den Folgen seiner Fehler nun selbst fertig werden – oder eben auch nicht. Dann wird man sehr wahrscheinlich bei den nächsten Wahlen mit Grausen auf acht bittere Bushjahre zurückschauen, sich an den fairen Verlierer Kerry und seine eigentlich ja doch ganz vernünftigen Vorschläge erinnern und hoffentlich den Demokraten endlich ihre überfällige Chance geben. Ein schöner Traum, zugegeben, und ein europäischer dazu, aber anders ist die bedrückende Wahlwirklichkeit von heute nun einmal nicht zu ertragen...

Stern:

Fassungslos blickt die Welt auf die USA. ... Der momentane Wirtschaftsaufschwung täuscht über gigantische Probleme hinweg. ... Die Folgen dieser Politik sind schon jetzt dramatisch: der Staat geht pleite. ... Seit dem 3. November 2004 darf sich George W. Bush wirklich auserwählt fühlen. Doch für sein Land kann es ein böses Erwachen werden.

SPIEGEL ONLINE:

Er hat dieser Welt mit fadenscheinigen Argumenten einen Krieg aufgezwungen, den die Menschen nicht gewollt hatten. Er hat den Westen gespalten, obwohl der Kampf gegen die islamistischen Terroristen nur gemeinsam zu gewinnen ist. Er hat das Recht außer Kraft gesetzt, da wo es ihm gerade passte. Mit der falschen Begründung des Krieges hat er Millionen betrogen...

ZDF-Chefredakteur Brender:

Das Stöhnen über den Ausgang der US-Wahl ist unüberhörbar

Hätte George W. Bush in Europa zur Wahl gestanden, er wäre mit Pauken und Trompeten aus seinem Amt geblasen worden. ... Vier Jahre mehr mit diesem Mann! Ihr Amerikaner, was habt Ihr uns da angetan? Neue Schroffheiten, neue Alleingänge, neue Kriege? Das Stöhnen ist unüberhörbar."

Bisher war mein Eindruck, das Stöhnen gelte Kanzler Schröder - und der von ihm zu verantwortenden Massenarbeitslosigkeit, den immer weiter steigenden Staatsschulden (obwohl Deutschland keinen Irak-Krieg finanzieren muß!) sowie dem Null-Wachstum der Wirtschaft.

Wie man sich täuschen kann...

Comments

[bill dawson]

Egads! I have Austrian magazine profil's reaction too. More of the same.

[Sandy P]

Via The Blogfather:

I have been reading a little book I picked up while in Gettysburg recently, entitled, "Memoranda During The War" by Walt Whitman. It is a compilation of his notes from about 3 years worth of visits to War hospitals in and around Washington D.C. from 1862 - 1865. Toward the end he inserts some interesting political commentary (mixed in with a variety of topics) that sounds as if it could have been written today. Here's the piece:
1. Attitude of Foreign Governments toward the U.S. during the War of 1861-'65 -
Looking over my scraps, I find I wrote the following during 1864, or the latter part of '63: The happening to our America, abroad as well as at home, these years, is indeed most strange. The Democratic Republic has paid her to-day the terrible and resplendent compliment of the united wish of all the nations of the world that her Union should be broken, her future cut off, and that she should be compell'd to descend to the level of kingdoms and empires ordinarily great!There is certainly not one government in Europe but is now watching the war in this country, with the ardent prayer that the united States may be effectually split, crippled, and dismember'd by it. There is not one but would help toward that dismemberment, if it dared. I say such is the ardent wish to-day of England and of France, as governments, and of all the nations of Europe, as governments. I think indeed it is to-day the real, heart-felt wish of all the nations of the world, with the single exception of Mexico--Mexico, the only one to whom we have ever really done wrong, and now the only one who prays for us and for our triumph, with genuine prayer.
Is it not indeed strange? America, made up of all, cheerfully from the beginning opening her arms to all, the result and justifier of all, of Britain, Germany, France, and Spain - all here - the accepter, the friend, hope, last resource and general house of all - she who has harm'd none, but been bounteous to so many, to millions, the mother of strangers and exiles, all nations - should now I say be paid this dread compliment of general governmental fear and hatred?.......Are weindignant? alarm'd? Do we feel wrong'd? jeopardized? No; help'd, braced, concentrated, rather.
We are all too prone to wander from ourselves, to affect Europe, and watch her frowns and smiles. We need this hot lesson of general hatred, and henceforth must never forget it. Never again will we trust the moral sense nor abstract friendliness of a single government of the world.
-----

SOSO -- same old, same old.

[Gabi]

Winning the "I Don't Know" Crowd
The problem with Democrats is that they've become the party of moral absolutism.
by Libby Sternberg
11/09/2004 12:00:00 AM

"The left is made up of scores of people ready to paint Bush and Republicans with the "moral extremist" label. "Bush's victory signals the triumph of belief over fact," Garry Wills moaned in the New York Times two days after the election. He sees the election in stark terms--the victory of fundamentalism over reason. In other words, if you don't share Wills's values and voted for Bush, you're stupid.

Maureen Dowd claimed the president "ran a jihad" in America--"jihad" is a word Wills used as well. And columnist Thomas Friedman wondered if he lives in a country where religion trumps science, lamenting that the Americans who voted for Bush have a different vision of what America is.

AND PERHAPS there's some truth in that claim. Maybe the Americans who voted for Bush have doubts about whether homosexuality is a choice and don't want to rush to change sexual-bond institutions that have benefited society for centuries because of an extremist agenda that implies either you're for gay marriage or you're a bigot."

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/893lqxrd.asp

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I believe the liberal media in the US started a war against Bush and the Rupblicans. They work together with the European media. Spiegel with NYT and Washington Post. And so on. Often there are similar articles.

But we don't have another choice. This position is the only one we can read in the media. Conservatism has no voice in Germany. So our media are the parrots of the liberal US media.

It is not a fight Germans against Bush' America, it is a fight of "liberal" minds (whatever it is) against such, who have different opinions."Liberals" don't accept different opinions. They label themselves with a positive word to hide their psychological terrorism.

Think of the "peace" demonstrations in february 2003: They worked together worldwide. For them it is that simple: You are good when you are against war. Ignore terror. Basta.

[Bruce]

Oh, no! Not 'brusque'! How shall we live it down?

[VIK]

Bestseller in Paris

Since this morning the Paris newspaper stands are stocked full of the book

'50 Good Reasons to Hate Americans'

which is selling like hotcakes (sometimes you have to repeat things for the clown faced shitheads among us: no mention of Bush here, simply all Americans). The book summarizes French across-the-board hatred of Americans. Straightforward raw anti-Americanism.

http://no-pasaran.blogspot.com/

no comment !!!!

[Gabi]

"Der 9. November steht für Zerrissenheit - für das Böse und Menschenverachtende wie für das Gute, das ein besseres Leben in Freiheit verspricht."

So steht's heute in der FR. Ich dachte, es gäbe das Böse und das Gute nicht. Das gilt offenbar nur, wenn Bush diese Vokabeln benutzt.

Ich kann es oft nicht fassen, wie man immer wieder auf diesen simplen Satz herumreitet, der eigentlich Allgemeingut ist. Aber Terroristen und deren Unterstützer böse zu nennen, das geht den meisten dann doch zu weit.

[Gabi]

Thema des Tages in der FR ist Falludscha (nicht die wilden Proteste gegen die französische Besatzung an der Elfenbeinküste):

"Die Bilder getöteter Zivilisten brachten während der damaligen Offensive im Irak und in der gesamten arabischen Welt die Volksseele zum kochen. Seither sind die Falludschianer in den Augen vieler Araber "Märtyrer", die sie mit den gegen israelische Besatzung kämpfenden Palästinensern vergleichen."

http://www.frankfurterrundschau.de/ressorts/nachrichten_und_politik/dpa_thema_des_tages/dpa_thema_des_tages/?cnt=583177

Im Tagesspiegel gleicher Satz ohne Hinweis auf die Palästinenser:

"Die Bilder getöteter Zivilisten brachten während der damaligen Offensive im Irak und in der gesamten arabischen Welt die Volksseele zum Kochen. Zwar haben die brutalen Geiselmorde der Terrorgruppe um den Jordanier Abu Mussab al Sarkawi, der von den Amerikanern in Falludscha vermutet wird, auch in der arabischen Welt Entsetzen hervorgerufen. Doch gelten die arabischen Sympathien auch bei dieser neuen Offensive nicht den Amerikanern, denen man eigennützige Motive unterstellt.

Anne-Beatrice Clasmann (dpa)

----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------

Daß gerade deutsche Medien diese Propaganda-Lüge der terroristischen Palästinenser immer wieder wiederholen, macht sie nicht richtiger.

Ist es zuviel verlangt, von einer deutschen Zeitung die Wahrheit über Israel zu schreiben? Die Besatzung kann man auch mit Friedensverhandlungen beenden. Die letzten hat Arafat abgebrochen, und die Palästinenser begannen ihren Terror, den sie Intifada nennen.

Welchen Grund hatten sie im September 2000, die Terrorakte zu beginnen? Ach ja, Scharon betrat den Tempelberg.

Gerade am 09.11. macht mich diese kritiklose Übernahme von Lügen traurig.

Die Araber lehnen also mehr die Amerikaner ab als das Abschlachter der Iraker, der Polizisten und anderen Helfer? Wer will diesen Unsinn wirklich glauben? Frau Clasmann ist es, die so empfindet und hetzt deutsche Leser auf.

Was wären das für Monster, die das Kidnappen und Köpfen anderer Menschen, das Töten durch Selbstmordattenate weniger schlimm fänden, als daß Amerikaner aus - angeblich - eigenen Interessen einen mörderischen Diktatur und seine Bande aus der Regierung entfernt. Ich glaube diese Lüge nicht mehr, wenn ich die irakischen weblogs lese.

Ich glaube, daß dies durch Journalisten so aufgebaut wird. Ist es nicht verrückt, Bush mehr zu hassen als Bin Laden?

80 % der Deutschen und 49 % der Amerikaner sind wohl bekloppt! Ein stärkeres Wort kenne ich nicht.

hat nicht auch Saddam Hussein den Amerikahaß benutzt, um sein Volk um sich zu scharen?

Wer auch nur ansatzweise versteht, daß Terror die Fortsetzung von Politik ist, um eine politische Lösung zu erhalten, muß geisteskrank sein, zumindest ist er von allen guten Geistern verlassen.

Wer völlig kalt berichtet, daß Araber lieber Terroristen mögen als egoistische Amerikaner, hat den Bezug zur normalen Welt verloren, in der es sehr wohl Begriffe wie gut und böse gibt.

Frau Clasmann kann ich nur als verwirrt bezeichnen.

[Einladung Frankfurt]

Nicht nur in Deutschland, im gesamten alten Europa ist der Blick auf die palästinensische Gesellschaft geprägt von Verzerrungen. Vor dem Hintergrund der Sympathie für ein durch den Staat Israel "gedemütigtes Volk", dessen Ziele man als die eigenen erkennt, hat sich eine flächendeckende Legendenbildung durchgesetzt. Üblich ist es, noch die Massenmorde der Selbstmordbomber als pure Verzweiflungstaten zu rechtfertigen, die Israel selbst zu verantworten habe.

Zu diesen Legenden gehört auch die Behauptung von einer klaren Trennung zwischen der palästinensischen Gesellschaft und den terroristischen Aktivisten:

Jenseits des Terrors soll der Ort einer Kultur sein, die nur das Leid von Besatzung und Krieg zu verarbeiten sucht; da sei das palästinensische Bildungswesen ein Hort aufgeklärt-kritischen Denkens und geradezu ein Paradebeispiel für einen "islamischen Weg in die Moderne"; da sei der "zivile" Flügel der Hamas mit seinem sozialen Engagement; da sei der Friedensnobelpreisträger Arafat, der nichts vom Terror weiß, oder alternativ: eine gegen Korruption und Misswirtschaft protestierende "Opposition".

Ausgeblendet oder geleugnet wird jegliche Realität, die diese Annahmen und die ihnen zugrunde liegende Behauptung eines fundamentalen Unterschiedes zwischen Antisemitismus und Antizionismus in Zweifel ziehen könnte.

Um diese Realität soll es auf der Veranstaltung gehen:

Wie steht es wirklich um die palästinensische Gesellschaft und insbesonderen der Erziehung ihrer Kinder und Jugendlichen? Was liest, sieht, hört und denkt sie?

Wie ist es bestellt um die "kritischen Intellektuellen", die hierzulande gerne als Beweis für die Existenz eines anderen Palästinas angeführt werden? Wie stehen die Kritiker Arafats zu Antisemitismus und Terror und wie verhalten sie sich zu Hinrichtungen von sogenannten Kollaborateuren, also der Ermordung von Schwulen, Prostituierten und Menschen, die ihre privates Interesse über das des Kollektivs stellen?

In welchem Verhältnis stehen Wohlfahrt und "soziales Engagement" zur antisemitischen Ideologie und zur Terror-Intifada, die jede ökonomische Perspektive zerstört?

Wie wird der Terror gegen Israel in offiziellen palästinensischen Medien dargestellt, und welches Verhältnis von "ziviler" PA-Politik und Islamismus wird daraus deutlich?

Itamar Marcus ist Direktor von Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) in Jerusalem. PMW besteht seit 1996 und untersucht die Verfasstheit der Autonomiebehörde und der palästinensischen Gesellschaft. PMW dokumentiert offizielle Verlautbarungen und Predigten ebenso wie Artikel aus Zeitungen der palästinensischen Gebiete und anderen palästinensischen Medien. Zeitungsberichte, Filme und auch Schulbücher werden systematisch übersetzt und ausgewertet. Thematisch reicht das Spektrum von politischen Beiträgen über Literatur bis zu Sport und Kreuzworträtseln. PMW will ein umfassendes Bild davon gewinnen, wie die palästinensische Gesellschaft dem Staat Israel, den Juden und einem Friedensprozess gegenübersteht.

www.pmw.org.il

Donnerstag, 11. November, 20:30 Uhr
Jugendzentrum der Jüdischen Gemeinde Frankfurt, Savignystr.

[Simon]

Der antiamerikanische Meinungskonformismus in Deutschland erinnert zunnehmend an arabische Verhältnisse. Je offenkundiger das Scheitern Deutschlands (Sozialstaat, Wirtschaft, Demographie, Bildung, Erstarken antidemokratischer sozialistischer (PDS) und national-sozialistischer Bewegungen (NPD/DVU)etc.), desto größer der Haß auf die erfolgreicheren USA. Anstatt die Probleme hierzulande anzugehen, spielt man sich als Lehrmeister der Welt auf. Das kann nicht gutgehen.
Solange die Kritik an unseren deutschen Verhältnissen auf Blogs beschränkt ist, wird sich hieran jedoch nichts ändern.
Ich bin jedoch vollkommen ratlos, wie man etwas ändern kann. Welche Partei oder welcher Verein könnte eine Grundlage sein? Ich bin Mitglied einer Oppositionspartei mit C im Namen, doch von denen verspreche ich mir wenig. Was tun?

[no comment]

@gabi: So steht's heute in der FR. Ich dachte, es gäbe das Böse und das Gute nicht. Das gilt offenbar nur, wenn Bush diese Vokabeln benutzt.

haben sie sich mal die rätselseite in der zeit angesehen, insbesondere die schachaufgabe? total schockierend, fast schon rassistisch! schwarz-weiß-malerei und kästchendenken der übelsten art. "wer nicht weiß ist, der ist schwarz" wird einem da bildhaft vermittelt. das erinnert doch fatal an die busch-doktrin. wie kann man das bei bush kritisieren und selbst praktizieren!

[Gabi]

Simon,
ich war und bin schwer enttäuscht von der CDU, die ich schon wegen des C nicht wähle. Anfangs hat man noch Position bezogen und die Politik der USA in unzähligen Talkshows und Artikel erklärt, aber dann plötzllich hörte es auf. Man schwenkte sogar um. Offenbar war der Druck der Basis zu groß, der Antiamerikanismus in der eigenen Partei und der ihrer Anhänger zu stark, so daß man um die Wahlen 2006 fürchtete. Mit diesem Monster an Antiamerikanismus wird eine Partei nicht gewinnen können, die mit den USA geht.

Der Haß sitzt zu tief und geht durch alle Schichten und Altersgruppen.

Was tun? Hier weitermachen, unterstützen, Informationen sammeln, die Leute mit ihrem eigenen Haß konfrontieren, ihn entlarven.

Es geht nur über die Medien, weil der Normalbürger keine Zeit hat, mehr als Überschriften zu lesen. Tiefes Wissen hat doch niemand. Bush lügt, mehr wissen sie denn auch nicht. WElche Lüge? Massenvernichtungswaffen. Dann hört es auch schon auf.

Man könnte Information dagegensetzen. Eigentlich kommen doch immer wieder dieselben Lügen und Fehlinterpretationen. Es wäre schon eine Erleichterung, mit einem Klick die Fakten zu der blödsinnigen Behauptung parat zu haben, die Intifada sei ausgebrochen, weil Scharon den Tempelberg betreten hätte.

Die unmoralische Haltung, Terror zu verstehen, ihn als Reaktion zu verstehen, weil jemand den Tempelberg betritt, zeigt doch, daß unsere Journalisten keine Moral mehr haben. Ich habe nur noch Verachtung für sie.

[H2O]

Ein zur Abwechslung mal wirklich lesenswerter Leitartikel aus "Die Welt": "Der Zorn der Verlierer" http://www.welt.de/data/2004/11/08/357435.html

(gefunden über http://myblog.de/politicallyincorrect)

Ich finde, man sollte auch mal die wenigen positiven Lichtblicke in Deutschland herausstellen!

Notiz von David: Es ist schon vorgesehen, Teile des Artikels zu veröffentlichen. Sobald die Übersetzung vorliegt, stellen wir sie ein.

[Downer]

"Vielleicht zeigt sich im Duktus dieser gehässigen bis durchgeknallten Analysen am anschaulichsten, warum das Anti-Bush-Lager am Ende so deutlich verlieren mußte: Weil es einfach unerträglich ist, sich diesen selbstgerechten, herablassenden und an den Realitäten vorbeidröhnenden Tonfall auf Dauer anzuhören."

Dieser Satz von Herr Köppel spricht mir aus der Seele.

[Harry in Atlanta]

This is beyond hysteria, this seems like mass brainwashing of very feeble-minded media people. It reeks of unprofessionalism. This may signal an opportunity for something more rational like a Fox News type of media outlet to take hold in Germany because the rest of the German media is stark raving insane and unfortunately that's no joke.

[John]

Dear Germany,

Happy 15th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Lift a glass to all who seek freedom for others.

Best from Connecticut,

John

[toad]

The cost of the war? Break out your calculators and figure out what the cost of the war is vs the USA's GDP. As wars go it is one of the cheapest we have been in. It is a new age gentlemen. Yes we have very expensive equipment but because of precision we use less of it, our casualties rate are the lowest we have ever had for this kind of fighting. To be gross about it this has been a cheap war for the US. Our economy is actually growing and so is the ecomomy of Iraq!

[Chris]

Stern:

The world looks with bewilderment at the US.... The current economic upswing belies huge problems.... The consequences of these policies are dramatic: the state is going broke.... Since November 3, 2004, George W. Bush can consider himself to be truly elected. However it might be a rude awakening for his country.

SPIEGEL ONLINE:

He forced a war on this world with threadbare arguments, which the people didn’t want. He split the Western world, although the war against terrorism can only be won together. He overrode rights whenever it suited him. With his false rationale for war he deceived millions.

ZDF Editor-in-Chief Brender (ZDF is one of the two German public tv channels):

The groaning about the outcome of the US election is deafening. Had George W. Bush stood for election in Europe, he would have been blown out of office with drums and trumpets.... Four more years with this man! You Americans, what have you done to us? More brusqueness, more going it alone, more wars? The groaning is deafening.

Don't you just love the groaning from these guys? They don't bother to field a credible military presence because they'd rather fund their nanny state socialism, and then they turn into self appointed "experts" who think they have the moral authority to tell us what and what not to do.

Who propped up your friggin' economy for 40 years after WWII? Who liberated your country, sacrficing hundreds of thousands of men in the process, from the grips of fascism? I mean, I could go on and on and on.

The sun is setting on Europe, it's really not so much worth paying attention to them anymore.....

[Downer]

Wieder so eine grandiose Kolumne von Wolfgang Münchau in der FTD. Er vergreift sich, wenn schon, denn schon, gleich mehrfach im Ton:

"Während in den USA ein religiöser Fanatiker zum Präsidenten gewählt wird, scheitert fast zeitgleich ein verhältnismäßig harmloser gläubiger Politiker an den säkularen Realitäten des modernen Europas."

(...)

"Es ist fraglich, ob eine religiös fanatische Gesellschaft auch in Zukunft noch die besten Wissenschaftler anziehen kann."

(...)

"Wir Europäer definieren uns kulturell über die Aufklärung. In den USA scheint dieses Zeitalter seinem Ende entgegenzugehen."

http://www.ftd.de/pw/in/1099734360609.html?nv=lnen

Die FTD avanciert zum neuen Eliteblatt antiamerikanischer Apologeten.

[Gabi]

CNN showed people from the ivory coas with signs:

Chirac = Bin Laden!

The French military killed 50 people. Not one picture of it. Douple standard as always.

[Simon]

@John:
I lift my glass to all Americans who stood with Germany even when times were difficult and communism threatened to take over Europe; and I hope that Germans will return to sanity one day and stand with America against the enemy who threatens to destroy all western civilization: "I deem thee lost, O America. I deem thee lost, O Europe. I deem thee lost, O Holland....I deem thee lost, O unbelieving fundamentalist."

Cheers from North-Rhine Westfalia,

Simon

[Gabi]

"JTA- Poll: French see Arafat as hero
French people regard Yasser Arafat as a hero rather than a terrorist, according to a new poll.Asked to choose whether the Palestinian Authority president is a “hero of national resistance” or a terrorist, 43 percent chose the former and 27 percent the latter. Ten percent said Arafat fitted into both categories, while 9 percent said he was neither one nor the other. The poll, published Monday and commissioned jointly by the Liberation newspaper and a national public radio station, also found that three times as many French hold Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon responsible for Middle East violence than Arafat. In addition, 34 percent said they had more sympathy for the Palestinians, as opposed to 13 percent for Israel. A similar poll in 2000 found almost equal degrees of sympathy for both sides."

from honestly concerned

--------------------------------------------------

I know how German people think about Arafat. Read our media!

I wonder what the American people think. 49 % consider him as a hero and 51 % as a terrorist?

[jtb-in-texas]

Perhaps it might be useful for these angst-ridden, peace-loving, jew-hating, soon-to-be-muslims that most Americans don't really give a flying crap about their opinions. My ancestors, for the most part, left their European homes to seek freedom of expression, freedom of religion and freedom of association.

In spite of that, Americans have sacrificed our blood, treasure, and economy to lift Europe up from the pits they have dug for themselves. And we were as glad to do it for France, Germany, and Russia as we were for Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and now Iraq.

But if Europeans expect us to save them from the next Kaiser, Hitler, Stalin, or whomever, they'd better start thinking about getting a rectocranialectomy...

Or we may mistake them for something other than allies. Especially when they engage in business deals that provide our enemies with money and war materials.

And what makes those offspring of "Europe's Finest" think they are so much better than Iraqis? Why do _Euros_ deserve freedom and not Iraqis?

[rev]

I mean, job-to-blow-in-texas, there are a few items where Euros are faring better than Iraqis, and the Amis either. Like, prison population, per capita. Or, say, ability to educate their own engineers, physicists, mathematicians, not to import them en masse from abroad.

I gather, jtb, everybody deserves freedom. Even Texans (well, call me a radical). Even the stupid red state voters, the biggest losers ever, even they deserve freedom.

Saving Russians from Stalin, heh...

[Chomskybot]

@Einladung Frankfurt:
Zu diesen Legenden gehört auch die Behauptung von einer klaren Trennung zwischen der palästinensischen Gesellschaft und den terroristischen Aktivisten:

Jenseits des Terrors soll der Ort einer Kultur sein, die nur das Leid von Besatzung und Krieg zu verarbeiten sucht; da sei das palästinensische Bildungswesen ein Hort aufgeklärt-kritischen Denkens und geradezu ein Paradebeispiel für einen "islamischen Weg in die Moderne"; da sei der "zivile" Flügel der Hamas mit seinem sozialen Engagement; da sei der Friedensnobelpreisträger Arafat, der nichts vom Terror weiß, oder alternativ: eine gegen Korruption und Misswirtschaft protestierende "Opposition".

Und was folgt daraus, wenn man mit keiner Gruppe bei den Palästinensern zusammenarbeiten kann?

Gruß
Chomskybot

[zorkmidden]

David, thank you so much for keeping us informed about your corner of the world. You really do an invaluable service.

[Chomskybot]

Ich glaube diese Lüge nicht mehr, wenn ich die irakischen weblogs lese.

Hier ist eine gute Übersicht, mit der jeder sich selbst eine Meinung bilden kann:
http://iraqblogcount.blogspot.com/

[Doctor Dave]

My high school German is admittedly rusty, and I've only recently learned the meaning of "schadenfreude", so I'm wondering if there is a similarly inclusive Deutsch term that wraps itself around the concept of "taking joy in one's own misery by blaming someone else who seems to be prosperous and reasonably happy, rather than examining the underlying problems of one's own plight and trying to improve it". I would think that this may come closer to the current emotion underlying the American-bashing. For some reason, "masochism" and "victimization" just popped into mind.

[Sandy P]

I watched Die Welt's English program from last week.

They were interviewing the man on the street - what a riot!

Enjoyed every minute of it.

[mshyde]

Europe needs to mature and begin the effort of not only supporting herself economically but militarily.
She needs to understand the majority of Americans are no longer interested in investing security in a large area that does nothing but hate her.
You've got a huge effort cut out for you.
Maybe you'll survive it or not. Otherwise we'll watch from a distance the billowing black smoke of your civilization going up while the mosques spring up like weeds.

[Joe]

Joy Joy Joy....

Joy would be to have defense pact with the Ivory Coast.... Just think tonight on CNN we could watch paris go up in flames...

Talk about the election results... Shock and Awe babie...Shock and Awe...

[Rob]

Enough of your anti-Bush partisan attacks. It's stupid, childish and a complete waste of your time. I voted for Bush because I voted for republican principles, convictions, moral values, American ideals and national security. Those things matter to me and to the American people. I don't have a gun but can exercise the Second Amendment anytime. I don't thump the Bible by preaching upon anybody, I just read the Bible for guidance and believe in its moral messages. I'm not a homophobic nor a racist, gays or people of different races are human beings with rights. I'm not wealthy nor poor.

I believe war is the last resort that we are willing to finish the fight at all costs and I believe that peace only comes when you're willing to fight for and maintain peace. Security is important to freedom in as much as the people are entitled to live freely AND securely. I believe in personal responsibility, common senses and accountability and personal liberty is not without limitations. I believe that marriage is not a right but a sacred privilege between a man and a woman only. I believe that abortion is the act of genocide against humanity and against the sacredness of life endowed by the Divine Creator. No one look out for the little people but themselves. No one look out for you but yourself. We can only look out for each other when a great crisis affects all of us.

There is nothing wrong with all of that above. There's nothing wrong with the fact I voted for Bush. No one persuade me, no one coerce me, no one scare or intimidate me. I voted all on my own will. How can you call me dumb and blind just when I voted for my own sounded reasons and open eyes? Did I call you dumb and blind when most of you voted for Schroeder? No. That's your electoral business. Stay out of mine.

There's truly something wrong with you German folks. End your hatred and partisan attacks on my President! Now. Stand with us for freedom around the world or stand against us. Your call.

If Bush is doing something truly evil, I shall rise against him. If Bush is doing something truly good, I shall stand by him. I goes either way. With Bush, so far, so good.

God bless the USA.

Rob
Ohio, USA

[Jorge Arbusto]

The essence of Bush's leadership style:

http://img96.exs.cx/img96/6028/fu.gif

[Chomskybot]

Europe needs to mature and begin the effort of not only supporting herself economically but militarily.

Crap. The European union will become a political and military actor, but this doesn't mean that waging war in one country after another, against dictators that have been breeded and supported before (see Donald Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam here).

Maybe you'll survive it or not. Otherwise we'll watch from a distance the billowing black smoke of your civilization going up while the mosques spring up like weeds.

Our civilisation is also your civilisation.
And it's funny how you predict us trouble with immigrants and minorities. America had much bigger racial riots in cities like L.A. in the past. Look at the divide in your own country. Why did only 11% of the black U.S. population vote for Bush?

[Kees Rudolf]

Ach ja, der Niklas, alias Chomskybot, und seine kleine Lesetips!
"The European union WILL become a political and military actor"
You could put that even stronger: it IS already a political and military actor. But,whatever the merits of its actions, this is definitely something else than being mature and supporting itself economically and militarily.

[James]

"[the EU] IS already a political and military actor."

Where?
What happened to the European rapid reaction force?
In which countries are "EU soldiers" activated?

I know only of Nato forces, and we know who pays the most of that. And I know of some French soldiers killing 50 people in the Ivory Coast...

"...against dictators that have been breeded and supported before (see Donald Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam here)."

Hmm... What about Chirac personally selling Saddam a nuclear reactor? I've seen fotages of the two touring French nuclear plants before. Chirac writing letters starting with "My Friend." Despite Israel apply diplomatic pressure to France for years. The French had closed ears and built the nuclear plant anyways. Where did all of Saddam's tanks [Soviets], mirage aircraft[France], guns [Soviets], SCUD missiles[SOVIETS], chemicals[Germany], bunkers[Germany] come from? We [USA] only supported Iraq AFTER they started to loose their war against Iran. This was essential in preventing the Iranians from controlling the middle-east. If we were to take your argument further, then the USA was responsible for Russia occupying East Germany because we sent support to the Soviets during WWII. But in general, I like your sanctimonious allegations of Germany's past behaviour with Iraq... There seems to be a mis-perception in Germany that likes to claim Iraq was a US puppet when he was really a Soviet one. Notice how Russian didn't partake in the Gulf War I. Russia's Primakov travelled to Iraq 3 times to convince Saddam to agree to a cease fire, he wanted to save his client from destruction...

"Our civilisation is also your civilisation."

Completely agree.

"And it's funny how you predict us trouble with immigrants and minorities. America had much bigger racial riots in cities like L.A. in the past. Look at the divide in your own country. Why did only 11% of the black U.S. population vote for Bush?"

Well, the USA IS a country of immigrants, so not so sure with what you mean about having trouble there. Immigrants come to America and integrate, they also get good jobs, work hard and succeed. Recent immigrants like the Chinese and Koreans are amongst the most successful ethnic groups per se in all of America, moreso than whites.

How are the Turks integrating in immigrant unfriendly Germany? Can you name any immigrant success stories? Do you think that it's better than America?

It has been calculated that in order for Germany to meet growth targets over the next several years, 2.7 million immigrants per year will be needed. How will German society fair then?

I recall Jo already made such allegations like yourself, and he was debunked by myself and many others. Therefore I really don't care to get into a bloated discussion about this...

[Kees Rudolf]

@Chomskybot Niklas,
"And it's funny how you predict us trouble with immigrants and minorities. America had much bigger racial riots in cities like L.A. in the past. Look at the divide in your own country. Why did only 11% of the black U.S. population vote for Bush?"
Same type of non-argument: what about the holocaust? Funny?
If the racial riots in L.A. would invalidate an American's prediction of trouble in Europe with immigrants and minorities, than so much the more would the Holocaust invalidate almost everything a German wanted to say about immigrants and minorities.
But perhaps you, as a real chomskybot, are following Chomsky in his flirtation with Holocaust deniers?
Erlaube mir diesen kleinen Lesetip speziell für dich:
http://wernercohn.com/Chomsky.html

[Kees Rudolf]

@James,
You are right, the EU is not a military actor properly speaking. But perhaps one could say it is a military actor indirectly, by morally strengthening terrorists, condemning the Israeli security-fence, financially supporting Palestinians and so on.
I doubt whether the EU will ever be a military actor, but they obviously can be a military nuisance factor in the GWOT.

[Mark Montalto]

you know, if you europeans took as much time to focus on your own issues as you do ours, the world really would be a better place!

[Chomskybot]

"I have always supported a Jewish ethnic homeland in Palestine. That is different from a Jewish state. There's a strong case to be made for an ethnic homeland, but as to whether there should be a Jewish state, or a Muslim state, or a Christian state, or a white state — that's entirely another matter."
(Wikipedia)
Is this antisemitic?
Check the facts:
Noam Chomsky Biography (if they are wrong, you can blame the University of Minnesota, because the page is hosted there.)

Chomsky himself was jewish.
Was he a traitor?
Chomsky supported Israel Shahak, who wrote some critical books. Israel Shahak was a Holocaust Survivor who has been honored on the annual "Day of remembrance of the Shoah".
Oh sorry, everyone of them is infected with the "jewish self-hatred" meme! So let's wait for the
1.) first supporter of the "jewish self-hatred" theory to be accused of antisemitism
2.) for the first person accusing a supporter of the "jewish self-hatred" theory of antisemitism to be accused of antisemitism
3.) for this person to be accused of anti-semitism.
...
n.) For the person accusing someone in step n-1 of antisemitism to be accused of antisemitism.
I'm getting dizzy now, It's neither my interest nor my business as a German to comment on this further.
If this is anti-semitism, going out with my dog is anti-semitism, too, because the Nazis had dogs.

[Pat]

Now isn't that interesting: SPON reports that more German students are applying now for exchange programms with the US than before the election. REason: parents and students feel safer now in the US.........

USA nach Bush-Sieg stärker gefragt

In den letzten Jahren sank das Interesse deutscher Schüler, ein Jahr in den USA zu verbringen. Einer neuen Umfrage zufolge ist die Flaute vorbei: Offenbar gibt die Wiederwahl von George W. Bush Eltern und Schülern ein größeres Sicherheitsgefühl.

AP
Treueschwur an US-Schule: Schwieriges Klima für Gastschüler
Die Mehrheit der rund 50 deutschen Austauschorganisationen schätzt die Teilnehmerzahlen für den Schüleraustausch mit den USA optimistisch ein. Und das hat direkt mit dem Wahlsieg von George W. Bush zu tun: Zwar favorisierten die meisten deutschen Austauschschüler John Kerry, aber die Wiederwahl von Bush scheint Eltern wie Schülern ein Gefühl von Sicherheit und Stabilität zu vermitteln.

Das geht aus einer aktuellen Umfrage des Recherchen-Verlages, der auf Schüleraustausch spezialisiert ist, hervor. "Die Organisationen verzeichnen inzwischen wieder mehr Bewerbungsgespräche und Vertragsabschlüsse", sagte Verlagsmitarbeiterin Sylvia Schill gegenüber SPIEGEL ONLINE, "viele Eltern und Schüler haben sich die Entscheidung für ein Austauschjahr zunächst offengehalten, weil sie die weitere Entwicklung in den USA abwarten wollten." Noch sei der Trend "nicht richtig stabil", es gebe aber Indizien für einen Aufwind beim Schüleraustausch, so Schill.

[Kees Rudolf]

Die halbgebildete haben schrecklich viel gelesen.
Chomskybot, if you reacted on my post, I didn't mention antisemitism. I'm sorry if my post caused you to think about antisemitism and jewish selfhatred to the point of getting dizzy. Actually, I didn't even want seriously to discuss with you, let alone on the topic of antisemitism, because your obvious determination to stick to your prejudices, founded on an awful lot of selective reading, makes this a hopeless undertaking, at least for me.

[VIK]

OFF TOPICS !!!!!

have a look at BUSH-COUNTRY

http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/rightwing87.html

[Joe]

VIK,

If you will note on the map, it breaks the US down by county, our smallest unit of government.

GWB won 81% of all counies in the US.

[Joe]

I wonder if the EU will become a military power before or after it becomes Eurabia.

My guess is afterwards. The EU of today is just too soft to deal with such issues as defense and becoming a military power. Besides they need the money for their failing social welfare system.

[Carmen, proud American Woman]

It's amazing to me that Europe seems to want to be involved in our electoral process. I had even heard there was some thought out there that since George Bush (or any American president, for that matter) is considered "leader of the free world," then Europeans deserve to also vote in our elections.

What a bunch of CRAP!

Now, open your eyes, Jacques, Wolfgang and the rest of you abroad--pay close attention to the recent events in Holland. Do you not see they are in the process of struggling with a very profound radical Islamic element there?

But noooo, that's ok. You all sit back on your misguided and dangerous doctrine of appeasement (hello, Spain--good job on those elections!)--yes, you put your heads in the sand, and look the other way.

We in America CHOSE to put Bush back in the White House because, quite simply, he was the only man with the testicular fortitude to say "UP YOURS!" to radical Islam.

Wake up, Europe. It is indeed almost too late.

[Gabi]

Carmen, they don't see it as a problem. Look at Chirac. Arafat is a FRIEND. The whole government honored Arafat.

Scharon is not a friend.

So, how could this happened. What is behind this, that people ignore the terror of the one side and complain about the people who are victims of this terror and try to find ways to stop it. Why don't they see the desperation of these people? Americans as victims, Israeli as victims. Why don't they care and ignore facts and history and help to spread the propaganda of terrorists? Fear? Money? I don't understand it.

[George]

I don't know what you guys think, but Chirac might have profound reason to call Arafat a friend. Remember that about 11% of all french are of muslim faith. I don't know how many are Jewish but I am sure it is a lot less. Perhaps he is just not willing to provoke such riots as are currently taking place in the Netherlands.

Another thing that comes to my mind is that he wants to be seen as Americas counterpart. Because everything the USA does is the wrong thing and everything France does is the right thing. I'm pretty sure that's how Chirac thinks.

well just my 2 cents

[Carmen, proud American]

I was thinking: Europeans often forget that many of us are proud descendants of European immigrants! My grandparents came from Italy, my husband's were from Hungary.

So when they call us "cowboys" and say that the re-election of George Bush was primarily due to the support of the so called "right-wing Jesus freaks," they also need to be reminded that our ancestors came here to escape religious persecution as well as other profound socio/economic/political problems. Hence, we tend to relish our faith outwardly and deeply--and our freedom--we know the sacrifices that our people bore for our sake. We know we have it great here, and many more of us appreciate it than not.

Europeans see us as too fiercely independent and quick to act "unilaterally"--willing to go it alone, if need be. And why not? In many of us here flows the blood of the persecuted and the outcast--who, upon seeing Lady Liberty in the NY harbor, vowed to never allow their precious new-found freedom to be taken from them. And let us not forget that prior to 1776, there had been no real precedent of a people who collectively and successfully started a revolution against their own mother country. These milestones in our history set the tone for us, if you will.

I know people who perished on 9/11. I live in a "9/11 state"--one from which many many people worked in the World Trade Center. That day has made us yet more resolute than ever to guard our particular way of life.

So call us "dumb" for re-electing Bush, and create more lists of reasons to hate us, and do whatever will make you temporarily feel better about your dangeously precarious state...but when France's current Muslim population of 20% (not 11% as another poster wrote) increases to a majority and thus is able to elect radical Islamic extremists into key political positions, what then??? The shape of things to come...

Churchill said, "Appeasement is hoping the tiger eats you last."

But not here, not here...