Handelsblatt: America - Not Iran - A Problem for Germany

(By Ray D.)

Moral relativism has a way of producing strange rationales and value systems. Nowhere was this more clearly on display than in a recent article in Germany's Handelsblatt, a financial daily. The piece, entitled, "US Firms Pressure German Firms Out of Iran," starts off with this fabulous graphic:

Caption: "Moving on treacherous terrain: Juergen Hambrecht (BASF), Dieter Zetsche (Daimler), Wolfgang Reitzle (Linde), Klaus-Peter Mueller (Commerzbank) and Klaus Kleinfeld (Siemens)."

That's right. It's all America's (and Bush's) fault. Again. Poor German CEO's can't trade in Iran because of US pressure. Here excerpts from the Handelsblatt piece (read the entire translation here):

"USA Pressures German Firms Out of Iran

The USA is putting firms under massive pressure worldwide to stop doing business with Iran. With that economic isolation they want to force the country to stop its controversial atomic program. Especially German firms are hard hit by that, indeed they traditionally do good business in the region. The latest case comes from the banking world.

BERLIN. After massive pressure from the USA, Commerzbank has now announced that it will end its processing of dollar-business for Iran at the end of January. Commerzbank boss Klaus-Peter Mueller has already publicly complained about the pressure from the Americans in his position as President of the Federal Union of German Banks."

The article almost makes it sound as if the United States is to blame for Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons. There is absolutely no hint that it might be wrong or unethical to trade with (and financially prop-up) Iran or other violent dictatorships/state-sponsors of terrorism. This despite the fact that Iranian President Ahmadinejad has repeatedly stated that Israel should be wiped off the map and that the Holocaust is a myth. There is also no mention of Iran's support of Hezbollah nor does Handelsblatt mention the country's bleak human rights record. Instead, America is made out to be the bad guy while Ahmadinejad gets a free pass. One honestly has to ask, where are the German concepts of fair trade and economic and social justice in all of this? Where are the traditional objections to profiteering and capitalist excess?   

The article continues:

"Now other German companies in other branches are worried about their traditionally good Iran business. The results of the worsening climate are already clearly visible: The German exports to Iran sank noticeably in 2006 - in the first three quarters by 14 percent.

German businesses are now trying to prevent the contracts they have signed with Tehran from becoming public at all. "Everything that might touch on the US-business is deadly. Therefore nobody in Tehran talks about his Iranian contracts," said a German business representative in Tehran under the condition that his name would not be printed. Above all, companies that are listed on US stock markets like Daimler-Chrysler with large businesses in America are affected. Siemens, for example, that according to Handelsblatt information is near to concretely completing a 450 million Euro contract with Tehran to deliver locomotives, does not want to comment on it publicly. Other firms listed on the Dax (German stock market) like BASF or Linde are moving on treacherous terrain with their involvement in Iran. BASF has just now signed and sealed a 304 million Euro project involving an Ammoniac-Urea facility in the Shiraz Petrochemical Complex. By contrast, Linde's contract for a petrochemical facility, believed to be secure, was cancelled by Tehran for the time being.

Not only the German economy is feeling the American intervention. In order to prevent the billion-dollar involvement of the Chinese oil company CNOOC in Iran, Washington presented "our concerns" to the government in Peking and to the company. That was reported by the speaker of the US embassy in Peking. Before that, US interventions lead to the stoppage, for the time being, of Japanese financing for a project in Iran worth about ten billion dollars.

The German government is following the US actions with concern. For one, the Berlin strategy in the Iran negotiations is to only sharpen the sanctions against Iran in increments and to thereby include all countries, in other words Russia and China as well. Chancellor Angela Merkel again emphasized that goal on Wednesday after a meeting with Japanese Minister President Abe. On the other hand, the German government fundamentally rejects the attempt by the US government to enforce American law beyond its borders.

This growing problem of the so-called "Extraterritoriality" is also named as a theme for the "Transatlantic Economic Initiative," with which Chancellor Merkel seeks to strengthen the economic relations between the EU and the USA."

Perhaps Chancellor Merkel ought to consider the chronic and growing problem of Iran's terrorist "extraterritoriality" in Lebanon, Iraq and elsewhere in her efforts to improve transatlantic trade. Perhaps she ought to consider the potential impacts of a massive US boycott of goods from German companies like Siemens and BASF that insist on doing business with brutal dictators bent on a second Holocaust. Is it really in Germany's long-term interest to continue trade with a nation that threatens the fundamental security and moral interests of the entire western world? Are the short-term profits worth the cost?

And how about this double standard: When American investment firms do business in Germany, they are derided as bloodsucking parasites and "locusts" by German politicians and unions. On the other hand, when German firms busily sign deals in nations run by the most violent and reprehensible thugs, they are just trying to do some good business - and it is only the awful American "extraterritorial" interference getting in the way. And make no mistake: Iran is not the only case in point. While the international community struggles to put an end to genocide in Darfur, the German government is actively promoting annual trade fairs in Sudan for many of the same German multinational corporations that want to keep doing business in Iran.

Der SPIEGEL cover, December 2006: "The Greed of Big Money: Finance-Investors Grasp at German Businesses." Of course many of the "greedy investors" in question are American or British. No mention of greedy German CEOs profiteering in Iran and Sudan.

Perhaps German media like "Der Spiegel" and German politicians such as SPD Minister Franz Muentefering should spend a bit more time reviewing the activities of German corporations abroad before embarking on their next crusade against foreign multinationals. Of course it is far more convenient to make a scapegoat out of "the Americans" and the other foreign "locusts" than it is to stand against the unsavory trading practices of Germany's corporate giants. One honestly has to wonder why German anti-Globalization demonstrators aren't lining up by the thousands to protest German multinationals' dealings with Tehran and Khartoum. Perhaps morality applies only when it can be directed against the United States and Bush.

Endnote: Apparently, Siemens is one of the largest German firms doing big business in both Iran and Sudan. You can contact Siemens here with your comments.

COMPLETE ARTICLE TRANSLATION

Handelsblatt: 11 January 2007

"USA Pressures German Firms Out of Iran: Commerzbank is most recent case

The USA is putting firms under massive pressure worldwide to stop doing business with Iran. With that economic isolation they want to force the country to stop its controversial atomic program. Especially German firms are hard hit by that, indeed they traditionally do good business in the region. The latest case comes from the banking world.

BERLIN. After massive pressure from the USA, Commerzbank has now announced that it will end its processing of dollar-business for Iran at the end of January. Commerzbank boss Klaus-Peter Mueller has already publicly complained about the pressure from the Americans in his position as President of the Federal Union of German Banks.

Commerzbank was the last large western bank that handled dollar-business for Iran. Now, according to Iranian financial circles, only three financial institutions in the United Arab Emirates continue to supply Tehran with dollars. Before Commerzbank, other credit institutes such as Dresdner Bank, Credit Suisse, UBS, HSBC and Barclays gave into similar American pressure. "Every single bank in the region is being spoken to and pressured by US representatives to stop their business," said Viennese financial market specialist Albrecht Frischenschlager, who is headquartered in Tehran with the financial advisor Middle East Strategies.

In order to get Tehran to give up its Uranium enrichment, the UN Security Council imposed sanctions, but they only cover delivery of rocket technology and parts necessary for the operation of heavy water reactors. The USA has, on the other hand, unilaterally imposed an economic blockade against Iran.

Now other German companies in other branches are worried about their traditionally good Iran business. The results of the worsening climate are already clearly visible: The German exports to Iran sank noticeably in 2006 - in the first three quarters by 14 percent.

German businesses are now trying to prevent the contracts they have signed with Tehran from becoming public at all. "Everything that might touch on the US-business is deadly. Therefore nobody in Tehran talks about his Iranian contracts," said a German business representative in Tehran under the condition that his name would not be printed. Above all, companies that are listed on US stock markets like Daimler-Chrysler with large businesses in America are affected. Siemens, for example, that according to Handelsblatt information is near to concretely completing a 450 million Euro contract with Tehran to deliver locomotives, does not want to comment on it publicly. Other firms listed on the Dax (German stock market) like BASF or Linde are moving on treacherous terrain with their involvement in Iran. BASF has just now signed and sealed a 304 million Euro project involving an Ammoniac-Urea facility in the Shiraz Petrochemical Complex. By contrast, Linde's contract for a petrochemical facility, believed to be secure, was cancelled by Tehran for the time being.

Not only the German economy is feeling the American intervention. In order to prevent the billion-dollar involvement of the Chinese oil company CNOOC in Iran, Washington presented "our concerns" to the government in Peking and to the company. That was reported by the speaker of the US embassy in Peking. Before that, US interventions lead to the stoppage, for the time being, of Japanese financing for a project in Iran worth about ten billion dollars.

The German government is following the US actions with concern. For one, the Berlin strategy in the Iran negotiations is to only sharpen the sanctions against Iran in increments and to thereby include all countries, in other words Russia and China as well. Chancellor Angela Merkel again emphasized that goal on Wednesday after a meeting with Japanese Minister President Abe. On the other hand, the German government fundamentally rejects the attempt by the US government to enforce American law beyond its borders.

This growing problem of the so-called "Extraterritoriality" is also named as a theme for the "Transatlantic Economic Initiative," with which Chancellor Merket seeks to strengthen the economic relations between the EU and the USA. "The direct access (or efforts to influence) of US authorities towards European businesses and banks is not acceptable," according to a statement of principles from the Chancellery that Handelsblatt has a copy of. The paper lists the deficits in the transatlantic economic relations and the topics for the planned rounds of discussion. The International Chamber of Commerce has also already publicly criticized the aggressive legal approach of the USA.

European diplomats in Tehran have also shown themselves to be upset over the US pressure. One diplomat claims that, "We are being pushed out by it (the pressure) and the field is being cleared in the long-term for US companies." Especially notable in that context is that Coca-Cola just happens to have awarded a production license to the Islamic foundation Bouyad-e Imam Reza, one of the most important economic corporations of the Mullahs.

Business with the Mullahs

Trade flourishing: The economic relations between Germany and Iran are traditionally good. In recent years the rising oil price has, above all, given important impulses to trade between the two countries. Between 2000 and 2005, German exports tripled.

Politically burdened: In the past year the fight over the Iranian atomic program has had negative impacts. The fear of international sanctions and American pressure against companies that do business with Iran have burdened economic ties. The data available up until the end of October 2006 already show a clear downwards trend."

Comments

[Pamela]

dollar-financed transactions only apparently.

I thought Imadinnerjacket was converting all his foreign reserves to euros anyway.

I'd be curious to know explicitly what forms such 'pressure' from the U.S. takes.

Not that I think there's anything wrong with it.
;)

[americanbychoice]

LOL
The US hasn't had any dealings with Iran for a long time and we are doing ok.
At least we won't be killed by our own weapons :)

[Gunter]

Oh my goodness, cut it out!

Do you actually think a procedure like this one is going to increase european support for the american stance?
Your article sounds as if you were looking forward to the next transatlantic trade war. The only effect will be increased EU punitive tariff duties on american products to compensate the losses.

What makes you believe that the USA has the right to interfere in european affairs? If your country decides to enact an embargo against Iran, go ahead. Arrogance of european economical sovereignty won´t be tolerated.

[americanbychoice]

Gunter,
No one is advocating interfering in European affairs.
Since you bring up EU punitive tariffs, thatis a double edged sword. Since Europe, especially Germany exports more goods to the US, than the US to Germany, guess who would be a bigger loser?
Arrogance of Euopean sovereignty? What about American Sovereignty?
The Arrogance seems to be firmly on the German/Gunter side.
Since Europe hasn't been a good ally in my eyes, continue embracing the Iranians, Russians and any other dictatorial regimes. The USA doesn't need luke warm partners.

[Mir]

@ Gunter

You still don't get it, right? Do you have any idea at all what a terrorist act or even a real war with WMDs, perpetrated or at least enabled by the Iranian regime, would mean to our precious German / European economy regardless of where it would happen? Do you think that our great business relations with Iran could stay how they are if through our inaction now a situation arises where violence becomes inevitable? No? Then maybe you should think about that. Thinking is said to be a nice idea in general.

[blue]

"no dealings" needs a modifier:
http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5070.html#2006
That's about a factor 40 less than Germany, so it is close to "no". During the googling I also found this.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,134836,00.html
I did not find follow-up, so do you know, what has become of the inquiry into Halliburton's foreign subsidiaries doing business with Iran in 2004? Has legislation changed or is it still

Foreign subsidiaries of American companies can do business with Iran as long as no Americans participate in or direct that business.

Commerzbank alleges it was "moral pressure". As far as I understand the U.S. has legislation that can punish U.S. companies for doing business with Iran, correct? Many of the German companies have subsidiaries in the U.S., so there is leverage.

[FranzisM]

They are still doing public hangings in Persia. With construction cranes as I´ve seen on samisdat photographs coming from there.

Who is selling industrial machinery to Persia?

[Pogue Mahone]

"Oh my goodness, cut it out!

Do you actually think a procedure like this one is going to increase european support for the american stance?"

Well I can't speak for everyone Gunter but it my opinion the point is not to "increase euro support" for any american stance

I have long ago learned that getting a fair shake from europeans is both impossible and irrelevant

No - the point here is to continue sticking the complete hypocrisy of europeans in their faces

The very fact that the negative focus is ALWAYS on the USA - while Germany trades happlily with the dictators of Tehran - is just something for you to live with every day

[Scott_H]

While reading this article, a quote from one of my favorite movies (Wall Street) came to mind:

"I don't go to sleep with no whore and I don't wake up with no whore. That's how I live with myself. I don't know how you do it."

-- Carl Fox (Martin Sheen)

[Gunter]

The judgement on how relieable the iranian government is, differs obviously between our continents. This particular country has become the stronghold of many german companies in the muslim world. Nobody can seriously expect the german government to do something about this.

@ Mir

"Do you have any idea at all what a terrorist act or even a real war with WMDs, perpetrated or at least enabled by the Iranian regime, would mean to our precious German / European economy regardless of where it would happen?"

In case Iran actually has weapons of mass destructions available in the future, there is little reason to assume that this would be different from Pakistan for example. Such weapons increases the power of countries in their region, that´s why they seek them. Every industrial nation in the world has supplied inofficial troops somewhere in the world. In no case have weapons of mass destructions been delivered, for obvious reasons: While an industrial country may want to pursue its interests by such deliveries, it has never an interest in contaminating a whole continent..

@ Pogue Mahone

"No - the point here is to continue sticking the complete hypocrisy of europeans in their faces"

I´ve come across numerous complaints about european "hypocrisy" here now. Have you thought beyond the mere discovery yet? The reasons maybe?
It seems to me that there is a certain development in the relationship between our continents. But this alone does not have to disturb us, as there have been developments throughout history. What would be your suggestions for the reasons of this particular development?

[Pamela]

Target rich environment.
@Gunter
Do you actually think a procedure like this one is going to increase european support for the american stance?

Do you actually think that after 9/11 the idea of 'european support' is either credible or desirable?

Your article sounds as if you were looking forward to the next transatlantic trade war. The only effect will be increased EU punitive tariff duties on american products to compensate the losses.

Trade borders work in both directions. There's also the WTO and Doha. And don't forget the agricultural subsidies.

What makes you believe that the USA has the right to interfere in european affairs?

We're not. We're taking care of our own affairs. You are simply collateral damage. Welcome to globalization.

Arrogance of european economical sovereignty won´t be tolerated.

Well, I'll leave the 'arrogance won't be tolerated' meme for a humor thread.

As for 'sovereignty' economic or otherwise....

Just before Christmas, the EU proposed including all flights within Europe in the carbon trading scheme from 2011 then, a year later, expanding the scope to cover all international flights that arrive at or depart from an EU airport. Foreign airlines from outside the EU would also be included.
[]
He also said the attitude of the American airline industry was disgraceful and needed to change: "They just seem to be saying they don't want anything to do with the trading scheme, and that they will take the EU to court if transatlantic flights are included. It is completely irresponsible.
EU-Eunichs at a gang-bang

@blue

I'll see if I can find followup on US law for you but in the meantime:

Commerzbank alleges it was "moral pressure".

What? Someone found kiddie porn on the VP's computer?

spare me

[Pamela]

blue

I've check the gov't website for subsequent legislation and I don't see any

[Pamela]

blech. That was thoughtless of me. The go-to site for legislation in the U.S. is Thomas

[americanbychoice]

Pamela,
Great article about EU Eunochs.
Can someone explain to me how payment of x amount will reduce emissions?
If so, why cn't we all egt together and buy mother nature?

[Pamela]

americanbychoice
here ya go
Carbon emissions trading involves the trading of permits to emit carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases, calculated in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, tCO2e). It is one of the ways countries can meet their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce carbon emissions and thereby mitigate global warming.
Carbon emissions trading

This is the 'sense' behind it. That is not equivalent to economic literacy. Let alone climatic understanding.

[Pamela]

riiiiiing! riiiiing

Hello?

Is Gunter there please?

No, I'm afraid not. May I give him a message?

Yes. What is his problem with this 'european economic sovereignty' issue?

Well, I suppose you should ask him yourself. May I tell him who called?

Putin. The name is Vladimir Putin. And tell him the term 'arrogant' is one I HOPE he does not apply to me.

I'll tell him you called.

[americanbychoice]

pamela, that is exactly the reason I am against the Kyoto money laundering scheme.
What a crock of shit. Of course, the EU media tells their citizens that the US is not doing anything about emission control. My cousin came to visit me a few weeks ago and proudly told me that Germany is so fae ahead of the US in automobile emissions. After I showed him that the US requirements are identical to the EU and that many states have much higher standards than that, he was surprised. Hell, the new Mercedes can't be sold in those states until 2008,when the requirements are being met. He couldn't believe that we outlawed leaded gas and initiated catalisators 20 years before Germany embraced it.

[americanbychoice]

catalysators=catalytic converters
Sorry, i thought english and typed german :)
I am getting older by the minute.

[americanbychoice]

Gunter,
How many lives is a good business with Iran worth?
Just because you want to sell your soul to the devil in order to be eaten last by the crocodile, calling Americans arrogant about your business dealings is ridiculous. I guess that after the war we were being arrogant and greedy when we build up Germany through American investments, locating American businesses there, opened up our markets to your country by having an inflated exchange rate and have until now paid the price of your protection both in blood and money?
I guess the old adage applies to you: The hun is either at your feet or at your throat.
I really feel sorry for you. You should have paid attention to world events and learned from them.

[Pamela]

The Second Nazi Aktion in Bolechow, Poland, in September 1942:

'A terrible episode happened with Mrs. Grynberg. The Ukrainians and Germans, who had broken into her house, found her giving birth. The weeping and
entreaties of bystanders didn't help and she was taken from her home in a nightshirt and dragged into the square in front of the town hall. There … she
was dragged onto a dumpster in the yard of the town hall with a crowd of Ukraininans present, who cracked jokes and jeered and watched the pain of
childbirth and she gave birth to a child. The child was immediately torn from her arms along with its umbilical cord and thrown - It was trampled by the crowd and she was stood on her feet as blood poured out of her with bleeding bits hanging and she stood that way for a few hours by the wall of the town hall, afterwards she went with all the others to the train station where they loaded her into a carriage in a train to Belzec [extermination camp].'
Still, the second Holocaust will be different in the sense that Ahmedinejad will not actually see and touch those he so wishes dead

[Pamela]

Gunter quotes:

-----
Asking Germany to fight arabian fundamentalists is futile. No other industrialized country has more trade ties to the arabian world. In contrast to the USA, Germany has a reputation and many decades of good relationship to lose.
-------------
The only time terrorism actually affected my life was when holidays in northern africa became cheaper due to a recent terror strike :)
-------------
Of course I have heard the stories of sympathies in the muslim that are based on this. Other events are more important though:
Germany built the first railroad connection from Istanbul to Baghdad for example, which was the first major step. We were also allied with the Osmanian Empire in the first world war and with muslim freedom fighters in the second world war. Germany has never invaded muslim countries. Instead, it always relied on gaining influence and income by economical investments and partnership.
----------
Asking Germany to cut down it´s economical ties to the muslim world would be like asking the USA to sink it´s warships in the region :)
------------
I did not say that economical ties can garantee peace. I simply pointed out that they are and always have been the preferred way Germany gains income and influence in the muslim realm.
------------
Personally I would say that the iranian government cares as much about our Kopftücher as the german government cares about human rights in Iran ;)
It is always a nice opportunity to gain support of populistic voters by complaining about such things, but in the end it doesn´t matter at all.
-----------
Since Iran is the economical stronghold for german companies in the region, "action" or any other aggressive stance is out of the question. Would american "action" be imaginable against a country like Saudi-Arabia?
As we say in Germany, "nobody is going to shoot into his own foot".
------

Pamela here.

I note an oddity. The quotes I provided from a previous thread all refer to 'Germany'. The Arrogance of european economical sovereignty won´t be tolerated. crap is all about Europe.

Just a thought.

[Pamela]

from my previous post of Gunter's quotes
and with muslim freedom fighters in the second world war.
Hajj Amin Al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem arrived in Iraq in 1939 and was amoung the leader of the pro Nazi revolt in May 1941.
Following the suppression of the insurrection, he fled to Germany and joined the Nazi war effort against the Allies.
He conducted a vicious propaganda campaign against the Allies and especially against the Jews on Arabic broadcast over German radio ,calling upon Arabic and Muslims to slaughter the Jews wherever they might be.
photograph signed "In remembering with the large H.Himmler Muftir " "

This May 15 1943 letter from Hajj Amin Al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem to the German Foreign Minister Ribbentrop requested German intervention in the Balkans especially in Bulgaria to prevent an agreement with Britain and the United States to allow Jews to leave for Eretz Israel. The Mufti noted that the Arabs supported the Axes Power in the hope that they would provide a final solution to the problem of the Jews- the commun enemy of the people of Europe and of the Arab nation.
Muslim freedom fighters. Got it.

[Gunter]

@ Pamela

The problems with russian ressource delivery are indeed concerning. Our governments are going to reduce our dependence on russian gas due to recent events. But in contrast to other european countries, Germany will probably only have to worry until 2010, since german and russian companies are working intensively on a pipeline through the baltic sea to avoid the influence of transit countries.

As regards muslim freedom fighters in the second world war: I didn´t think of any from the middle east, but rather those that lived in the southern part of the soviet union. They were oppressed by the communists and so they quickly joined axis forces as they seeked independence.

@ americanbychoice

"I guess the old adage applies to you: The hun is either at your feet or at your throat."

Don´t you think this is very simplicistic? Germany has become a rather peaceful country and relies mostly on economic ways to influence other countries. I would not call this being at someone´s throat.
As countries are different, so are their interests in foreign policy. You cannot expect Germany to continue the behavior of a vassals after it isn´t one any more.

[Scott_H]

americanbychoice said:

"Can someone explain to me how payment of x amount will reduce emissions?"

Here's a more general description of emissions trading, also from Wikipedia:

"Emissions trading (or cap and trade) is an administrative approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants [1]. In such a plan, a central authority (usually a government agency) sets a limit or cap on the amount of a pollutant that can be emitted. Companies or other groups that emit the pollutant are given credits or allowances which represent the right to emit a specific amount. The total amount of credits cannot exceed the cap, limiting total emissions to that level. Companies that pollute beyond their allowances must buy credits from those who pollute less than their allowances. This transfer is referred to as a trade. In effect, the buyer is being fined for polluting, while the seller is being rewarded for having reduced emissions. The more firms that need to buy credits, the higher the price of credits becomes -- which makes reducing emissions cost-effective in comparison.

"The overall goal of an emissions trading plan is to reduce pollution. In some cases, the cap may be lowered over time. In other systems a portion of all traded credits must be retired, causing a net reduction in emissions each time a trade occurs."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissions_trading

[blue]

Thank you, Pamela, for looking up the legislation.

I guess the "moral pressure" is code for "we do not really want to make our reasons public".

[neocon]

americanbychoice, please post a link :)
(I mean, the regulations about cars in US)
that would be a deathblow to my german colleagues
I didn't know that either

[german observer]

The left hand doesn't seem to know what the right hand does:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3352935,00.html

Iran gets army gear in Pentagon sale

[Scott_H]

@german observer, it's not an issue of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Everyone pretty much knows knows what everyone else is doing in those military sales -- that's nothing new. Notice that US Customs caught almost all of the "sales" that shouldn't have happened -- which is how it is supposed to work. Also, notice that most of the "mistakes" are attributed to human error, or willful intent to break the law.

There is no intent to sell military surplus to Iran -- which is illegal. So, it's not a question of "what?" On the other hand, as one of the commenters mentioned, why even sell F-14 parts if Iran is really the only country that can use them? I suspect that will be looked at very hard -- especially since even the legal sales don't bring in much money.

[Scott_H]

"Iran gets army gear in Pentagon sale"

@german observer, btw, that's a classic example of how the MSM spins things to make them seem sensational when they really aren't. Judging by that headline, one might conclude that the Pentagon intentionally sells military equipment directly to Iran -- which, of course, is not the case at all. In fact, it's just the opposite.

[americanbychoice]

neocon: I am posting an article from Focus:

Denn: „Der E 320 Bluetec ist der sauberste Diesel der Welt“, untermauert Dr. Thomas Weber seine Ausführungen. „Bereits ohne die Harnstoff-Einspritzung schaffen wir beim E 320 so die strenge Schadstoffnorm BIN-8, die in 45 Staaten gilt.“ 2008 wird dann die Stufe zwei gezündet. Dann sollen mit Harnstoffeinspritzung auch die BIN-5-Grenzen unterboten werden. Diese weltweit strengsten Abgasrichtlinien für die Zulassung gelten derzeit im Staaten-Quintett Kalifornien, New York, Maine, Massachusetts und Vermont.
When my cousin came it took me a while to find the comparisons between EU and US. They were the same. I will try to find it again.
Another tidbit: In october the price of diesel went up significantly. Reason: A new law requiring the soot content to be decreased from 500 to 15. I guess here we attack the source Eu uses filters. Of course everything in Germany/EU is better. We prefer to call it different.

[americanbychoice]

By the way Canada, New Jersey, Washington, Oregon and two other states are joining this year.

[americanbychoice]

neocon

Deutschlands Autohersteller wollen gemeinsam die Dieseltechnik in den USA durchsetzen. Dafür bieten sie den Amerikanern sogar bessere Motoren an als den Europäern.

another little snippet.

every so often a german paper makes the mistake of letting it slip that the US has the toughest laws around.

[WhatDoIKnow]

neocon

As you know, Diesel cars are very popular in Germany. In California they aren't. In California you can not buy the coolest German Diesel car because of the regulations, which are stricter than in Germany. You can sell and buy used ones, but new ones are not being sold. The same is true about Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont. (As far as I know there was talk about introducing some sort of modifications to Diesel engines in October 2006, which would make them comply with the regulations, but I don't know any details). However, in this case the difference in regulations between some US states and Germany is obvious. Salutare.

[americanbychoice]

whatdoiknow
it won't happen until 2008

[WhatDoIKnow]

Ooops, americanbychoice. I see now that you had already posted the exact same information.

[Thomass]

With the picture, I have to say I think Bush is more Goldstein than Big Brother....

[Pogue Mahone]

Pogue Mahone

"No - the point here is to continue sticking the complete hypocrisy of europeans in their faces"

I´ve come across numerous complaints about european "hypocrisy" here now. Have you thought beyond the mere discovery yet? The reasons maybe?
It seems to me that there is a certain development in the relationship between our continents. But this alone does not have to disturb us, as there have been developments throughout history. What would be your suggestions for the reasons of this particular development?

Posted by: Gunter | January 15, 2007 at 11:02 PM

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

European hypocrisy in this case is the continued slander of the US at every possible opportunity - while ignoring the actual crimes of regimes like that in Tehran, Cuba and China

We are guilty of hypocrisy as well - just not the kind you practice

We don't use Germany, or even France, or the EU as a whole - as our standing bad-guy in every possible case

The whole Kyoto thing is euro hypocrisy at its finest

Nobody has the slightest interest in the details - the whole concept has been tranmitted throgh the euro body politic as a simple statement

"The US is wrong to be the worlds largest polluter and refuse to sign up for Kyoto and meet its obligations like we Germans/French/Brits have"

Substitute Bush for US in the above and thats closer to the general opinion

The hypocrisy contained in this universal Euro opinion is hard to top

[Gunter]

@ Pogue Mahone

I admit that I pay little attention to the developments regarding Kyoto, for a simple reason: Even if all the Kyoto requirements would be met by its current "member" states, all of the benefit would be eaten up easily by the amount of increased car sales and new power plants in China being built right now.
So either the responsible bureaucrats are total idealists or your assumption may be correct. Probably both plays a role.

But there was something differently I would like to know your opinion about: WHY do you think do such hostile political movements exist, what might be the reason for them? Having a scapegoat for global aberrations can´t be the only one.

And are these maneuvers a precurser for a future line of conflict?
Discussing such questions might allow us to learn new aspects beyond the mere discovery of "hypocrisy".

[americanbychoice]

@Gunter
There will be more conflicts, especially with your friend Iran.
They want to openly erase an entire nation from the earth. Of course with your reasoning Germany should just build more bunkers for thm as long as it improves the bottom line?
There are many more potential conflicts especially war in Europe when some countries want to cecede, civil war with muslims when they are strong enough to take over. In one generation it will occur.
I certainly hope that we will not repeat the same mistake we did after wwll, but stay out of it and leave you alone.

[Pat Patterson]

Germany exported to the US $69.9 billion in 2006 and $4.43 billion to Iran in the same period. Many German financial commentators have been talking about the firing of many Iranian government officials in the last year as the main reason that German contracts have not been renewed. Jochem Clausnitzer of the Near and Middle East Department of DIHK said, "For 2006 we expect a significant decline in exports[to Iran]." Any businessman in the world would look at the numbers involved and go to extraordinary lengths to not upset the US regardless of how much they might want to sell to Iran. But instead of research its always easier to blame the US.

[jlwb]

@Gunter
I would like to answer your question. “What would be your suggestions for the reasons of this particular development?”
Germany is supporting, though trade and media support, a country that is actively trying to kill Americans. There is good reason to believe that Americans have lost their lives due to Iran’s active involvement in Iraq. If German citizens were being killed by a country that the USA supported, you would be livid.
What is different now? Do you really have to ask that? Ask our young men and women serving in the Middle East! Ask THEM how they feel about Germany’s support of Iran! Then ask ME, the mother of one of those soldiers, what I would say if Germany was attacked and asked for our help! I would ask that we show Germany the same support that it has shown to the USA. Then think long and hard about the fact that the nut case in charge of Iran WANTS to start a war! He WANTS the final Imam to arrive! That can only happen when the world is engulfed in conflict. They might get a dirty bomb over here. We would handle that, hard as it might be. Germany is closer. Think, warhead! Berlin could be gone in a second!
We SHOULD be working together to stop this! We are working; you are trading and bashing us for working!

[Gunter]

jlwb

"We SHOULD be working together to stop this!"

Well you have to acknowledge that while Iran is hostile towards the USA, it has never been towards Germany. If you think you need to stop others, you cannot expect support by our country which has an excellent relationship towards the arabian world for more than 100 years now.

As I said, muslim leaders like tough talking, maybe it is part of their culture. Something like a tool to gain support among their own population. Nobody will deny that the current government of Iran would like the state of Israel to cease existing and they have hostile feelings against its population. But they are not as irrational as to start a war with nuclear weaponry. Even if Iran gained such weapons, it would simply create a situation ressembling a cold war between both countries. Which can be compared to Pakistan and India for example.

And please try to regain a strategical overview: American soldiers are endangered in the region because your government has sent them to it. Since Iran is a neighboring country with an ambitious demand for more influence in this very region, your government had to expect resistance and obviously accepted this fact.
For example when the german government decided to send troops to restore order in the republic of Congo a few months ago, I would not have blaimed the local warlords for losses among our soldiers. Our government knew what would be awaiting our troops and accepted the fact as well. Every government that sends its soldiers abroad has to face the responsibility for coming losses.

[Mir]

>> ... an excellent relationship towards the arabian world for more than 100 years now.

At least he got that right. Our country murdering millions of Jews definitely made an impression on the Islamists. In fact, the Nazi ideology and the ideology of the Islamists have quite a few things in common, and the way they influenced each other back then has already been documented. Still today, Hitlers "Mein Kampf" is a bestseller in some Muslim countries.

Unfortunately, that's all what he got right. It's obvious that he doesn't know anything about Islam and he has no idea what the regime in Tehran is all about. Don't blame him, relying on German MSM "news" is simply not enough to be informed.

[Charlie]

Hey German CEOs, there's an American under your bed! You can't keep the duvet over your head for ever you know. Sooner or later you'll have to pop out and then we will get you. bahhahaa!

[FranzisM]

Gunter - Where tough talking with no real consequences is part of a culture, you usually do find this in combination with alcoholic rituals.

Those mullahs are not on Wodka. Seriously. I would not recommend anybody to risk even the life of his dog on the base of your calculations.

Do you drink and post? You do not seem to belong to these that need a lot of intake until their ability to convince an audience is entirely covered.

[WhatDoIKnow]

It's obvious that he doesn't know anything about Islam and he has no idea what the regime in Tehran is all about.

Mir

Gunter knows quite well about Iran's intentions; no matter how bad the the German MSM is, they had to report on Iran's "promises" to Israel. Gunter, people like him and the German MSM know the truth, they just don't care. Of course they will never say they don't care whether Israel is wiped out or not, but the fact that they dismiss Iran's threats so easily is the one and only needed proof that they simply don't care. I am not saying that they want it to happen, they just don't loose any sleep over it (like they did when the US removed Saddam).

Some of them might protest in righteous indignation - "sure we care!" -, they might even convince themselves that they care, but it's impossible to believe them when they so generously ignore Iran's threats. There will be little help coming from the EU in this matter. In fact, there might be more obstruction than help.

[Pogue Mahone]

Gunter "But there was something differently I would like to know your opinion about: WHY do you think do such hostile political movements exist, what might be the reason for them? Having a scapegoat for global aberrations can´t be the only one."

Oh having a scapegoat can indeed be the only reason

It was with the jews

A large part of the reason it was so easy to murder so many millions was the illogical nature of such an action

You can see it in Schindlers List - as the inmates at Platzow listen to an account of the gassings and one of them objects "it makes no sense - why murder your own workforce?"

So here - it makes no sense. Why focus on the US as the source of evil - and happlily trade with the iranian regime? It makes no sense

And of course the other comment that stood out was the "excellent relationship with the arab world"

Did anyone not immediately picture the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem visiting der Fuhrer?

[Gunter]

@ Pogue Mahone

With this statement you actually claim that our society and the way it is governed have not changed significantly since 1945. Are you serious?

@ FranzisM

Obviously quite a number of companies operating internationally have full faith in a rational government of Iran. Are you claiming that their managers do all suffer from alcoholism? How many times in history has Germany been let down by arabian partners? Don´t you think this helps in judging a culture?

@ WhatDoIKnow

Regarding the motives of european media: They are probably numerous and do depend on the political background of each journalist.
Regarding the motivation of german companies that are operating in the arabian realm: Their investments in the muslim economies usually outnumber their partnerships with israelian companies. So you can´t expect them to have a pro-israelian stance, since companies have to face their responsibility towards their shareholders.

"people like him and the German MSM know the truth, they just don't care. Of course they will never say they don't care whether Israel is wiped out or not, but the fact that they dismiss Iran's threats so easily is the one and only needed proof that they simply don't care."

Israel seems to have some seven million inhabitants. What discoveries make you believe that we care less about Israel than we do about other countries with a similiar population at a comparable distance?

[Rancher]

This is off topic, a little anyway, but I’d like to get this out there for those who haven't seen it. Nazanin, the Iranian girl who was to be executed for defending herself and her niece from being raped was acquitted, sort of. She must pay the rapist’s family “dieh”, or blood money but then she can go free. She will appeal the blood money demand but if she can raise the $40,000 bail she can be released immediately. If not, she will continue to rot in her Iranian jail. You can help by donating here. Her mother had this to say to everyone who helped in the campaign to get her freed.

I know how hard each of you have worked to bring Nazanin home and I am grateful to all of you. Nazanin's father and siblings are very happy too. You brought us the only one wish that we had: freedom of our daughter. May God give all of you, our brothers and sisters health and happiness for all that you have done.

[Buckeye Abroad]

@WhatdoIknow

"Gunter, people like him and the German MSM know the truth, they just don't care."

You're giving them to much credit. Truth has no value if it doesn't confirm their nihilist world view. Think narcissistic personality disorder.

@Pogue Mahone

Not to harshly criticize, but Germany has provided Israel with finacial support for decades to attempt to make some ammends along with being the number one recepient of Jewish exiles in the EU. In fact, Israel requested the German govt. to not accept as many in order to encourage more immigration to Israel a few years ago. Not making execuses, but trying to bring current facts to light.

After reading up on Stalin's regime and the Turkish genocide of Armenian and Assyrian christians the last couple of weeks, I'm amazed how genocide wasn't that uncommon in Eur-asia. The banality of evil.