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That ‘Was’ Bush …

June 15th, 2008
By WILLIAM KERN

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Europe this week bade President Bush farewell - and if it was a fond farewell, it is because they know he’s leaving not only Europe, but the corridors of American power.

In a scathing column, Uwe Vorkotter writes for Germany’s Frankfurter Rundschau:

“This was never going to work. George W. Bush and the Germans. There’s not a trace of sympathy to be found, hardly any respect and little political common ground. Bush will be remembered as the president who led the world into a devastating war, based his policies on lies and preached freedom while practicing Guantánamo.”

As for whether Obama or McCain would be better, Vorkotter writes:

“We’ll be relieved to be rid of the man with the simplistic worldview and the foolish smirk. His successor will be elected in November and move into the White House in January. Be it Obama or McCain: It can only get better.”

By Uwe Vorkötter

Translated By Ulf Behncke

June 10, 2008

Germany - Frankfurter Rundschau - Original Article (German)

This was never going to work. George W. Bush and the Germans. There’s not a trace of sympathy to be found, hardly any respect and little political common ground. Bush will be remembered as the president who led the world into a devastating war, based his policies on lies and preached freedom while practicing Guantánamo. When Angela Merkel receives her guest for his farewell visit today [June 10], there will be no reason to shed any tears. We’ll be relieved to be rid of the man with the simplistic worldview and the foolish smirk. His successor will be elected in November and move into the White House in January. Be it Obama or McCain: It can only get better.

During the Bush era, the world has come no closer to peace. Quite the contrary. The conflict in the Middle East is farther from being resolved than ever; Israel is not more secure than before. The culture clash between the West and the Muslim world is escalating; American foreign policy is being set by generals rather than diplomats. Oh yes … nearly seven years after September 11th, 2001, bin Laden is alive - somewhere in the mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Since then, the war on terror has claimed far more victims than the terrorists themselves. Conclusion: in terms of global politics, Bush’s years were wasted years.

And not just in terms of global politics. During this period there has been significant damage to German-American as well as European-American relations. This is political collateral damage that will undoubtedly go unmentioned at Merkel’s Meseburg guesthouse. We will instead delve deeply into the past, remembering the Berlin Airlift and the Marshall Plan without which the German “economic miracle ” that occurred after the second world war would have been inconceivable.

Thanks America. But sixty years later it’s not enough to rehash old stories on every anniversary and maintain the pathos of the past. …

READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of President Bush’s final tour of Europe.



This entry was posted on Sunday, June 15th, 2008 at 12:06 pm and is filed under Radical Islam, Angela Merkel, Gas Prices, Left-Wing, Cartoons, Columnists, World War II, Al Qaeda, Torture, Environmental Issues, Leadership, Iraq War, Diplomacy, Food Shortages, Newsweek Blogitics, Foreign Policy, Newspapers, Osama bin Laden, Foreign Politics, Germany, Political Cartoons, Energy, War, Military, Foreign Affairs, 2008 Elections, Environment, Europe, War On Terror, George W. Bush, 9/11, Italy, France, John McCain, Barack Obama, Cartoon Commentary, Israel, Global Warming, Politics. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

 
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