Surprise, surprise: Vice President of the United States Mr. Pence pointed out at the
Munich Security Conference that the NATO is not at all obsolete
(as of course the Conference itself is not, be it expensive or not) and
that the Trans-Atlantic Alliance is still reliable from his side –
although there is homework to do:
more engagement and a fair burden sharing. ‘Fair’… Germany is strong, but…
Should we push the army so much? Following the old principle of ‘the more budget you have
the mightier you are’?
Mrs. von der Leyen for sure is asking for more money – otherwise the tanks will not reach
their maneuver sites in time as the bridges cannot stand the weight of them …
Alternative: Maneuver? The effort is just too much to take care for the bridges carrying such weights…
As the Bayerisches Fernsehen informed, Trump ‘has been all around at the Conference’. Despite of Trump’s special talk-of-the-town habits there are enough people (even Republicans!) to tone the political heat down a bit. Although Mr. Bannon as the hard-to-take hardliner stands for an anti EU position. “He should be wearing a muzzle.” Rusty whispers in my ear.
Visited a Pro-European Demonstration here in Berlin (these demonstrations started in Frankfurt/ Main and spread out over the country until the 12th of March) and good to know,
see and hear that there are lots of pro-Europeans, be it young or old,
whatever (European) country they are coming from.
In times of talking about crisis only, this is a promising and essential sign –
as Europe is essential (even existential) for so many people.
Imagine that you cannot enter a plane right away like today and have a weekend trip to another European destination?
Or your families are spread out all over Europe and you cannot just visit them for a wedding e.g.;
or, or, or: I am sure you can set up a long list of examples like these right away.
And add the economic examples as well, please.
Even Britain will have to re-calculate the effects of the Brexit once again…
And after having listed the European pros, note down the cons:
you will immediately notice to what side the pendulum swings.
By the way, if you want: Join the demos –
in Berlin it is Sundays, 2-3 PM, Gendarmenmarkt, Mitte.
Yes, it is campaign time here in Germany and Mr. Schulz is competing for the SPD – the latest market research data show a clear increase of votes for the SPD (no matter what Insitute). Mrs. Merkel, is she nervous? She just continues working – always a little bit tangled by her Union partner, Mr. Seehofer -, the AfD is still in a hassle with Mr. Höcke and faces a decrease of party donations and: they loose votes. Did Mrs. Petry travel to Russia lately to collect money then? Or did she check out possibilities to hack the elections?
FDP? Still engaged here with the Tegel Airport topic (local, local) and ‘The Greens’ are looking for a new positioning as their program has diffused into several programs of the other parties.
It will be an exciting year – not only because of the seven new planets discovered.
This year’s German election for Mrs. Merkel to be elected once again is not to be taken for granted. Above that, the elections in other European countries like The Netherlands, France… they will show how tolerant Europe can be in the end.
P.S.: By the way, I always experienced the Netherlands as a very tolerant, relaxed and open country, as well France (well, at least you should speak a little French…), so I close this post, freely adapted from Heinrich Heine, Nachtgedanken: “Denk ich an Deutschland in der Nacht, dann bin ich um den Schlaf gebracht.” So, sleepless? Watched the Oscar Night last night instead… And me, I will be in NY next week, looking forward to present new works by Adrian Esparza.