Merkel says Iran threatens entire democratic world

[ECH1969]

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at the start of her first visit to Israel on Sunday that Iran threatens not only the Jewish state but the entire democratic world, one of her strongest statements to date.

Merkel spoke after meeting interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who expressed Israel's concern at Iran's nuclear programme. Israel, the United States and the European Union accuse Iran of trying to build an atom bomb. Tehran denies this.

"Iran is not just a threat to Israel, but also to the democratic countries of this world," Merkel said at the start of a two-day visit to Israel.

She said Germany and Israel were in total agreement when it came to the subject of Tehran's plans to produce nuclear fuel by enriching uranium, a process of purifying uranium for use in atomic power plants or weapons. "I don't see the slightest difference in the views of Germany and Israel," Merkel said.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/1/30/worldupdates/2006-01-30T030459Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_-234394-1&sec=Worldupdates

[stepnw1f]

1. I Was Waiting for this Nut Case to Spout WH Propaganda

it was only a matter of time. And how these evil bastards all use God to inflict their damage on the world. They ALWAYS use God... the same types.. over and over again.

[punpirate]

2. Seems that this woman sniffed...

... a few too many of George's farts when they met, and thought they were roses.

This sounds as if it's preparation for the announcement that Germany will begin their own nuclear weapons development program, and with any luck, that will spell the end of Angela Merkel's political career.

[Binka]

20. Why Yes She Did Check Out This Float!

[mare]

22. *sigh*

Germany WON'T start a nuclear weapons program. There was ONE guy (who's not even a part of the current government) who stated we'd need one and there wasn't even a discussion about it. Like the Süddeutsche Zeitung put it: The whole thing is a "ghost debate". No one wants it, no one needs it, it's not happening.

[punpirate]

30. Let's, then, just keep an eye on the debate...

... in the Bundestag as the Bushies keep saying that Iran can launch nuclear missiles against countries in the EU....

Cheers.

[anitar1]

33. Welcome, Mare, to DU.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Okay, so send the Germans to fight that war.

That was a no brainer.

[DemInDistress]

4. what is the name of Germany's parrot ? merkel !!! lol nt

[tyedyeto]

5. Wait a minute! I thought that Saddam was the greatest threat to...

the free world? And as of now, the US has that threat and country under control. :sarcasm:

[sweetheart]

6. Germany pay massa back

For the turning of the back
during bullshit time of war,
and now they're selling us some more,
bullshit plans for a hack,
gathering weapons for attack,
and now what human being remains,
equal claims to be the same,
and where did the iraqis go?
Down the drain, in to the flow,
So it is Iran this time,
Screaming mothers bloody blind
holding splintered childeren,
in that desert, in mother's den,
america dies for her men smarter than the 10's
of lying silly clowns, helicopters and gowns,
the dinosaur crashes down
bankrupt bleeding urban towns,
And when the empire walks away,
all the world will sing that day.

[catnhatnh]

7. So, like, thanks to Bush....

...they are threatening Iraq and Palestine too???

[K-W]

8. last time I checked it was the 'democratic' world threatning Iran. EOM

[IndianaGreen]

9. Merkel is a German rightwinger

The rightwing is a threat to the entire planet, particularly its religious variant.

[lumpy]

12. CDU was founded by Conrad Adenauer.

Merkel's party is assumed to be a right of center Christian party. The aim, to reform social services and create a blend of continuing social needs and personal responsibility. Social reforms.....Sounds alot like Reagan policy. No wonder Bush was looking at her with his sideline 'charming' smirk.

[IndianaGreen]

16. I'll take Willy Brandt over old Konrad Adenauer

Merkel is way to the right of the late Adenauer, whose only claim to fame is to have been an American puppet during the Cold War.

[BillZBubb]

10. I wonder how the Germans were dumb enough to elect her?

Supposedly a vast majority of Germans oppose the Bush/neocon imperialism. Did they thing a nutjob like Merkel wouldn't be front and center to get the Germans involved in any fight Bush wanted?

The Germans, Canadians, Italians, Australians, and Polish (don't forget Poland!) aren't any smarter than the Americans. They too elected "conservative" governments knowing full well that the Bush insanity would infect them.

[mare]

23. Because as far as I know

German Conservatism is around as conservative as the US Democrats are. Conservative isn't always the same around the world.

[SOS]

28. The left-of-center got more votes

The Social Democrats, Greens and the Left got 51.1%
CDU and FDP got 45%.

Schroeder said he would not enter a coalition with the Linke, former SED.

Merkel got the job, despite a left-leaning majority.

[JVS]

31. SPD cannot form a coalition with PDS/Linke

In the East it is possible in the State governments, but on a national level it would be pissing on the electrified rail, so to speak

[502ramjet]

11. Again,

We invented nukes, and used them. Why are we preventing Iran from doing the same??

[0007]

21. Read what Mordechai Vanunu - The Israel Nuclear Scientist has to say

http://www.nonviolence.org/vanunu/

[enigma000]

27. Because we don't want them to use nukes?

Because it is not in our interest to have a localized nuclear war breaking out? Hey, maybe its hypocritical, but so is a minimum drinking age.

[peacetalksforall]

13. I have this sickening feeling in my stomach. nt

[tabasco]

14. The bitch doesn't speak for me.

Last year it was North Korea. This year, Iran. Who will be the boogeyman next year?

I don't live in fear like conservative cowards.

Conservatives are the type of people Ben Franklin talked about when he said people who give up liberty to obtain security deserve neither.

[madrchsod]

15. i wonder what the aryan nation thinks of her?

siding with the jews over the aryan iranians. i bet if you scratch her skin it bleeds white aryan blood...

[krkaufman]

17. Nice to see Americans aren't the only idiots....

... to elect Right-Wingers. (Oh, Canada!)

[HuffleClaw]

18. this coming from the asshole who wants germany to have NUKES??

suuuuuure, i guess germany will be part of bush's next 'coalition of the willing'. i wouldn't be surprised to hear his plans for that in the SOTU.

[burrowowl]

19. Merkel is a

in-Bu$h's-pocket RWinger!

[Javaman]

24. First Iran then tomorrow de world!!!

Merkel shut up. If you really want to be in morons* back pocket, just say so, this sucking up bullshit just doesn't fly.

[lovuian]

25. Merkel is really putting Europe right in the middle of this

WOW ... and she barely just won the election sounds like Bush too...

[txaslftist]

26. What a damn damn lie.

"Israel’s hawkish defense minister, Shaul Mofaz, while calling for diplomacy, warned last weekend his nation “would not tolerate” a nuclear-armed Iran. Israel’s Mossad has been claiming this March is the absolute deadline to stop Iran’s nuclear program. Israel’s many supporters in the U.S. Congress are loudly calling for war against Iran."

Why March?

As I've been saying for a while, if we attack Iran, it will have to be before March. Does it have anything to do with nukes or any of that?

Nope. Iran is in compliance with the Nuclear nonproliferation agreement. The IAEA has inspected them and said they are doing nothing to pursue nukes, and even if they did, it would be years before they were a credible threat.

The Iranian Oil Bourse begins selling oil denominated in euros in March instead of dollars. As any economist will tell you, this is merely a symbolic gesture in terms of its actual impact, but the symbolic significance is huge. Israel and lots of other countries hold large US dollar reserve positions.

Obviously it affects us, too.

If we strike Iran, it won't be to stop them from developing nukes. It will be to prevent them from challenging the undisputed power of the mighty US dollar.

[Demeter]

29. NO, I DON'T THINK SO!!!

The US threatens the entire world; Al-Qaeda threatens the entire world. Iran is a threat mostly to itself.

[anitar1]

32. Well, isn't she a darling! n/t

[fujiyama]

34. Sorry you dumb Bush ass kissing bitch

but I'm no more scared of Iran having nukes than Pakistan, North Korea, China, the US, France, UK, Israel, India...

Then again, I guess I don't really live in the Democratic world so her statement may not apply to me? But I doubt her statement does not apply to her country as well...