Iran row: Germany debates military option

[ECH1969]

Germany's grand coalition government is bickering over whether Iran's nuclear ambitions should be stopped with a military strike.

"We have learned from our history," Merkel said, referring to a time when Europeans slept during Hitler's ascendancy, which eventually led to the systematic killing of some 6 million Jews. "Now we see that there were times when we could have acted differently. For that reason Germany is obliged to intervene at an early stage... to make clear (to Iran) what is OK and what isn't."

Social Democrat Secretary General Hubertus Heil told the Tagesspiegel, a Berlin-based newspaper: "I expect that the chancellor will not steer a different foreign policy course than we Social Democrats have done for years... There can't be a military option."

Conservative politicians have defended Merkel's speech, and said no option should be categorically factored out of the difficult Iran equation.

http://www.upi.com/InternationalIntelligence/view.php?StoryID=20060213-010546-7991r

[pinniped]

1. Good, please liberate us from this Hitler wannabe.

--"We have learned from our history,"--

[endarkenment]

2. Nice of the Germans to debate

about how we should use our military to clobber Iranians. "For that reason Germany is obliged to intervene at an early stage". With exactly what are the Germans going to intervene in Iraq?

Oh I see, that twit Merkel wants to send our children to kill and be killed by Iranians. No thanks.

[populistdriven]

3. Isn't Dr. Stangeglove German?

or Austrian (close enough)

[Barrett808]

5. "He changed it when he became a citizen."

Turgidson:

Strangelove. What kind of a name is that? That ain't no kraut name, is it, Stainsy?

Stains:

He changed it when he became a citizen. It used to be Merkwurkdigliebe.

Turgidson:

Hmm. A kraut, by any other name, huh, Stainsy?

http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/amk/doc/0055.html

[atreides1]

4. It's always the 6 million Jews

Everyone seems to have forgotten the other 6 million non-Jews that were killed just as systematically, and whose bodies were put into the ovens as well.

Maybe someone should point out to Merkel that the German people looked the other way, and instead of pointing the finger at the rest of Europe, she should look in the mirror and see a reflection of those that did nothing when it mattered the most.

Besides, didn't Hitler use this same logic before launching his attack on Russia? Something about stopping the Communist scourge before it got out of hand?

[Jim Sagle]

10. Sorry to bore you.

[Orrin_73]

6. Merkel is a Thatcher wannabe

Unfortunately the Germans have to endure her for the coming 4 years.

[bemildred]

9. It's kind of amazing how quick she started beating the war drum

and sucking up to Bush.

[Amaya]

7. won't happen

nt

[WebChamp]

8. If they want to stop someone who reminds them of their WWII....

...Nazi history, maybe they ought to try stopping the NeoCons.