Bush Visit: The World's Most-Expensive BBQ

[Kellanved]

At first glance, nothing distinguishes the visit by US President Bush to eastern Germany from his earlier trips: Mysterious airplanes land at regional airports, commando divers examine the local pond, a warship lies at anchor on the Baltic Sea coast, garages are cleared out on police orders and even the manholes are being welded shut.

And yet everything is supposed to be different this time. Bush himself is said to have felt the security measures during his last visit -- to Mainz in February 2005 -- were exaggerated. His autocade drove through deserted streets -- an experience the president apparently doesn't want to make again.

That's why "the population is there too" this visit, as German government officials phrased it yesterday. The Americans expressly desired "being close to German citizens," the government officials said. An audience of a thousand people will attend the welcome speeches on the Hanseatic city Stralsund's Old Market. The members of the audience were selected by the townhalls and district offices of the area. Some citizens also sent in applications. About 50 hand-picked guests have been invited to the barbecue night with Bush and Merkel that will take place in Trinwillershagen, a town 30 kilometers (19 miles) away from Stralsund. According to government officials in Berlin, Harald Ringstorff, the premier of the eastern state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, "will be there on many occasions as well." The member of Germany's Social Democrat Party (SPD) had criticized the preparations for the presidential visit in his state.
...

The costs were kept "as low as possible," government officials say. What that means in figures is €12 million ($15 million) or more. Government officials say the expense is justified because such visits add "an important accent to our foreign policy."
Ringstorff will probably have to wait a while to see any money. The city of Mainz is still waiting for the financial support it was promised by Germany's federal government. Bush's visit to Mainz cost €145,000 ($185,000); the federal government wanted to cover a third of the costs. The governor of Mainz has just sent the latest reminder to Berlin -- but up till now its only seen €6,000.

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,426329,00.html


And

Harald Ringstorff, the premier of the eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, will welcome US President George Bush when he arrives for his summit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday. SPIEGEL ONLINE spoke to him about his critical attitude towards the visit.
...
SPIEGEL ONLINE: What are you going to say to Bush?

Ringstorff: That will depend on the situation. Perhaps it will be possible to say a few things about the development of the region, or about some of the companies active here.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: You're not going to formulate any criticisms?

Ringstorff: The political discussions will be conducted by the chancellor.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Some ministers of your state government -- members of the socialist Left Party -- plan to participate in demonstrations against Bush. Members of Stralsund's social Democratic Party -- your SPD -- have called Bush an unwelcome guest. Is that the way to receive the head of a foreign government?

Ringstorff: It's one of the great achievements of German reunification that opinions can now be expressed freely. That certainly wouldn't have been possible before 1989. If someone protests peacefully in a demonstration, that's something you have to put up with in a democracy.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Your local government's first reaction to the announcement of the visit was: We're not paying for it. Does Bush have to feel his hosts are also his enemies?

Ringstorff: There was no such reaction from the local government. We'll be paying whatever happens. The question is, how much. The Chancellor has invited the US president to her constituency. The region of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is small; it can't take care of the security issues involved in this visit on its own. We have only 2,000 policemen available for this operation, but we need at least 10,000 more. So we have to talk to the federal government about costs. I would have preferred for this discussion never to have taken place in public.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: But you started it.

Ringstorff: We didn't start it. It's simply not possible that the federal government tacitly assumes that Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will cover the costs alone. The right way to proceed would have been for the federal government to say immediately: Let's sit down together and talk about the costs.
...

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,426372,00.html

Yippie. Merkel is having a campaign event with her buddy Bush, and wants one of Germany's poorest state to pay for it.

[Ilsa]

1. I wonder if Bush* is going to require that Germany take in

his personal travelling chef versus eating what the host has to offer?

[Demeter]

2. Why Don't They Tell Him To Stay Home?

Bush has no money, no power and no favors to throw around anymore. I'd like to see nations start disinviting him. Do something about the Ugly American! Shun Bush!

[Vidar]

3. Wonder what was the comparative cost of Kennedy's "Ich bin ein

Berliner"visit?

[Kellanved]

4. I'd guess it was pretty much for free

The Berlin Brigade handled security and there was no need to evacuate houses, etc . .
Berlin wasn't part of the Federal Republic, so any bill would have just ended up in American hands anyway.

[caligirl]

5. GW the President with a severe case of parnoia and delusions of grandeur.