Rumsfeld is a diplomatic genius

BeBro · February 7, 2003, 08:28

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2735273.stm

"I believe Libya, Cuba and Germany... won't help in any respect"

I can´t wait to hear new comments from him about the issue when he arrives in Munich today.

Gangerolf · February 7, 2003, 08:33

he's such a baby

Gangerolf · February 7, 2003, 08:34

libya and cuba won't help??

MRT144 · February 7, 2003, 08:36

i think the chancellor should ask him if he could be any more of an *******.

BeBro · February 7, 2003, 08:37

Quote:

Originally posted by Gangerolf
libya and cuba won't help??

Maybe they´re "Old Europe" too

Harovan · February 7, 2003, 08:40

It was in our news already yesterday, Bebro, in the rubric "amusing things that happened", but I thought it wouldn't be worth a thread. Not that anyone would take it serious. As if nobody would know, that Rumsfeld has the diplomatic skills of a 3 year old. Can a 3 year old really insult me?

BeBro · February 7, 2003, 08:42

Well, yes I read it yesterday, but very late, so I was to lazy to start a thread. And I don´t feel insulted either, it is just entertaining...

CerberusIV · February 7, 2003, 08:52

He didn't mention NK. Does that mean they are going to help?

Velociryx · February 7, 2003, 08:54

So much for all that "unlimited solidarity" talk, eh?

-=Vel=-

Harovan · February 7, 2003, 08:54

Perhaps we should rethink our denial to aid our American friends. We should send little Donald a couple of Leopard 2 toy tanks, so he can play out his hobby without harming anyone. And for Bush jr. I recommend a copy of Civ3. We could tell him, that Hammurabi is the predecessor of Saddam Hussein. He wouldn't notice the difference, I'm sure.

Make games, not war!

Wernazuma III · February 7, 2003, 08:55

It's 1:1 in completely stupid and unnecessary comments between government members of both states within one year! Germany takes it more cool than the US did though - maybe it's because Rumsfeld is so obviously a moron.

Harovan · February 7, 2003, 09:04

Quote:

Originally posted by Velociryx
So much for all that "unlimited solidarity" talk, eh?

I thought that was meant for the "War on terror". Just here nobody sees a link between the war on terror and the upcoming war in Iraq. And nobody here seriously believes Bushs lukewarm suspection, that Saddam supports Al Kaeda.

Velociryx · February 7, 2003, 09:10

Conditional solidarity then, specificially relating to the war on terror, woulda been a more accurate phrase, even if it didn't make as good a headline.

I agree, btw, that Saddam's "links" to AlQueda are suspect, at best, but then....it was called a "War on Terror" not a "War on AlQueda" and Saddam certainly fits that bill, I'd say....

-=Vel=-

Harovan · February 7, 2003, 09:17

Quote:

Originally posted by Velociryx
Conditional solidarity then, specificially relating to the war on terror, woulda been a more accurate phrase, even if it didn't make as good a headline.

True. Btw, does it help, that I evaluate Schröders diplomatic skills not much higher than Rumsfelds?

What concerns Bush, well, let's better not talk about him, or we "evildoers" will get included in the "Axis of evil" v2.0.

Drake Tungsten · February 7, 2003, 09:18

Quote:

maybe it's because Rumsfeld is so obviously a moron.

Rumseld is certainly not a moron.

Dr Strangelove · February 7, 2003, 09:19

Quote:

Originally posted by CerberusIV
He didn't mention NK. Does that mean they are going to help?

No, and he doesn't have to. If you had been paying attention in class you'd realize that North Korea, Iran and Iraq are all allied in an "axis of evil", so of course NK won't rat out its ally. Germany, Cuba and Libya are members of the "axis of evil has-beens", A completely seperate alliance.

Just kidding.

Velociryx · February 7, 2003, 09:56

@ the "v2.0" Good one!

And I'll readily admit that Bush is a walking gift to European political cartoonists....sheesh...how DID we get so lucky?

::shakes head in amazement::

-=Vel=-

Der PH · February 7, 2003, 09:59

What's the problem with being compared to Libya and Cuba? There surely are connections! All of these countries do have things the U.S. don't have:
Cuba has good cigars, Germany has good beer (even if the Belgians don't thinks so), Lybia ... I think, they've got oil. Oh, oh, pray that G.W.B.jr. doesn't know this!

DinoDoc · February 7, 2003, 10:27

"One doesn't always have to like the American rhetoric," Wolfgang Schaeuble, a lawmaker and former leader of the main opposition Christian Democrats, said on MDR radio. "But the fact is that, unfortunately, that is how we are behaving."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77844,00.html

VJ · February 7, 2003, 10:34

Quote:

"One doesn't always have to like the American rhetoric," Wolfgang Schaeuble, a lawmaker and former leader of the main opposition Christian Democrats, said on MDR radio. "But the fact is that, unfortunately, that is how we are behaving."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77844,00.html

Yep...

Velociryx · February 7, 2003, 10:36

Well, it's a FOX link, but....I agree with the guy, actually.

-=Vel=-

PS: Interesting that a EU parliamentarian was urging Dubya to fire Rumsfeld too...lol

DinoDoc · February 7, 2003, 10:37

Quote:

Originally posted by Tuomerehu
Yep...

Is that not how you spell his name? I just thought the quote was an amusing reaction to the Rumsfeld flap.

If I were Powell, I'd probably b*tch slap him.

redbaron · February 7, 2003, 10:44

For more of the wit and wisdom of Donnie, try:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/bh/rumsfeld.shtml

Harovan · February 7, 2003, 10:45

Quote:

Originally posted by DinoDoc
"One doesn't always have to like the American rhetoric," Wolfgang Schaeuble, a lawmaker and former leader of the main opposition Christian Democrats, said on MDR radio. "But the fact is that, unfortunately, that is how we are behaving."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77844,00.html

Well, Schäuble is a rightwinger and in opposition right now. So does it surprise anyone, that he tries to gain political benefits out of Schröders moronic behavior? Schröders whole problem is his "Unlimited support" promise after Sept 11th. He got a lot of trouble for the "unlimited" part and his popularity sank very fast. He won the 2002 elections with the promise "not to participate in a war against Iraq in any way". That was a blunder, he should have said "we won't participate militarily", while we offer our help in political pressure against Saddam and may be in cleaning up and peacekeeping, as we always do. The US don't need our military help anyway. The German army is, like most of the other European armies, build as a pure defensive force and thus unable to project its power. Plus, due to the results of WWII, Germany was restricted to build offensive forces like carriers and long range bombers. I don't know, if these restrictions were lifted in the 90s, when the German occupation officially ended. But any military effort of the government would be extremely unpopular. The WWII allies put an enormous effort to reeducate the German population after the war. So if we seem to be pacifist pussies now, we're terribly sorry, but...........

DanS · February 7, 2003, 11:06

Rummy has a way of being out in front of issues. Like his "old world" quote, this one might ring true in a couple of weeks. We'll see what the mood is like in Germany after France offers troops.

while we offer our help in political pressure against Saddam and may be in cleaning up and peacekeeping, as we always do

Yes, but Germany's (and France's) actions took off the pressure just when the pressure was needed. And that rightly pisses everyone off. I don't think Schroeder's actions served the cause of peace.

Ramo · February 7, 2003, 11:14

Quote:

No, and he doesn't have to. If you had been paying attention in class you'd realize that North Korea, Iran and Iraq are all allied in an "axis of evil", so of course NK won't rat out its ally. Germany, Cuba and Libya are members of the "axis of evil has-beens", A completely seperate alliance.

But Germany is already in the Axis of Weasels. They can't be in two Axes!

DinoDoc · February 7, 2003, 11:16

Quote:

Originally posted by Ramo
They can't be in two Axes!

Yes they can. Germans are just that good.

BeBro · February 7, 2003, 11:16

Quote:

Originally posted by DinoDoc
"One doesn't always have to like the American rhetoric," Wolfgang Schaeuble, a lawmaker and former leader of the main opposition Christian Democrats, said on MDR radio. "But the fact is that, unfortunately, that is how we are behaving."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77844,00.html

No problem whith criticism of Schröder´s position, but Rumsfeld´s statements won´t help here. After the stupid Hitler remark from our former minister of justice and Rumsies "Old Europe" nonsense I thought it can´t get worse, but...

Gangerolf · February 7, 2003, 11:18

Quote:

Germany, Cuba and Libya are members of the "axis of evil has-beens",

the US don't consider Cuba and Libya evil anymore?

good.

BeBro · February 7, 2003, 11:20

Quote:

Originally posted by Sir Ralph
Plus, due to the results of WWII, Germany was restricted to build offensive forces like carriers and long range bombers.

Really? I didn´t know it was a real restriction (like those from the Versailles treaty after WWI) I thought it is more a kind of self-limitation?