U.S. seeks common ground in Berlin

[maddezmom]

With relations between the superpowers still recovering, a new U.S. ambassador arrived in Berlin to foster a new era of cooperation.

BY DAVID McHUGH

Associated Press


BERLIN - The new U.S. ambassador to Germany, industrialist William R. Timken Jr., highlighted what he called the countries' common efforts to foster freedom as he arrived Wednesday to tend a relationship still recovering from differences over the Iraq War.

Timken, 66, stressed cooperation in Afghanistan and the Middle East in brief remarks to reporters as he arrived at the capital's Tegel airport.

'Our two countries' shared values and efforts to advance freedom and prosperity have served as beacons of hope for many around the world,'' he said.

``As I speak, Americans and Germans are working side by side to promote stability in Afghanistan, sustainable development in Africa and an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.''

U.S.-German relations have improved after a deep freeze over Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's vocal opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Schroeder and President Bush patched things up at a summit in February, but relations remain more businesslike than friendly.

more: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/12470279.htm?source=rss&channel=miamiherald_nation

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Does our ambassador speak or understand the German langauge?

Does he understand that German is not equatable with "Nazi"?
Does he understand German policy nationally and internationally?
Does he know ANYTHING about Germany whatsoever?

Probably not. He got this for being a "Pioneer" most likely.

http://www.usembassy.de/germany/timken_bio.html

[Kellanved]

2. He does not

But at the moment we're optimistic: unlike his precedessor, Coats, he'll probably not try to meddle into domestic politics. Coats was a bit of an embarassement, as he constantly tried to establish faith-based politics.



http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,367881,00.html

[bemildred]

3. "superpowers"? Plural? More than one?

Who let that slip past?