Merkel: a New Voice in Old Europe
There's a refreshing "New Voice" coming from "Old Europe".
German Chancellor Angela Merkel sets out her government's agenda as she makes her first major parliamentary speech in Berlin Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005, since becoming the country's leader. Merkel said Wednesday she aims to get Germany's economic growth back among the top three in Europe, sending a signal of optimism as she set out her new government's program. (AP Photo/Franka Bruns)
Angela Merkel stands firm, talks tough on terrorism in first major speech:
German chancellor Angela Merkel says she will not be "blackmailed" by the kidnappers of a German woman in Iraq who have threatened to kill her.The Pro-American Merkel says that Germany will not be blackmailed by terrorists:
But she said her government is doing "everything in its power" to rescue 43-year-old Susanne Osthoff and her driver, who were seized on Friday.
The kidnapping is her first major test as German leader, and her comments came in her first speech to parliament.
She has also been setting out her plans to tackle Germany's economic problems.
But Mrs Merkel began her speech by focusing on the kidnapping of archaeologist Susanne Osthoff.
Chancellor Angela Merkel called terrorism a threat to core values of freedom, tolerance and respect.Now that is a refreshing sound! She has her work cut out for her as she aims to boost Germany's sluggish economic growth and tackle 11% unemployment. But, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is out of the blocks and talking tougher than the man she replaced.
At the outset of her first major speech to parliament since replacing Gerhard Schroeder as German leader last week, Merkel focused on the case of a German archaeologist held hostage in Iraq since Friday and threatened with death.
"This government, this parliament will not let itself be blackmailed," Merkel said, calling international terrorism one of society's biggest challenges.
"It (terrorism) is directed at everything that is important to us, at the core of our civilisation. It is directed against our entire value system."
Davids Medienkritik must be pleased.
posted by Gateway Pundit at 11/30/2005 04:15:00 AM
12 Comments:
Chancellor Merkel may be the best thing to happen to Europe since Margaret Thatcher.
Jesus Eddie,
i hope that was toung in cheek!
Maggie was the worst thing to happen to the UK since WW2.
AndrewL:
Based on.....
The refreshing, and I believe very telling thing, is that she would use the term terrorist. Is this a translation loop or did she actually say it? A big deal.
Rich
I think that Merkel benefits from the poverty of low expectations. We've become so accustomed to such a constant stream of idiocy emanating from Berlin that after uttering something even halfway sensible we're ready to give the chancellor a standing ovation.
While Merkel's foreign policy rhetoric is encouraging I'm less thrilled about her economic plan, which thus far seems to consist of raising the VAT. Not sure how that will stimulate growth.
I'm still unconvinced as to how great a leader Merkel will prove to be.
But I'd like to be proven wrong!
She's from East Germany, aka "commie Germany". I think she knows all about tough times. People from tough places have a tendency to not be intimidated easily. Good for Germany.
El Tejón: I haven't read or heard what she said in the original, but here in Germany it's common for the media to use "terrorist" to describe the Iraqi insurgents when they perform terrorist acts.
James A.
Re: "Terrorism"
It's like Mel Brooks once said, "Comedy is when you fall down a flight of stairs., Tragedy is when I fall down a flight of stairs."
Since she was referring to a German being attacked, the politically-correct word was "terrorism." Wait until she's referring to an attack on Americans (or, even better, Israelis), then see what word she uses.
More strength to Merkel! Let us all transform ourselves into Margaret Thatchers, thus to smite the moonbats up every orifice of their unfagrant beings
Would you guys like to participate in a German-American Blog Carnival recommended by Instapundit?
http://instapundit.com/archives/027125.php
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