Wanted: German Leadership

The current German government is heading for a similar fate as their American brethren: The Democrats. “I am not convinced” and “We disagree with what you are doing” are not political platforms or substantive foreign policies.

Earlier this week Joschka Fischer lamented over the current EU problems with astoundingly profound leadership. “Either the Europeans come together or we will stay weak,” Fischer told reporters. He also indicated a concern that globalization is fuelling European unemployment. This is like saying that globalization is preventing Coca Cola from realizing profits. Germany is a huge exporter; perhaps one of the worlds largest. In truth, where would Germany be without globalization? A society of entitlements is what is, more than anything else, fuelling Europe’s unemployment!

Fischer also continues to blame Britain and the Netherlands for the failure to agree the EU budget, trumpeting that their inflexibility torpedoed a compromise designed to fund the integration of the union’s new eastern European members. He said Europe needed “creative” solutions to the crisis, but made no concrete suggestions. This is clearly just politics; in other words Fischer is making an effort to pit the Eastern members of the EU against Mr. Blair. Slovenia’s leader already has backed the statements by Blair in his EU address in hopes of achieving long-term reforms (THIS is flexibility).Integration costs are a huge part of why Germany’s economy is in the tank (see previous post). To my friend David, over at Dialog International: even Joseph Joffe is referring to Germany as the “sick man of Europe,” so this is not a fabrication of the NeoCons.

Speaking at a conference on Iraq being co-hosted in Brussels by the U.S. and the European Union, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer warned there would be a "high price to pay" if the democratization process in Iraq fails. What is he willing to contribute to this process to ensure its success? So far…nothing! This is not leadership.

Let’s hope that Frau Merkel has the political guts to lead. Most people know that she stands for an opening of the markets, and a scaling back (albeit, only slightly) of social security. The real question is perhaps, is the German population willing to be led where they don’t want to go, but hopefully realize they must go? Joseph Jaffe was recently quoted in IHT: "Germans are beginning to understand that what Chirac and Schroder have been telling them is wrong - that if we turn Europe into a Maginot Line against globalization, it will somehow protect them." Let’s hope he is right, and that we can look forward to better relations starting in September!