GERMAN EUROPE'S CLAIM TO CO-LEADERSHIP
WITH THE USA
INTRODUCTION
Since openly attacking the USA before and
during the Iraq war the German political class has done a volte face.
Then German Ministers called Bush a "Hitler" and a "dictator".
Now Germany seeks to ally itself with American military and political
power. But the ongoing criticism of American "growing militarism"
is now combined with a desire to exploit US power for German economic
advantage and "European" leadership. The prime condition for
their support is the inclusion in the re-organisation of world of German
interests (which imperialist German politicians naturally call "European"
interests!). Note how the corporatist structures of German State and
Business leads to the discussion of such political strategies by influential
business based think tanks. Prominent among these are companies like
Deutsche Bank and State funded "Political Foundations", as
we have described in detail elswhere on this website..
Complementary war power (08.07.2003)
BERLIN - The German ambassador to Washington recommends that Berlin
and the EU should participate in the attempt of the USA to eliminate
the ,,Fiction of the (...) equality of states" - if necessary by
military means. As a countermove the United States is requested to give
priority status to German interests in the "reorganisation"
of the world.
The thrust of German Ambassador, Wolfgang Ischinger, coincides with
the interests of numerous big German enterprises which depend on business
with the USA. According to Joseph Ackermann, spokesman for the board
of directors of the Deutsche Bank, leading business circles plead that
"Europe's future" should be "at America's side".
Ackermann states that the USA and Europe are "natural allies"
even if based solely on their economic involvement. 1) While immediate
economic interests press German foreign policy into continuing co-operation,
divergent interests, particularly those of a political-strategic nature
do exist.
Embarrassing similarity
Heinrich Vogel, board member of the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik
(SWP, foundation for science and policy), notes a ,,far deeper alienation
between the USA and Europe", which he sees as due to the advantage
of the old continent's civilisation. The unquestioning faith in authority
and growing militarism of US society serve as reminders of Wilhelminian
Germany on the eve of World War I. Vogel sees an "embarrassing
similarity with that pre-democratic phase of German history".
No reason for timidity
The demonstration of absolute military power has caused far-reaching
damage to the claim of the USA to political leadership. The prominent
political advisor formulates Berlin's claims for participation in the
global hegemony thus: It is necessary now that ,,terms concerning further
political guarantees for cooperation must be openly discussed."
,,European potential in trade, currency, technology, law and cultural
policies put the American claim to leadership considerably into perspective.
(...) There is
no cause whatsoever for timidity."
Transformation of international law...
Ambassador Ischinger recently attempted to bring together the differing
positions during a conference of the Alfred-Herrhausen-Gesellschaft,
the socio-political forum of the Deutsche Bank. He agrees with Vogel
that there is no going back to the ,,good old times of harmony among
partners". On the other hand, the hegemony of the USA which is
based on superior military power, can hardly be questioned. Thus, the
EU could only mature into achieving ,,our hoped for" world power
if it were to "define its identity not against but in concert with
the USA." It must be accepted that the USA is questioning the ,,centuries'
old fiction that states are equal and are protected by international
law." It would be critical that the EU would participate actively
in a ,,policy of transformation as it is framed by Washington."2)
,,... by military means...
The former head of the planning staff and undersecretary in the Foreign
Office, therefore sketches the prerequisites for a ,,renewed, acceptable
basis of transactions for the transatlantic relationship." The
USA would have to be prepared to consider Berlin's interests as a matter
of priority. Otherwise, Ischinger foresees a coalition directed against
the USA.3) On the other hand, the EU should participate in the elimination
of the equality of states, if necessary by force: "In Europe one
forgets occasionally that law and standards must be achieved, if necessary
by military means."4)
,,... means war."
The German ambassador states that the ,,complementary" global
power policy would have to prove successful in the joint ,,reorganisation"
of the Near and Middle East. There Berlin and the EU must demonstrate
the forcefulness of their ambitions.5) Ischinger sees the first acid
test in the participation in possible aggression against Iran: "Will
Europe, indeed, take a critical view of Iran, insisting on the transparency
of Iran's nuclear program, and be prepared to pay a price for this objective,
should the
occasion arise? If yes, at what price?"6)
1) See also earlier article A lull in the conflict
2) See also earlier article ,,Downfall or ascent to world power"
3) See also earlier article BASF: Access to the largest energy reserves
of the world
4) See also earlier article EU Strategy: ,,Preemptive Wars", worldwide
5) See also earlier articles Germany as ,,victorious power in Iraq"
and Berlin wants ethnic "New Order" in Gulf region
6) See also earlier article War or Change of Regime
Sources:
Verzweifelt gesucht. Eine Berliner Tagung über das Selbstgefühl
Europas;
Süddeutsche Zeitung 17.06.2003
Heinrich Vogel: Das Ende des ,,Westens"; Internationale Politik
Juni 2003
Wolfgang Ischinger: ,,The Transatlantic Partnership: Can It Survive?";
www.germany-info.org
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