Posted on 10/05/2004 6:37:20 AM PDT by Rutles4Ever
WRONG, tough guy. The election of the US president effects the ENTIRE world. The fact that you think there isn't much difference between Kerry and Bush shows that you have not been receiving the full story in your German media (no surprise there).
P.S. Israel has ZERO reason to trust Germany's judgment with regard to terrorism.
You might want to tell people about the problems that Germany has with illegal immigration. I am sure the majority of people on FR have no idea. I am constantly amused how Americans think that they are the only ones in the world with problems.
I cannot wait for your examples.
I think I haven´t been clearly.
First, I don´t criticize that Israel forced Lufthansa down to Cyprus, I applaud it and would want the same at any other place under the circumstances.
Second, I didn´t neglect that the presidential race affects the entire world, but I said it is not CRUCIAL for my life, unlike the election of the Federal Parliament here.
Third, Germany is an ally of Israel, maybe more than the most other EU members. This is because of history. Germany has been a vocal and active supporter of the existance right for Itrael, and helped that state by exporting armament and paying billions of DEM (not only as compensation for crimes against humanity). And finally - what the article does not say, but German media - the terror threat was sent to the Berlin City Government and the City of Frankfurt, which have informed security authorities and Lufthansa.
I disagree. Flip-Flopper said in the debate he would give nuke fuel to Iran for testing, cancel US nuclear defense programs, seek UN approval for US defense, engage bi-lateral negotiations with N. Korea, and sponsor a summit of nations to rebuild Iraq.
Bush would do none of these. Iran has already rejected Kerry's offer.
I believe this election is crucial to the defense of these United States of America. I believe it's crucial to elect a president who will sustain war against terrorists and maintain American sovereignty. There are things I would like Bush to do differently, however his policy against terrorism is solid. And that's the single-most important issue in this election, IMO.
Is that a good thread for this? Since you know of the problem, why don´t you inform the forum? And why should I do that? How do I know that FReepers are interested in it? Here, illegal immigrants arrive from N Africa via Italy, or from East Europe/ME via Poland/the Czech Republic. But illegal immigration is not that problematic anymore, because you need papers to work, to rent a flat, to buy a car, etc. And you can´t apply for asylum unless you entered Germany from a not-safe-country. Since we´re surrounded from safe countries, almost all asylum seekers can be brought back to the country they came from. Since 1993, we 95% of illegal immigrants can be sent back, while 2% are granted asylum and 3% get a right to stay for a limited time (for instance because of a civil war in their country). Our bigger problem is the legal immigration and the non-integration of former immigrants. Many of those do not learn German and are unwilling to become a part of the German society. That will cause huge problems in the near future...
how about americans quit footing the bill for all the non american countrys and watch their problems exponintially permutate to self implosion.
feed yourself
defend yourself
next natural disaster let the u.n. completly handle it.
the money we save we could use to crush even more
3rd world nations and steal thier oil.
I spent two years in Germany (1984-86) and fell in love with it.
The country is absolutely beautiful, and the most impressive thing to me is that I only say litter one time, and it was a McDonald's bag.
The truth is that the German people don't like Americans; they like our money. This may not be true of you individually, but it is true of the nation. I know it, because I saw it, and we still see it today.
In my opinion, the best favor the US will ever do for the Germans is to remove our military troops.
It would cause Germany to have to better consider its allies, and it'd give the US more troops to place closer to hotbeds.
It'd thrill me to see troops pulled out of Germany and placed in Afghanistan.
Germany's biggest threat is it's John Kerry "Global Test" mentality.
In the end, one must stand up for himself, whether France and Germany like it or not.
When it comes to terrorism, it's very much about Bush v. Kerry. If Kerry wins, I have no faith that we'll do much to protect ourselves. Israel was right to force the plane to land elsewhere. If others insist on being Kerry-like about inspections, then let their countrymen/airline customers suffer for it. No need for the plane to blow up in Israel.
Foreign policy will become foreign appeasement, plain and simple. Perhaps my vision is more dire than it should be, but I have deep concerns for a Kerry-led U.S.
I know for a fact that you are dealing with a large influx of Turks, just as France is having.
I was in Paris on New Year's Day 1985, and there were thousands of Turks (and other Arabs) surrounding the Ark of Triumph groping and kissing the .... uh... non- Arab girls.
johnny gigolo is that you?
It depends on what you and I think of "much" [change of foreign policy]. Kerry surely will talk more, just like Clinton did with Saddam and Serbia while he was distracted with cigars. Bush certainly wants to do more, but I doubt that he can. Iran and N Korea are risks to our security, no doubt about it. But what can we (I say we - referring to the West) do about Iran? Marching in? No, because it could be just like Iraq. Bombing the nuclear facilities? That´s definitely an alternative. Would Kerry and Bush both do that? From my view, properly, as a last possibility. What can we do about N Korea? I have no ideas, since we must assume that they already possess nukes and missiles to bomb Seoul. And what about Iraq? Maybe this is the only issue I would grant Kerry, hoping that I won´t be slammed too much for this sentence, because I believe that other nations just have to do more than just talking, and that Kerry could easier leave the country by the end of 2005. Until then, Iraq should be able to fight terrorism on their own, given that the West still provides help. To get back to the top, I don´t see much change from both candidates, because there´re not many alternatives. That´s why I´m not very excited about the election, even though Bush deserved a second term more than Kerry a first one. Well, that´s more than I wanted to say about YOUR election.
Actually, John Kerry does factor in because he made a point of roundly criticizing American policy as "[overblowing]this whole terrorism thing". About the only thing he stands firmly on is his trivializing of the War on Terror.
Kerry (like the Greeks) does not take the threat seriously.
No, it is me. And you better tell me why you mix Kerry with Lufthansa and Germany! What tf has this incident in common with Kerry? I take your words as an insult for my nation.
Although a conservative, I will take a crack at this issue.
Even if Kerry wins, it is likely that Congress will remain in the hands of Republicans. Hence, Kerry will be hamstrung on economic issues.
On the other hand, Kerry will be weak on terrorism and any war. Once the election is over, bomb threats on airplanes will likely decrease if Bush is re-elected. If Kerry is elected, Islamic terrorists know that they can scare him with bomb threats. THAT is why the Presidential election is important to this whole discussion of bomb threats on airliners.
bump
Reading OldFriends words, I don´t think that he got it right that Germany takes terror threats serious (like everyone should).
Michael,
"This is not about Kerry or Bush, this is about foreign affairs which could affect the US."
Exactly! But foreign affairs affect you as much as they affect us. We know how Pres. Bush deals with these things; we have no idea of how Sen. Kerry would because almost every day he changes his stance and then denies he was ever anything but that. That should concern you as much as it does us.
"I didn´t neglect that the presidential race affects the entire world, but I said it is not CRUCIAL for my life, unlike the election of the Federal Parliament here."
It's more crucial than you think, my friend. What if Ramstein Air Base was no more? Would that affect Germany's economy? Do you consider your economy crucial in supporting your way of life? What if Bush or Kerry wanted to close that base; then would it matter to you who is our President?
Please, at least think about it.
Hmm. I see what you mean, even though I don´t share this perceiption. I´m not convinced that this election will have effect on the number of bomb threats or actual terrorist activities. But because we both don´t know, I will not allow myself to comment the probability if you´re right.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.