Posted on 10/27/2004 6:18:27 AM PDT by Ginifer
Berlin - Europe's top-selling newspaper, Germany's tabloid daily Bild, endorsed George W Bush for United States president on Tuesday, saying he would do a better job fighting terror and not ask Berlin to send troops to Iraq.
Bild, in what a spokesperson said was likely the first US election endorsement in its 51-year history, said Bush was a known quantity in Europe and had a better sense than Democratic challenger John Kerry of what Washington could expect from its transatlantic partners.
"Bush knows that Europe and Germany do not have the military capacity for a significantly larger commitment of troops beyond their current deployments abroad," Bild journalist Hugo Mueller-Vogg said in the editorial.
"Thus he will not request a contribution. But Kerry would do just that and add a further burden to the already damaged German-American relationship." Mueller-Vogg, a former publisher of the respected Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, wrote.
Germany oppose the war in Iraq
Germany's centre-left government fiercely opposed the war in Iraq and has refused to send soldiers to lighten the load on the US-led coalition.
The conservative daily said the incumbent president now knew from his experiences in Iraq that he needed the support of a broad base of partners and would foster those alliances more than in his first term.
"Bush has learned that America can conquer any country militarily but cannot win the peace by going it alone. That is why he will focus more on international co-operation in his second term," he said.
The tabloid said that Kerry would wage a weaker war on terror than Bush and had done little to explain how he would lead the United States on the world stage.
"Bush has learned the lessons of history. Good words do not help against violent fanatics, only military strength. With him, as opposed to Kerry, there is no waffling," it said.
'No one knows what Kerry stands for'
"With Bush, we know what to expect. No one knows what John Kerry stands for and where he wants to lead America and the world."
The endorsement for Bush by the German daily follows an editorial on Tuesday in Europe's biggest financial newspaper the Financial Times backing Kerry from a traditionally conservative daily.
Meanwhile a poll for Stern weekly magazine to be published on Thursday showed that a clear majority of Germans believe Kerry will win the November 2 election.
The survey conducted on October 21 and 22 among 1 004 Germans found that 59% tipped Kerry to take the Oval Office versus 31% expecting a Bush victory. Nearly 10% did not venture a prediction.
I’m surprised. That’s the first rational thing I’ve read coming from Germany regarding this election or this war.
Incredible.
WHAT ABOUT FRANCE????WE NEED FRANCE MILITARY MIGHT TO SAVE US!!!! SEND IN THE MIGHTY FROGS!!!!
Forecast for Hell:
Snow showers and a high of 31.
"SEND IN THE MIGHTY FROGS!!!!"
Er, let me see, okay, I should be able to pull that off. Can you wait until April the 2nd, though ? I've a trip to the States already planned.
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.