Trans-Atlantic Supplicant: Merkel Chooses Unity over NSA Truth

Der Spiegel ^ | 5/5/2014 | By SPIEGEL Staff

[mac_truck]

There was a time when Angela Merkel was committed to investigating the extent of NSA spying in Germany. Now, though, the chancellor has made an about face. Trans-Atlantic unity is her new priority, and the investigation has been left to languish.

In the world of diplomacy, moments of candor are rare, obscured as they are behind a veil of amicability and friendly gestures. It was no different last Friday at the meeting between US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Washington.

Obama welcomed Merkel by calling her "one of my closest partners" and a "friend" and took her on a tour of the White House vegetable garden as part of the four hours he made available. He praised her as a "strong partner" in the Ukraine crisis and thanked her many times for the close cooperation exhibited in recent years. The birds in the Rose Garden sang happily as the president spoke.

But then Obama made clear who had the upper hand in this wonderfully harmonious relationship. When a reporter asked why, in the wake of the NSA spying scandal, the no-spy deal between Germany and the US had collapsed, Obama avoided giving a clear answer. He also dodged a question as to whether Merkel's staff is still monitored. Instead, he stayed vague: "As the world's oldest continuous constitutional democracy, I think we know a little bit about trying to protect people's privacy." That was it.

[Starboard]

Very interesting article. Thanks for posting.

Obama and Merkel have something in common: they both want to disempower their respective legislative bodies.

[Sacajaweau]

The looks on her face as she looks at Obama is sufficient. <P<I believe Merkel has at least 3 characteristics of Margaret Thatcher....She’s a lady, she’s a diplomat and she’s not stupid. ‘nuff said

[Cheerio]

There was a time when Angela Merkel was committed to investigating the extent of NSA spying in Germany. Now, though, the chancellor has made an about face. Trans-Atlantic unity is her new priority, and the investigation has been left to languish.

The cynic in me read it a different way........There was a time when the GOP was committed to investigating the extent of NSA spying. Now, though, the House GOP has made an about face. Bi-partisan unity is their new priority, and the investigation has been left to languish.

[Candor7]

Now, though, the chancellor has made an about face. Trans-Atlantic unity is her new priority, and the investigation has been left to languish. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

And so Obama triumphs and NATO comes to its end with a whimper.

Rather a large change since the DeGaul days.