Bush-Hitler Remark Shows U.S. as Issue in German Election

COLOGNE, Germany, Sept. 19 — A reported remark by a German minister comparing President Bush's tactics over Iraq to those of Hitler envenomed a close-fought German election today and demonstrated how anti-Americanism had moved to the center of political debate here.

The regional newspaper Schwäbisches Tagblatt said today that Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's justice minister, Herta Däubler-Gmelin, had said: "Bush wants to divert attention from his domestic problems. It's a classic tactic. It's one that Hitler also used."

Her remarks were reportedly made on Sunday during a conversation with representatives of the trade union IG Metall.

In a statement to the newspaper, Ms. Däubler-Gmelin, 59 and a member of the chancellor's Social Democratic Party, denied comparing the two men, but did not deny comparing their tactics. "I didn't compare the persons Bush and Hitler, but their methods," she said.

Later tonight, she told ZDF television, "I just did not say that; it is as simple as that."

Mr. Schröder said tonight that he believed Ms. Däubler-Gmelin when she said she had not compared the two men. He added that anyone who compared Mr. Bush to a criminal would have no seat in his cabinet. He did not elaborate.

In Washington, Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, was asked at a news briefing about the minister's comments and the effect of such election campaign statements on the German-American relationship. After speaking of the importance of the long relationship, he added, "But this statement by the justice minister is outrageous, and it is inexplicable."

Germany's conservatives, who are challenging Mr. Schröder in national elections on Sunday, immediately called for her resignation.

Friedbert Pflüger, a Christian Democrat, called Ms. Däubler-Gmelin's statements outrageous and said, "This is what happens when the government allows the moral coordinates to deteriorate so far."

He was referring to Mr. Schröder's decision to distance Germany from the United States over Iraq, a course that has proved politically rewarding even as it has opened a sharp rift with Washington.

Mr. Schröder has said Germany will not take part in any attack on Iraq, whatever the United Nations decides. His stand has appealed to broad stretches of a postwar German population bred to abhor war, but it has also brought charges of "German unilateralism" and estrangement from its principal allies in the United States and Europe.

With voting on Sunday in a very tight election, the debate over how much damage Mr. Schröder may have done to Germany's relations with its partners, in particular with the United States, has become ever more passionate and shrill.

The chancellor has clawed back to a slight lead over his conservative rival, Edmund Stoiber, in large part by running against the Bush administration and its plans for war and "regime change" in Iraq.

Mr. Schröder says that under him, Germany will neither help in any war against Iraq nor help pay for one. Pollsters now say Iraq — not the weak German economy — has become the most important issue for those still deciding how they will vote.

Is this shift a reflection of a significantly changed Germany, no longer beholden to its conqueror and liberator from across the sea? Or of a chancellor in trouble using a delicate issue to try to squeak by? Or of a Bush administration that is failing to bring along its own allies? Or of a true friend to America, as Mr. Schröder insists he remains, who is simply speaking truth to power, as a real friend should?

Mr. Pflüger, a lifelong devotee of close German-American ties, is beside himself.

"This is a disaster," he said. "In a matter of weeks, Schröder was able to deprive Germany of its reputation of dependability which was developed over many years, from Willy Brandt to Helmut Kohl."

As for Germany's position in the European Union, some outside experts say they believe that Mr. Schröder has also done harm by casting doubt on Germany's reliability at the "inner circle" of European nations along with France and Britain.

William Drozdiak, the executive director of the Transatlantic Center, a Brussels-based study center of the German Marshall Fund, said Mr. Schröder was "definitely causing harm, especially to relations with France, Britain and the United States."

The chancellor received some comradely political support today from the British prime minister, Tony Blair, who told the newspaper Tagesspiegel: "Schröder has set out his position on Iraq, and we respect that. I certainly have never seen Germany isolated in key issues in the past. On Iraq, Germany is raising questions which it does make sense to ask. There may well be differences of opinion, but I have no doubt that we will ultimately all work closely together."

But the publisher of Tagesspiegel, Hellmuth Karasek, blasted Mr. Schröder for electoral cynicism, "German unilateralism" and "cheap anti-Americanism" in words that echoed through the German policy elite.

There are signs that Mr. Schröder is already trying to patch things up with Washington. His foreign minister, Joschka Fischer, a member of the Green Party, met briefly with Mr. Bush at the United Nations and reportedly tried to reassure the president that Germany remained a close friend.

Officials say Germany quickly ceded jurisdiction over the captured Yemeni Ramzi bin al-Shibh to the United States to show its continuing commitment to the war against Al Qaeda, despite differences over Iraq. Mr. bin al-Shibh, who lived in Hamburg, was also wanted in Germany in relation to the Sept. 11 attacks.

German officials say the country is now more likely to take over command of the international security force in Kabul from Turkey early next year to show solidarity with the United States.

But in such a close election, even Mr. Stoiber has been loath to praise Mr. Bush's plans for Iraq and sound like a warmonger. Today, he said he would deny Washington use of German bases for a unilateral attack on Iraq. "Certainly never if the Americans go it alone," he said.

He followed Mr. Schröder in saying, "Now the aim is to destroy weapons of mass destruction, not the toppling of a dictator."

Mr. Stoiber has, however, firmly supported the need for the United Nations Security Council to defend its resolutions and provide a mandate for any military action — but only if the goal of unconditional arms inspections fails.

If the Security Council votes to allow military force, he said, "I believe it is impossible that Germany would stand alone and refuse to accept a U.N. mandate."

In essence, his stance is like that of the French president, Jacques Chirac, a fellow conservative who has awarded Mr. Stoiber a decoration for his services to France.

Germany's longstanding desire to be a postwar force for peace is part of the legacy of the Nazi period and the American occupation. The use of the German military in any action without a United Nations mandate is constitutionally forbidden.

It has been Mr. Schröder and Mr. Fischer who have pushed Germans to take up a larger international role, including taking part in the Kosovo war and the use of German special forces in Afghanistan. Mr. Schröder emphasizes that Germany has nearly 10,000 troops abroad, almost exclusively in peacekeeping duties.

Now the chancellor has undermined that extension of Germany's military role, American officials say, while personally offending Mr. Bush.

He followed Mr. Schröder in saying, "Now the aim is to destroy weapons of mass destruction, not the toppling of a dictator."

This is Germany, after all. We love dictators!

Herta Däubler-Gmelin, had said: "Bush wants to divert attention from his domestic problems. It's a classic tactic. It's one that Hitler also used."

So according to Ms. Däubler-Gmelin's logic, Schröder himself is using a classic tactic that Hitler once used?

For those who did not see this on the other threads on this story, you can let the Schroeder administration know your thoughts on Frau Justice Minister's remarks by going to www.Germany-Info.org.

After clicking on the contact button, I chose the New York office and "German Foreign Policy" for the subject line.

I asked that my email be forwarded to the Ambassador, Wolfgang Ischinger. He will get the word to Schroeder.

This was beyond the pale. You can't tell me that a German would evoke the name of Hitler accidentally or without giving thought to the moral and political implications.

This woman should be dismissed from the cabinet.

Yeah? Was that before or after they said my president was like Hitler?

If Germany thinks we're going to forget that one, they've got another think coming. We're patient, we have LONG memories, and we will get more then our pound of flesh out of these anti-American creeps.

"Mr. Schröder says that under him, Germany will neither help in any war against Iraq nor help pay for one."

I can understand if Mr. Schröder questions the need for a war with Iraq, As well as the need for clear proof of Saddam developing Nuclear Weapons before supporting a war. But for him to say he will NEVER support or help in a war against Iraq, This tells me he doesn't object to Saddam developing nuclear weapons. I hope Mr. Schröder loses the election.

Well, Herta Däubler-Gmelin just used a rhetorical tactic made popular by Goebbels. I'm sure she wouldn't mind the comparison

Gotta be the Quote of the Day !!!!!!!!

Maybe the Hitler loving Germans would Love a Huge Boycott of Their Cars , Publishing interests in the USA , BMW - Lexus. Volkswagen ( Hitler Car ) to maybe a Toyota - Hmm TOJO's People have More respect than Hitler's

"Bush wants to divert attention from his domestic problems. It's a classic tactic. It's one that Hitler also used."

That's right, Gremlin. The death of 3000 of our citizens had absolutely nothing to do with it. ~sarcasm off~

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