Germany - Editor confirms Justice Minister compared Bush to Hitler - Schroeder expresses regret

DPA and AFP via Babelfish translation | September 20, 2002

[HAL9000]

"Swabian Tagblatt" editor-in-chief accuses Daeubler Gmelin lies

Hamburg (dpa) - which editor-in-chief of the "Swabian day sheet", Christoph Mueller, has Federal Secretary of Justice Herta Daeubler Gmelin of the lie accused. After its appearance before the federal press conference he said to the "world on Sunday", it never humans lying thus saw like Herta Daeubler Gmelin. Die minister had before denied the Iraq politics of US president George W. Bush with methods of the Nazis to have compared. The "Swabian day sheet" had brought the affair around Daeubler Gmelin with a report over its alleged comparison in rolling.

Schroeder turns because of Daeubler Gmelin in letter at Bush

(AFP) After the alleged Hitler comparison of Federal Secretary of Justice Herta Daeubler Gmelin turned Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (both SPD) personally in a letter at US president George W. Bush. "I would like to insure you that at my cabinet table nobody has place, which brings the American president with a criminal in connection", stressed Schroeder in the letter, which was present the press agency AFP on Friday. It regrets it much that Bush by the alleged comparison with Adolf Hitler "deeply hurt" is. Daeubler Gmelin has it insured that she did not make it attributed expressions, defended the chancellor its law minister. </blockquote.

[Paleo Conservative]

The internet sure forces leftists to be accountable for their speach.

[Paleo Conservative]

speach = speech

I sure wish I could use a spell checker when I am posting a reply.

[js1138]

Your fish is floating.

[jae471]

Babelfish looks broken. For good measure, I took the translated French, and translated it back into French, then into English again. Perhaps this is more understandable:

After the pled comparison of Hitler of the federal secretary of justice Herta Daeubler Gmelin turned the federal chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (two SPD) personally in a letter to the President George W Bush of the USA "I would like to ensure you that with my table of box nobody has the place, which brings the American president with a criminal in connection", Schroeder subjected to a constraint in the letter, who was present the agency of pressure AFP Friday. She regrets it much that the bush by the comparison pled with Adolf Hitler "deeply wounded" is. Daeubler Gmelin ensured that it did not make him allotted expressions, defended the chancellor his minister of law.

[Dog]

Nothing short of her being FIRED will be good enough....

She went before the media and denied this repeatly.....

[tictoc]

Like I said, she's toast. Schroeder can't fire her immediately because the election is only 36 hours away. But with Daubler-Gmelin still in office (and everyone knows she is lying), it's like an albatross hanging on his neck.

His semi-conservative challenger, Bavarian governor Edmund Stoiber, also put his foot in his mouth yesterday but less seriously. His party had been trailing in the polls but now they are back in the race.

In related news, German media are reporting an "unprecedented" firestorm of e-mail anger from the United States, with Americans swearing to boycott German products and using colorful language to share their feelings.

She got FREEPED but good :-) :-)

[mikesmad]

If you are using IE go Here to get a spell check plug in.

[cynicom]

Time we bombed a few sauerkraut factories.

[headsonpikes]

I'd prefer Heinrich Schnibble's translations to BabelFish's efforts.

Remember Herr Schnibble's old Sat. Eve. Post humor item with the wacko faux-German prose?
It's preserved chiefly in mock-German orders on decals.."Nicht poken sie fingeren...!"

[MarkM]

We spend a lot of taxpayer money to keep US troops in Germany. Looks like we should be removing some.

Another thing to keep in mind is Mohammed Atta and some of the other hijackers lived and planned their attacks from Germany. Why did Germany give them sanctuary ? How many other terrorists are still in Germany?

[RoseofTexas]

THERE IS A GOD! Bawhahahhahhaha...stick it to her, she's done!

[Hammerhead]

for a more accurate translation, please go to www.engrish.com

thank you.

[hellinahandcart]

I worked for a Swiss company for about ten years, so while I don't actually speak German, I am sorta familiar with the syntax.

Hamburg (dpa) - which editor-in-chief of the "Swabian day sheet", Christoph Mueller, has Federal Secretary of Justice Herta Daeubler Gmelin of the lie accused.

Editor-in-chief Christoph Mueller, of the "Swabian Day Sheet", has accused Secretary of Justice Herta Daeubler Gmelin of LYING.

After its appearance before the federal press conference he said to the "world on Sunday", it never humans lying thus saw like Herta Daeubler Gmelin.

Mueller says he never saw another human LIE like Herta Daeubler Gmelin did at the federal press conference. (I am assuming "World on Sunday" is either another publication or a TV show)

Die minister had before denied the Iraq politics of US president George W. Bush with methods of the Nazis to have compared.The minster (Daeubler Gmelin) had earlier denied comparing Bush's Iraq policy with the methods of the Nazis.

[hellinahandcart]

Second paragraph's a little harder to make sense of, but here goes:

After the alleged Hitler comparison of Federal Secretary of Justice Herta Daeubler Gmelin turned Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (both SPD) personally in a letter at US president George W. Bush.

After the alleged Hitler comparison by Federal Secretary of Justice Gmelin, Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder [contradicted or decried it, or withdrew his previous support] personally in a letter to US PREsident George W Bush.

"I would like to insure you that at my cabinet table nobody has place, which brings the American president with a criminal in connection", stressed Schroeder in the letter, which was present the press agency AFP on Friday. It regrets it much that Bush by the alleged comparison with Adolf Hitler "deeply hurt" is.

"I would like to assure you that nobody has a place at my cabinet table, who would compare the American President to a criminal," stressed Schroeder in the letter, which was presented to to press agency AFP on Friday. He expressed regret that Bush had been "deeply hurt" by the alleged comparison to Adolf Hitler.

Daeubler Gmelin has it insured that she did not make it attributed expressions, defended the chancellor its law minister.

BUT Daeubler Gmelin has assured him that she did not make the statements attributed to her, said the chancellor in defense of his minister.

So I'd say he's still standing by his minister. And that sure doesn't Herta to hear. :D

[hellinahandcart]

Naturally, someone who actually spoke German could probably do even better with the original text, but I spent many years struggling to make heads or tails out of the strange faxes in English that came in from the Zurich office every day. If I didn't get an angry phone call by the afternoon, I knew I had translated their English pretty successfully.

[HAL9000]

Here is the latest from the newspaper that broke the story - with Babelfish translation -

http://www.cityinfonetz.de/index.php?objekt=ST&seite=Tagesthema&id=4334

Wirbel um Herta Däubler-Gmelin Heftige Kritik nach Bush-Äußerungen/Ministerin dementiert/Ohrenzeugen bestätigen TAGBLATT-Bericht TÜBINGEN. Der TAGBLATT-Bericht am Donnerstag über Herta Däubler-Gmelins Äußerungen über den US-Präsidenten George Bush hat in Tübingen und Berlin große Wellen geschlagen. Die Oppositionsparteien forderten den Rücktritt der Bundesjustizministerin, sie selber dementierte am Donnerstag ihre Aussagen vom Mittwoch. Das TAGBLATT bleibt bei seiner Darstellung, die auch von anderen Ohrenzeugen nicht bestritten wird. Wie am Donnerstag berichtet, hatte die Tübinger SPD-Bundestagsabgeordnete bei einem Gespräch mit etwa 30 Metall-Gewerkschafter(inne)n in der Derendinger Sportgaststätte gesagt, Bush wolle mit einem Krieg gegen den Irak “von innenpolitischen Problemen ablenken”. Dies sei eine beliebte Methode. “Das hat auch Hitler schon gemacht.” Anschließend stellte sie klar: “Ich habe nicht die Personen Bush und Hitler miteinander verglichen, sondern die Methoden.” Die “Financial Times Deutschland”, die überregionale Zeitung mit dem spätesten Redaktionsschluss, zitierte bereits am Donnerstag ausführlich aus unserem Bericht. Im Laufe des Vormittags griffen auch andere Medien (unter anderem “Spiegel-Online”) das Thema auf. Daraufhin forderten mehrere CDU- und FDP-Funktionäre den Rücktritt der Bundesjustizministerin. In einer ersten Presseerklärung bezeichnete das Justizministerium den TAGBLATT-Bericht als “verzerrend”. Am Nachmittag bestritt Däubler-Gmelin auf dem Stuttgarter Flughafen ihre Aussagen. Laut dpa sagte sie: “Mir täte es leid, wenn diese Angelegenheit auch nur einen Schatten auf die Achtung werfen würde, die ich vor dem amerikanischen Präsidenten habe.” Dagegen bezeichnete US-Regierungssprecher Ari Fleischer bei einer Pressekonferenz im Weißen Haus Däubler-Gmelins Zitate vom Mittwoch als “out rageous” (empörend). In den Abendnachrichten des ZDF bestätigte Bernd Melchert, der Vorsitzende des Walter-Betriebsrats und Diskussionsleiter der Derendinger Veranstaltung, dass die Ministerin einen Zusammenhang zwischen den “Methoden” Bushs und Hitlers hergestellt habe. Allerdings habe sie auch betont, damit wolle sie nicht die beiden Männer vergleichen (so wurde sie am Donnerstag auch im TAGBLATT zitiert). Auch Peter Schütze, der Vorsitzende des Flender-Betriebsrats, bestätigte am Donnerstag per Telefon “den Tenor” unseres Berichts. Mitstreiter und politische Gegner der Ministerin, die wir am Donnerstag befragten, zeigten sich überrascht über die in unserer Zeitung zitierten Äußerungen. “Es rutscht einem manchmal etwas heraus. Das soll man nicht überbewerten”, fand Winfried Kretschmann, der am Donnerstag Gast in unserer Redaktion war. Doch der Chef der baden-württembergischen Landtagsfraktion der Grünen betonte auch seinen Grundsatz: “Jeder Vergleich eines demokratischen Politikers mit Hitler ist degoutant. Es sollte sich für jeden Demokraten schlichtweg verbieten, einen demokratisch gewählten Politiker in die Nähe zu rücken.” “So wie’s im Blatt berichtet wurde, ist’s offensichtlich nicht gewesen”, ist Gerd Weimer, früherer SPD-Landtagsabgeordneter und Erster Bürgermeister von Tübingen, überzeugt. Herta Däubler-Gmelin habe ihm gesagt, dass es sich um eine “verzerrende Darstellung” dessen handle, was sie erklärt habe. Von daher erübrige sich eine inhaltliche Stellungnahme. Däubler-Gmelins Wahlkreis-Konkurrentin Annette Widmann-Mauz (CDU) war am Donnerstag nicht zu erreichen. “Sie äußert sich dazu nicht, weil die Äußerung für sich spricht”, hieß es in ihrem Büro. Peter Wilhelm, Bundestagskandidat der FDP, urteilte zurückhaltend. “Ich möchte nicht polemisch werden. Ich glaube, Frau Däubler-Gmelin hat es so gemeint, wie es da steht: dass es keine neue Methode ist, mit einer äußeren Bedrohung von innenpolitischen Problemen abzulenken.” Allerdings sei es fraglich, ob der Name Hitler hätte fallen müssen. Es handle sich durchaus um “ein starkes Stück”, eine “unglückliche Äußerung”, die möglicherweise einen “traurigen Höhepunkt” eines Anti-Amerikanismus darstelle, der sich wie ein roter Faden seit zwei Wochen durch die Politik ziehe. Heike Hänsel, die für die PDS kandidiert, hält einen Vergleich der Methoden auch historisch für falsch. “Hitler hat nicht von innenpolitischen Problemen abgelenkt, sondern einen Wirtschaftsaufschwung durch Kriegsvorbereitungen inszeniert.” Sie lehne solche Vergleiche “auch in Ansätzen grundsätzlich ab”. Nachdem der Kanzler von einem “deutschen Weg” gesprochen hat, sei die Friedensbewegung jetzt in der Situation, der Regierung sagen zu müssen, dass sie “einen anti-amerikanischen Zungenschlag hat”. Man brauche keinen deutschen, sondern einen zivilen Weg der Konfliktlösung, fordert Hänsel. Es gehe darum, die Uno international gegenüber dem Unilateralismus der USA zu stärken. Das sei jedoch “durch die beiden letzten Kriege, bei denen Frau Däubler-Gmelin kein Problem hatte mit dem US-Präsidenten und dem US-Rechtssystem”, verhindert worden.

Eddy around Herta Daeubler Gmelin Violent criticism after Bush Aeusserungen/Ministerin disclaim/ear-witness confirm day sheet report TÜBINGEN. The day sheet report on Thursday over Herta Daeubler Gmelins expressions over the US president George Bush struck large waves in Tübingen and Berlin. The opposition parties demanded the resignation of the Federal Secretary of Justice, it disclaimed on Thursday its statements of Wednesday. The DAY SHEET remains during its representation, which is not denied also by other ear witnesses. How reports on Thursday, the Tuebinger had said SPD Members of the Bundestag with a discussion with approximately 30 metal Gewerkschafter(inne)n in the Derendinger sport restaurant, Bush wanted with a war against the Iraq von problems relating to domestic affairs ablenken. This is a popular method. Das also Hitler has gemacht. following already got straight it: Ich not Bush and Hitler compared the persons with one another, but the Methoden. Financial the Times Deutschland, the supraregional newspaper with the latest editorship conclusion, quoted already on Thursday in detail from our report. In the course of the in the morning also different media (among other things Spiegel Online) took up the topic. Thereupon several CDU and FDP functionaries demanded the resignation of the Federal Secretary of Justice. In a first press statement the Ministry of Justice called the day sheet report verzerrend. In the afternoon Daeubler Gmelin denied on Stuttgart airport its statements. According to dpa she said: Mir it would do to wrong, even if this affair would throw only one shade on the attention, which I for the American president habe. On the other hand designated US government spokesmen Ari butcher with a press conference in the white house Daeubler Gmelins of quotations of Wednesday as out rageous (infuriating). In the evening messages Second Channel of German Television confirmed Bernd Melchert, the chairman of the walter work council and moderator of the Derendinger meeting that the minister had manufactured a connection between Methoden the Bushs and Hitler. However it also stressed, thus does not want it not the two men to compare (in such a way it was quoted on Thursday also in the DAY SHEET). Also Peter Schuetze, the chairman of the Flender work council, confirmed Tenor of our report on Thursday by telephone den. Fellow combatants and political opponents of the minister, whom we asked on Thursday, showed up surprised over the expressions quoted in our newspaper. Es slips out sometimes somewhat. That is one not ueberbewerten, found Winfried Kretschmann, which was on Thursday guest in our editorship. But the boss of the federal state parliament parliamentary group of Baden-Wuerttemberg the Greens stressed also his principle: Jeder comparison one democratic politician with Hitler is degoutant. It should forbid itself for each democrat directly, a democratically selected politician into the proximity too ruecken. So wies in the sheet, ists gewesen, is obviously not convinced Gerd Weimer, former SPD state parliament delegate was reported and first mayors of Tübingen. Herta Daeubler Gmelin said to him that it concerns a verzerrende Darstellung its, which explained her. From therefore it be unnecessary a contentwise statement. Daeubler Gmelins constituency Konkurrentin Annette Widmann Mauz (CDU) was not to be achieved on Thursday. Sie does not express itself because the expression for itself was called spricht, it in its office. Peter Wilhelm, Bundestagskandidat of the FDP, judged reservedly. Ich would not like polarize-mix to become. I believe, Mrs. Daeubler Daeubler-Gmelin it in such a way meant, how it stands there: that it is not a new method, with an outside threat of problems relating to domestic affairs abzulenken. However it is questionable whether the name Hitler would have had to fall. Acts quite over ein strong Stueck, a unglueckliche Aeusserung, which possibly represents a traurigen Hoehepunkt of an anti-Americaism, which like a red thread pulls itself for two weeks by the policy. Heike Haensel, which stands as a candidate for the Party of Democratic Socialism, considers a comparison of the methods also historical wrong. more Hitler from problems relating to domestic affairs did not divert, but an economic recovery by war preparations inszeniert. you leans such comparisons auch in beginnings in principle ab. After the chancellor spoke of a deutschen Weg, the peace movement is now in the situation to have to say to the government that they einen anti-American tongue impact hat. One does not need German, but, Haensel demands a civilian way of conflict resolution. It concerns to strengthen the UN internationally opposite the university lateralism of the USA. That is not however durch the two last wars, with those Mrs. Daeubler Daeubler-Gmelin a problem with the US president and the US Rechtssystem, had been prevented.

[hellinahandcart]

Aw man, too much German in die Englische...

[hellinahandcart]

I was pretty close on the other text though, Schroeder is sticking with his minister's story and sent Bush a non-apology:

(from Reuters) Schroeder wrote to Bush, saying: "I want to let you know how much I regret the fact that alleged comments by the German justice minister have given an impression that has offended you."

He said he had accepted Daeubler-Gmelin's denial and added, according to a German text provided by his office:

"Let me assure you that there is no place at my cabinet table for anyone who makes a connection between the American president and such a criminal."

[Man of the Right]

Germany's esteemed Justice Minister Herta Daubler-Gmelin was born in Bratislava, Slovakia on August 12, 1943 to Hans Gmelin, later Mayor of Tubingen, Germany from 1954-1974. He died in July, 1991.

From 1939-45, Slovakia was a German satellite. In 1941 the Nazis and their Slovak quislings adopted a Jewish code. The next year, they shipped 68,000 of Slovakia’s 130,000 Jews to the death camps. The Slovak German minority, lead by the Nazi Franz Karmasin, worked hand-in-glove with the Slovak Populist Party, the local fascist party, and the Slovak storm trooper organization, the Hlinka Guards.

In 1942 & 1943 George H.W. Bush was fighting the Axis.

It might be instructive to ask Frau Dauber-Gmelin what Herr Gmelin, a German, was doing in Slovakia, an occupied country, during 1942 & 1943? Clearly, he wasn’t being executed by the Nazis. And he wasn’t serving with Eisenhower.

[hellinahandcart]

Okay, this took a while, here's my best guess, and remember I don't really speak German:

The Day Sheet’s Thursday report of Herta Daeubler-Gmelin’s expressions about US President George Bush made huge waves in Tubingen and Berlin. The oppostion parties demanded the resignation of the Federal Secy of Justice, who denied on Thursday her statements of Wednesday. The Day Sheet stands by its account, which is not contradicted by other ear-witnesses.

In Thursday’s report, the Tuebinger [guessing this means Daeubler Gmelins is from Tubingen] said that during a discussion in the Derendinger Sport Restaurant, with approximately 30 members of the Metalworkers Union [guessing again], that Bush wanted/preferred a war with Iraq to domestic problems in the US. This is a popular method. Hitler had also used it. She clarified today: she wasn’t comparing Bush and Hitler, the persons, to one another, but only the Method. [Dig that hole deeper, Herta]

The Financial Times Germany, the supraregional paper with the latest edition time, quoted in detail on Thursday from our report. In the course of the morning other media (including Spiegel Online) took up the topic. Thereupon several CDU and FDP functionaries demanded her resignation.

In the first statement to the press, the Ministry of Justice called the Day Sheet report [false? Erroneous? Something like that] In the afternoon, from the Stuttgart airport, Daeubler-Gmelins denied making the statements. According to DPA she said: {Blah blah blah} , {in error}? And this affair [misrepresentation followed by scandal] would throw only one shadow on the RESPECT [not attention] that I have for the American president.

On the other hand, designatedUS Govt spokesperson Ari Fleischer, during a press conference in the White House, termed Daeubler-Gmelins’ remarks as outrageous and infuriating.

During its evening broadcast, German Television’s Channel Two confirmed through Bernd Melchert, the chairman of the walter[Metal?]workers council [union] and moderator of the Derendinger meeting, that the Minister had indeed made a connection between the methods of Bush and Hitler.

However he [Melchert] also stressed that [in his opinion] it was not the two men themselves that were compared (as was also stated on Thursday in the Day sheet). Peter Schuetze, the chairman of the Flender [?] workers council, also confirmed the tenor of our Thursday report in a telephone conversation.

Campaign supporters and political opponents of the minister, whom we questioned on Thursday, expressed surprise over the statements quoted in our newspaper. “Sometimes something just slips out? That wasn’t what was intended?[?] That is not unusual/unbelievable/unheard of[?]” said Winfried Kretschmann, who was our Guest Editor on Thursday. [Guessing he meant it could have happened to anyone]

But the head of the Greens Party of Baden-Wuerttemberg stressed this principle--to make the comparison between a democratically-elected politician and Hitler is [wrong?]{and wasn’t Hitler elected once?]. Politicians in democratic nations should restrain themselves from [crossing the line with such comarisons?]

So wies in the sheet, ists gewesen, is obviously not convinced Gerd Weimer, former SPD state parliament delegate was reported and first mayors of Tübingen. Herta Daeubler Gmelin said to him that it concerns a verzerrende Darstellung its, which explained her. From therefore it be unnecessary a contentwise statement.

Seems to be saying that Gerd Weimer, former SPD parliamentarian (and mayor or Tubingen?) was not convinced of the accuracy of the report in the Day Sheet. Herta had said explained to him that it was an erroneous repreentation of what she had said (“out of context” perhaps), so he did not think it necessary to issue a statement of his own condemning her. Again, a guess.

Daubler-Gmelins’ constituency-(something) Anette Widmann Mauz (CDU) could not be reached for comment on Thursday. “She has nothing to say because the statement speaks for itself”, said her office. Peter Wilhelm, Bundestag candidate of the FDP, made a reserved judgment: “I would not like to be a polarizer. I believe Mrs Daeubler-Gmelin meant it only as you see it there; that it is not a new method, the threat of outside problems to [minimize?] domestic problems.”

However it is questionable whether the name Hitler would have had to fall.

However it is questionable that the name “Hitler” should have been dropped/mentioned at all.

Acts quite over ein strong Stueck, a unglueckliche Aeusserung, which possibly represents a traurigen Hoehepunkt of an anti-Americaism, which like a red thread pulls itself for two weeks by the policy.

(Your guess is as good as mine here. I give up. :D)

Heike Haensel, who stands as a candidate for the Party of Democratic Socialism, considers a comparison of the methods of Bush and Hitler to be historically wrong as well. Hitler was not trying to divert attention from domestic troubles, but to wage an economic recovery through his war preparations.

The last paragraph? Seems to be the Heike Haensal babbling about civil means of conflict resolution (instead of war), strengthening the UN to balance out the unilateralism of the US, except that the papaer also seems to be saying, and the paper seeming to take the position that the peace movement is now in the position of having to justify their anti-Americanism and that the rest of the world didn’t have a problem with the US’s unilateralism during the last two world wars. If that’s what it really says, that’s a real diss on Herta Daeubler=Gmelin.

[Cautor]

It's well past time the U.S. tells its wimpy far left "allies" to take a long walk on a short pier. No apology from GearHard will do. We want the bitch fired.

[tictoc]

Not bad, not bad at all!

Two elements of German grammar that give difficulties to non-native speakers are indirekte Rede (reported speech, a device which does not exist in English), and the conditional mode.

Nevertheless, you did a good job capturing most of the essential points.

Laut dpa sagte sie: “Mir täte es leid, wenn diese Angelegenheit auch nur einen Schatten auf die Achtung werfen würde, die ich vor dem amerikanischen Präsidenten habe.”

This is an example of the conditional, i.e. "I would regret it if this affair were to cast even one shadow on the respect that I have for the U.S. president."

The last three paragraphs:

Allerdings sei es fraglich, ob der Name Hitler hätte fallen müssen. Es handle sich durchaus um “ein starkes Stück”, eine “unglückliche Äußerung”, die möglicherweise einen “traurigen Höhepunkt” eines Anti-Amerikanismus darstelle, der sich wie ein roter Faden seit zwei Wochen durch die Politik ziehe.

(The bolded words in the paragraph above indicate instances of reported speech:)

However, said Wilhelm, it was questionable whether the name Hitler should have been mentioned. He said that this [incident] was in fact "a major gaffe" and an "unfortunate statement" possibly forming an "ignominious pinnacle" of the anti-Americanism that had been a common theme in politics for the past two weeks.

He got that right, but he has nothing to crow about, being a member of the FDP, whose party chairman in Germany's most populous state again erupted in an anti-Jewish outburst yesterday. True to form, Friedrich Moellemann accused the state of Israel of a war-mongering policy and claimed the deputy head of Germany's Jewish community was a supporter of this policy - Tictoc

Heike Hänsel, die für die PDS kandidiert, hält einen Vergleich der Methoden auch historisch für falsch. “Hitler hat nicht von innenpolitischen Problemen abgelenkt, sondern einen Wirtschaftsaufschwung durch Kriegsvorbereitungen inszeniert.” Sie lehne [reported speech again] solche Vergleiche “auch in Ansätzen grundsätzlich ab”.

The PDS [i.e., communist] candidate Heike Hänsel believes that comparing the methods is wrong also for historical reasons. "Hitler was not drawing people's attention away from domestic problems but instead staged an economic boom by preparing for war." She said that she opposed "any such comparisons, even if only hinted at".

Nachdem der Kanzler von einem “deutschen Weg” gesprochen hat, sei [r.s. again] die Friedensbewegung jetzt in der Situation, der Regierung sagen zu müssen, dass sie “einen anti-amerikanischen Zungenschlag hat”. Man brauche keinen deutschen, sondern einen zivilen Weg der Konfliktlösung, fordert Hänsel. Es gehe darum, die Uno international gegenüber dem Unilateralismus der USA zu stärken. Das sei jedoch “durch die beiden letzten Kriege, bei denen Frau Däubler-Gmelin kein Problem hatte mit dem US-Präsidenten und dem US-Rechtssystem”, verhindert worden.

She went on to say that now that the chancellor was talking of a "German way", the peace movement was faced with the situation of having to tell the government that it was "speaking with an anti-American tone". Hänsel said that the conflict had to be resolved in a civilian and civil way, not a German way. She stressed the need to strengthen the UN internationally against U.S. unilateralism. However, she claimed that this intention had been thwarted "in the last two wars Kosovo and ...? - tictoc], in which Ms. Frau Däubler-Gmelin had no problem with either the U.S. president or the U.S. legal system".

[hellinahandcart]

Two elements of German grammar that give difficulties to non-native speakers are indirekte Rede (reported speech, a device which does not exist in English), and the conditional mode.

Hmm. Is that why I had no problem understanding the folks in Zurich when they called on the phone (they all spoke English either pretty well or very well), but when they'd send a fax in English I'd have to stand there scratching my head and wondering "what on earth are they trying to tell me here in this word puzzle? "

However, said Wilhelm, it was questionable whether the name Hitler should have been mentioned.

English and German are a lot alike in some of their expressions. When I read "However it is questionable whether the name Hitler would have had to fall", I remembered a conversation with a German friend, who what said "They should never have let fall the name of ____" (different person but similar context), and I pondered that one for a second and realized he was essentially talking about the concept of name-dropping Shouldn't have dropped/let fall the name. In other words, bad idea to mention it.

He said that this [incident] was in fact "a major gaffe" and an "unfortunate statement" possibly forming an "ignominious pinnacle" of the anti-Americanism that had been a common theme in politics for the past two weeks.

I never would have figured that out. It's awkward even when accurately translated.

She went on to say that now that the chancellor was talking of a "German way", the peace movement was faced with the situation of having to tell the government that it was "speaking with an anti-American tone".

Boy, I bet that rubs the peace movement the wrong way.

Hänsel said that the conflict had to be resolved in a civilian and civil way, not a German way.

I don't think she knows how funny that was :D.

She stressed the need to strengthen the UN internationally against U.S. unilateralism. However, she claimed that this intention had been thwarted "in the last two wars [Kosovo and ...? - tictoc], in which Ms. Frau Däubler-Gmelin had no problem with either the U.S. president or the U.S. legal system".

Now, when she mentioned the last two wars, I was sure she meant World Wars. Guess not.

You're right, Kosovo and what? Last Gulf War? And she thinks those were examples of US unilateralism?

Greens are just effin' weird...

[hellinahandcart]

Looky. tictoc speaks German!

[F16Fighter]

"It might be instructive to ask Frau Dauber-Gmelin what Herr Gmelin, a German, was doing in Slovakia, an occupied country, during 1942 & 1943? Clearly, he wasn’t being executed by the Nazis. And he wasn’t serving with Eisenhower."

LOL -- One might find Frau Dauber-Gmelin's very own attic a treasure trove of "souvineers" and "family heir looms" from ze "good ol' Reich days".

[McGavin999]

Yeah, well, why don't they tell the German people that Schroeder's so called letter of apology was more insulting than the insult. US/German relations are DEAD!

[aristeides]

Kosovo and Afghanistan, presumably. This communist dame is pointing out the inconsistencies between SDP/Green support for the Kosovo war and their opposition to war with Iraq. I was unaware that the PDS opposed the war in Afghanistan.

[aristeides]

Ms. Hansel is PDS, i.e., neocommunist, not Green. As I told tictoc, I think the "last two wars" are Kosovo and Afghanistan.

[aristeides]

The editor of the German paper is accusing the minister of lying, and is threatening to take her to court.

[tictoc]

Thank you for your response, I always enjoy reading your comments.

Tomorrow's edition of Die Welt, a conservative German paper, includes this cartoon:

Herta says: "But I didn't mean it that way at all!"

More info on Schwaebisches Tagblatt, the local daily that broke the story, and its editor-in-chief:

The ST is a leftist paper and always supports the Red/Green (Red=social democrat) coalition government. Local people call it "Neckar Pravda" (the Neckar is the river that flows through Tübingen). Christoph Müller, its editor in chief, is an outspoken homosexual. It broke his heart to spill the beans on Herta... but like every journalist, he would kill for a scoop.

[hellinahandcart]

There's a conservative German paper? Well, that's a relief...

Cute cartoon!

[Ipberg]

Schroeder deftly played the anti-American trump card to stay in power and distract from a failing economy. It's just what Stalin, Kruschev, and Brehznev did.