Geo-Political Reality - History's Trump Card

[don]

In 1914 Germany was a constitutional monarchy, dominating by the Prussian aristocracy. In 1939 Germany was a fascist state, where vons were bemusedly tolerated in the high command. Today Germany appears to be a productive/neoliberal hybrid state. Has its goals and competition changed?

Franco-British Fear of Reunification Coming True

By Leon Mangasarian

In 1989, France’s Francois Mitterrand and Britain’s Margaret Thatcher maneuvered to block German reunification. Their concerns that the expanded nation would prove an irresistible force are now coming to pass.

As Europe’s financial crisis intensifies after two years and with 1.1 trillion euros ($1.5 trillion) of short- and long- term euro-area government debt due in 2012, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has forced French President Nicolas Sarkozy into retreat and left U.K. Premier David Cameron on the sidelines.

Berlin’s dominance has shaken the Franco-German equilibrium at the heart of the post-World War II balance of power. Debt contagion and slumping growth have driven French borrowing costs to a euro-era record against Germany. The result may be a remade political map with even Poland, invaded by Adolf Hitler in 1939, calling for a stronger German role.

“We are an unwilling leader,” Wolfgang Ischinger, a former German ambassador to Britain and the U.S. and now chairman of the Munich Security Conference, said in an interview. “We have been trying for 50 years not to lead. Germany will have to grow up now. It’s new and there will be a learning curve and mistakes will be made.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-1...sis-plans.html

[don]

Re: Geo-Political Reality - History's Trump Card

German Politician: Euro Downgrade Is an American Plot

Standard & Poor’s warning that no less than fifteen eurozone states, including Germany, could lose their AAA credit rating has been met with howls of protest from leading German politicians. The general secretary of the Social Democratic party (SPD), Andrea Nahles, described the Standard and Poor’s announcement as “shameless.” Former German finance minister Peer Steinbrück, also of the SPD, spoke of a “provocation” and urged the European Commission to subject the rating agencies to “far stricter regulation.”



The current German economics minister, Philipp Rösler of the ostensibly pro-free market Free Democratic Party (FDP), employed somewhat more measured tones, stiffly commenting, “Germany will not let itself to be impressed by the day-to-day and very short-lived judgment of a single ratings agency.”

But it was Rösler’s colleague Rainer Brüderle who had perhaps the most extreme reaction. Brüderle is the chair of the FDP group in the German Bundestag. “I am no fan of conspiracy theories,” Brüderle told the German business daily Handelsblatt, “But sometimes it is hard to avoid the impression that some American ratings agencies and fund managers are working against the euro zone.”

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/...ot_611697.html

[don]

Re: Geo-Political Reality - History's Trump Card

For centuries England's never-wavering policy was preventing one European Power from dominating the Continent. It mattered little to John Bull who that country was. France, Germany, whomever. Don't let it happen. The thought that Euro-land could possibly unite as a viable political economic entity was beyond their imagination . . .

Britain Suffers as a Bystander to the Euro’s Crisis

By SARAH LYALL and STEPHEN CASTLE

LONDON — No matter what happens at the European summit meeting on the euro in Brussels that begins Thursday, Britain is sure to lose.

There is looming recognition at 10 Downing Street that if the euro falls, Britain will sink along with everyone else. But if Europe manages to pull itself together by forging closer unity among the 17 countries that use the euro, then Britain faces being ever more marginalized in decisions on the Continent.

Many Europeans have been irritated by British Conservatives’ quiet satisfaction throughout the crisis with the decision not to join the euro (the United Kingdom ostentatiously kept its currency, the pound), particularly when juxtaposed with the panic over Britain’s inability to have any significant impact on Europe’s biggest crisis since the end of the cold war.

“Germany is the unquestioned leader of Europe,” said Charles Grant, director of the Center for European Reform. “France is definitely subordinate to Germany, and Britain has less influence than at any time I can recall.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/wo...ef=todayspaper

[c1ue]

Re: Geo-Political Reality - History's Trump Card

Frankly this seems like a series of hit pieces.

Prussia may have been a 'constitutional monarchy' in 1914, but Prussia itself was not even mostly modern Germany.

The original capital of Prussia was Konigsberg, now Kaliningrad - right between Lithuania and Poland. Prussia itself was mostly Polish land added to a German principality (Brandenburg).

As for vons - something like 10% of Germany was 'von' in the 1600s - i.e. the Adel. One of the reasons Germany unified so much later than the rest of Europe was because of this ridiculous patchwork of princes, dukes, and what not who all refused to give up their sovereignty - often over as small a piece of land as a mansion and accompanying bridge.

In contrast the Hochadel were what might be considered the equivalent of aristocracy in other European nations, except for the complete lack of a unified state.

It should also be noted that France and England have long interfered in the affairs of Germany - long before even the 20th century.

To say that these nations were only concerned with German unification due to Hitler is a lie.

Far more accurate to say that France and England don't want another great power right next door: one which is both larger in population and more dynamic in many ways, and one which is now (again) exerting itself.

[gwynedd1]

Re: Geo-Political Reality - History's Trump Card

The French were humiliated during the Franco-Prussian war which led to the unification of Germany. The usual combatants, especially between France and Britain, were insulted at this new arrival who was before then considered a back water of division. I believe that Germany is using Wiemar as a propaganda weapon to punish Europe and starve them with debt as Europe had done to them. When any demand is made for liquidity, they can deny it and cry out "Wiemar!". The longer it goes on the more Germany will become their masters.