Fighting For The Heart And Soul Of Europe?

Click on the title for an AP article about the prospect of the Leftist Socialist German government being replaced with one that will regard the U.S. as a valuable and trusted ally, instead of a pariah that is responsible for all that is wrong with the world.

Here are a few excerpts with my views on the matter:

BERLIN - Germany's opposition aims to oust Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder with a program to boost Europe's largest economy and "reinvigorate" relations with the United States, according to a draft obtained Sunday by The Associated Press.

Maybe the economy has been more directly affected by the chilled relationship with the U.S., than many would like to admit. Less American investment can make a difference in any country's economy.

What is interesting to note, is that Germany's unemployment rate is in the 11 % range. Even with so much government money to invest in business and social programs (while not having to fund a military of any major consequence), they cannot get below 10 percent. They need us to this day and they are beginning to realize this slowly, but surely. Their buddy Chirac cannot help them. The French President has his own political troubles and is also struggling with growing unemployment.

The program, to be formally endorsed Monday by the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, includes an increase in sales tax and looser rules for companies to hire and fire staff. It also rules out Turkish membership in the European Union.

I, for one, believe that this is not a good time to consider Turkey as a member of the EU (provided it ever gets off of the ground). With the current hostility that radical Muslims are bringing to Europe, they cannot afford to take a chance of bringing a nation into the fold that may become sympathetic to the jihadists, some point down the road.

If they do ( and I stress, IF), they had better make sure that Turkey renounces terrorism and jihad, as an ideology, philosophy, and way of life. They should take steps to ensure that what has happened in other Muslim countries never happens in Turkey, by requiring the Turkish government to outlaw jihadism and jail all those that openly espouse these beliefs.

If they are serious about becoming a member, they will not have a problem doing so. But the skeptic in me, has some strong doubts.

"We will reinvigorate the trans-Atlantic cooperation with the United States," the draft said.

Sounds like this draft can and will be promoted as something quite similar to the Contract With America, the Republicans rose to power on.

The conservatives, led by Angela Merkel, have opened a wide lead in opinion polls ahead of the expected September election, raising the prospect of defeat for Schroeder's center-left government after seven years in office.

I don't know if this lady can be the younger, modern-day German version of Maggie Thatcher, or not. But from what I have read about her, she has spunk, guts, and brains. And above all, do not sell her short.

We could very well be seeing the tide turning back in Europe. Blair gets reelected, Spain starts seeing the value of aligning itself with Britain more so than France, and now Germany looks to start moderating back toward the center-right. It certainly begs the question, could France be far behind?

Anyway, read the whole article and see what you think.