This article originally appeared in 0815 Info. Translated from the German by Susan Neumann

Germany in Europe with Russia

Washington’s obvious masterplan of trying to interfere with the good German-Russian relations has failed among the top-level decision makers in Berlin. Not so in German newsrooms. The professionality and thinking of the leading media personnel is dominated by naivety, lack of judgment, and blind reverence to the USA as “the ultimate good”. The comments that one reads in the German press and what one hears on German television are limited, if not mentally limited.



There is a failed trust in the United States due to serious US violations of the law

Already during his first term in office, the Russian President Vladimir Putin justifyingly accused the West of allowing the violence factor to dominate – and not just with Putin. The German SPD foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has already explicitly warned about the militarization of foreign policy (July 2006). The German SPD foreign minister gave into the pressure from Washington even back then, which was at that time under the administration of George W. Bush. Steinmeier put his disarmament initiative on ice. The US regime has now maneuvered itself into a difficult situation in Europe. Due to countless serious violations of the law on part of the US (massive spying, for example), the trust of its European representatives is simply gone.

In the US, there is more confidence in Putin than Obama

Instead of simply taking note of Europe’s loss of confidence in the US, some of the German media would prefer to see Russia’s influence in world politics vanish. The reality has been quite different for many years and it contradicts their obscured, wishful thinking.

According to the New York Times publication from 09/11/2013:

"A Plea for Caution From Russia: What Putin Has to Say to Americans About Syria," it is evident how persuasive the Russian President is for the American people. His accurately-made statements on foreign policy were well-received in the US. Opinion polls show that the majority of US citizens respond well to what he says. (German translation of the NYT article by Stefan Huth, “Abgeschrieben”, Junge Welt, 09.13.13)

Germany’s Welt am Sonntag made the comment, "If more Americans start to put their trust in Putin rather than Obama on matters of important foreign policy and security, then there will be a paradigm shift soon." ("Umweg zum Krieg" by Arno Neuber, Unsere Zeit, 9.20.13).

We’re entering a paradigm shift in world politics, but the German media is still stuck in their old ways

There’s the rub: a change is currently happening that will mark a visible shift in world politics. It was actually foreseeable. Washington no longer matters. Washington’s devastatingly wrong game plan is over, and yet the German media refuse to believe this international turnaround. They remain deluded and trapped by an old way of thinking.



US leadership is dead in Europe

The old West German Federal Republic no longer exists. US leadership is passé; failed and overtaken by an experienced European power that carries the weapon of international law. In their article “Back in the Game (Süddeutsche Zeitung 10.02), journalists Sacha Batthyany and Julian Hans have accurately picked up on Russia’s military intervention against terrorism in Syria and at the same time, they objectively contradict the disinformative and defamatory comments of their colleague, Hubert Wetzel, author of “Russia – Relapse into Dark Times” (Süddeutsche Zeitung, 10.02).

Russia is anchored to international law

Sacha Batthyany and Julian Hans have important comments on Russia:

Unlike George W. Bush's war in 2003, Russia has remained anchored to international law. This has allowed military operations on foreign territory in only two cases: one on request of a country’s government; and two, on the basis of a UN mandate. ... (Süddeutsche Zeitung, 10.02)

President Bashar al-Assad’s appeal to President Putin for help was presented to the Kremlin. The Duma authorized the Kremlin to act out of this official request and to assist the legitimate Syrian government in combatting any and all forms of terrorism by means of aerial attacks. Furthermore, the Russian President talked about it quite specifically in his speech to the United Nations. (09/28/15)

More than 9,000 US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria without any results means that the USA can’t be trusted

"Syria doesn’t trust the US position," said Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem in an interview at RT (9.30). "They say that they have flown more than 9,000 air raids in Iraq and in Syria, and we have seen absolutely no results." This is why Syria supports Putin’s plan. This shows "a deep understanding of what is happening in Syria and the region, and that the terror constitutes a danger to the whole world," said Buthaina Schaaban, one of the main advisors of the Syrian President ... ("Requested Bombings" by Gerrit Hoekman, Junge Welt, 10.02)

How and where does one recognize a moderate rebel?

The so-called "moderate" rebels, for whom the US Secretary of State Kerry worriedly advertises during the Russian air raids, are actually armed agents, trained by the CIA to kill people. Murderers are murderers no matter where they are. How and where does one recognize a moderate murderer? The so-called moderate rebels have been concocted by the United States in order to torpedo the peace in Syria through their armed insurgencies. The international community has witnessed this type of activity in Syria for years. As an opponent of peace they [the moderate rebels] should be excluded from the political process. They should get out fast, either alive or dead. That will depend on them.

Playing with fire on the side of the neocons

Talks with Russia have always been in progress. It is a perfidious and wrong maneuver on the part of the media to present things in such a way, as to give the impression that Russia is not prepared to talk. Provocations and incitements which bring about more violence have come from neoconservative positions. Playing from such positions is to play with fire, in the US Congress as well as in Europe, in the sense that no account is taken of European and international security. During the course of the entire Cold War, the US is accused of unscrupulous behavior in the face of Europe.

The US and its allies are without any internationally relevant mandate for their operations in Syrian airspace - unlike Russia

Of course, the Kremlin makes its decisions on the basis of facts.

Moscow called on the US to withdraw its aircraft and the aircraft of the NATO partners from Syrian airspace. Washington apparently rejected this and defied once again the explicit request of the government in Damascus. Unlike Russia, the US and its allies have no internationally relevant mandate for its operations in Syrian airspace. ("Requested Bombings" by Gerrit Hoekman, Junge Welt, 10.02)

Those who recklessly try to escalate the situation, and make themselves out to be an aggressor to an Arab country is leaving themselves wide open. Washington is working without a mask.



Berlin and Washington operate from different agendas

It once again became clear at the NATO meeting on 02.26.2014 that the US and the EU, especially Washington and Berlin, are working from different agendas when it comes to the Ukraine and Russia. Journalist Rainer Rupp particularly illustrates this point in his article "A Lot of Conflict," Junge Welt,

02/28/14:

Commentators in the US who are close to the Obama administration, openly celebrate the coup in Kiev (February 2013) as a successful coup against Moscow and as a tit-for-tat for Russian obstruction of US war plans against Syria. They see a crisis potential in the Ukraine. It’s one which Washington can escalate or deescalate as they please, if Russia continues to make difficulties for the US hegemon and its World Order plans. In contrast, the EU -- led by Berlin -- has sought ( ….) a coordinated effort with Moscow and a consensual solution to the crisis in Ukraine.

The differences between Washington and Berlin have now become apparent to all, as was publically announced by the German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, at the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Wednesday, 02/26/14. She repeatedly stressed that only in cooperation with Moscow would a solution to the Ukraine crisis be possible: "Russia needs to be involved, there will be no solution without Russia" (...) She indicated that, in addition to the NATO-Ukraine council, there is also a NATO-Russia council. ("A Lot of Conflict," Junge Welt, 02/28/14)

Solution for Ukraine crisis is only possible with Russia

The resolute, intelligent, diplomatic presence of the German Minister of Defense has also followed the demands of those leading the German business sector, and the German business sector bemoans the current anti-Russian policy. At the recent meeting in Paris concerning Ukraine (10.02.15), German Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed the course agreed-upon by German Government: a solution for the Ukraine crisis is only possible with Russia.

"This is especially true for Syria, where we have known for years that a solution can only be found with Russia, and not without Russia," according to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (ZDF-Mittagsmagazin, 10.02.15).

On October 2nd, the Chancellor, the Russian President Vladimir Putin, the French President Hollande, and the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met in Paris to discuss Ukraine crisis and the issue of Syria. With regard to the Ukraine crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin again pointed out that there should be direct talks between Kiev and the Republics in Donbass.

The central mouthpiece of the Pentagon is in Germany

This is being purposefully withheld from readers of the Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ). The twisted SZ comments of Herbert Wetzel concerning the Ukraine and Syria in his "Russia - relapse into dark times" (SZ, 10.02), are part of a series of delusions and confusions that take reality and turn it on its head. Wetzel reports news exactly the way the war faction of NATO’s neocons would have it reported. The Süddeutsche Zeitung, the supra-regional daily newspaper, with the highest circulation in Germany and with particularly good distribution among German executives, remains the most important platform for those US circles.

Hence the Süddeutsche Zeitung, with its curious reputation as this great German newspaper, is making itself out to be the Pentagon’s central mouthpiece in Germany. It follows that Russia and its President Vladimir Putin, are again declared and demonized as the enemy, just like the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad. The terrible US aggressive wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Serbia, Libya, Syria, Ukraine and Palestine (instigated by the US enclave Israel), cannot exist for journalists working for such a government mouthpiece.

They would rather have a career and not risk their job. They obviously have an easy, comfy job. They only have to distribute that what is fed to them by the power centers in Brussels, Washington and Tel Aviv; that is, putting the blame on Russia and on the Syrian President without any basis or proof. German editors should actually know that the war in Ukraine has been financed and supported by the USA ever since the coup of February, 2013.

They know it, but as a dutiful mouthpiece of the USA, they withhold that information. They also cover up the devastating violent policy of the US hegemon. They report and comment in the spirit of the radical Republicans and neocon Democrats in Washington, those who brought the neo-Nazis and nationalists to power in Ukraine.

Berlin recognizes Washington’s failed Syria-policy

Regarding Syria, the differences between Washington, Russia, and Berlin are also obvious. Washington stands behind terrorist groups, no matter how they conveniently choose to call themselves. Russia, however, is fighting against them on the side of the legitimate government of Syria. Berlin has recognized the failed policies of Washington and has placed importance on talks with the Syrian government -- not talks with armed rebels or terrorists, neither of whom are part of the political process. Armed groups have always had the opportunity to lay down their weapons, of course. On the other hand, if they were to do so, the senseless violence they have perpetrated would backfire on them and put an end to it all that way.



Foreign Minister Steinmeier stands in conflict with the German Chancellor Merkel’s official course of action

A seemingly naive, weak German Foreign Minister, Walter Steinmeier, should finally make a clear analysis of Syria, so that he can stop allowing his US colleague Kerry to lead him around by the nose, and stop supporting meaningless, crooked statements from New York that disclose the scandalous US liaison with armed rebels and violent offenders. In order to do that, Steinmeier must counter the official foreign policy of the German Chancellor! In any case, Obama has admitted in his own words to the whole world that his regime will not learn from past mistakes, and thus it will continue to focus on terrorism and violence. Unfortunately, the German foreign minister and his SPD [Social Democratic Party of Germany] appear to be a soft front for US aggression and US vandalism. Will the SPD be Washington's fifth column in Germany?



Russia strips the mask off US foreign policy

Russia has taken the mask off the US foreign policy in Syria and has allowed for things to be seen clearly. Rage and uncontrolled reactions from the radical corner in Washington are to be expected.