Complementary war power

The thrust of German Ambassador, Wolfgang Ischinger, coincides with the interests of numerous big German enterprises which depend on business with the USA. According to Joseph Ackermann, spokesman for the board of directors of the Deutsche Bank, leading business circles plead that ,,Europe's future"should be ,,at America's side". Ackermann states that the USA and Europe are ,,natural allies"even if based solely on their economic involvement. ¹⁾While immediate economic interests press German foreign policy into continuing co-operation, divergent interests, particularly those of a political-strategic nature do exist.

,,Embarrassing similarity"

Heinrich Vogel, board member of the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP, foundation for science and policy), notes a ,,far deeper alienation between the USA and Europe", which he sees as due to the advantage of the old continent's civilisation. The unquestioning faith in authority and growing militarism of US society serve as reminders of Wilhelminian Germany on the eve of World War I. Vogel sees an ,,embarrassing similarity with that pre-democratic phase of German history".

,,No reason for timidity"

The demonstration of absolute military power has caused far-reaching damage to the claim of the USA to political leadership. The prominent political advisor formulates Berlin's claims for participation in the global hegemony thus: It is necessary now that ,,terms concerning further political guarantees for cooperation must be openly discussed." ,,European potential in trade, currency, technology, law and cultural policies put the American claim to leadership considerably into perspective. (...) There is no cause whatsoever for timidity."

,,Transformation of international law..."

Ambassador Ischinger recently attempted to bring together the differing positions during a conference of the Alfred-Herrhausen-Gesellschaft, the socio-political forum of the Deutsche Bank. He agrees with Vogel that there is no going back to the ,,good old times of harmony among partners". On the other hand, the hegemony of the USA which is based on superior military power, can hardly be questioned. Thus, the EU could only mature into achieving ,,our hoped for"world power if it were to ,,define its identity not against but in concert with the USA."It must be accepted that the USA is questioning the ,,centuries' old fiction that states are equal and are protected by international law."It would be critical that the EU would participate actively in a ,,policy of transformation as it is framed by Washington." ²⁾

,,... by military means...

The former head of the planning staff and undersecretary in the Foreign Office, therefore sketches the prerequisites for a ,,renewed, acceptable basis of transactions for the transatlantic relationship."The USA would have to be prepared to consider Berlin's interests as a matter of priority. Otherwise, Ischinger foresees a coalition directed against the USA. ³⁾On the other hand, the EU should participate in the elimination of the equality of states, if necessary by force: ,,In Europe one forgets occasionally that law and standards must be achieved, if necessary by military means." ⁴⁾

,,... means war."

The German ambassador states that the ,,complementary"global power policy would have to prove successful in the joint ,,reorganisation"of the Near and Middle East. There Berlin and the EU must demonstrate the forcefulness of their ambitions. ⁵⁾Ischinger sees the first acid test in the participation in possible aggression against Iran: ,,Will Europe, indeed, take a critical view of Iran, insisting on the transparency of Iran's nuclear program, and be prepared to pay a price for this objective, should the occasion arise? If yes, at what price?" ⁶⁾

1) See also earlier article A lull in the conflict
2) See also earlier article ,,Downfall or ascent to world power"
3) See also earlier article BASF: Access to the largest energy reserves of the world
4) See also earlier article EU Strategy: ,,Preemptive Wars", worldwide
5) See also earlier articles Germany as ,,victorious power in Iraq"and Berlin wants ethnic ,,New Order"in Gulf region
6) See also earlier article War or Change of Regime

Sources:
Verzweifelt gesucht. Eine Berliner Tagung über das Selbstgefühl Europas; Süddeutsche Zeitung 17.06.2003
Heinrich Vogel: Das Ende des ,,Westens"; Internationale Politik Juni 2003
Wolfgang Ischinger: ,,The Transatlantic Partnership: Can It Survive?"; www.germany-info.org