Germany "selfish" over Nord Stream pipeline...?

[Al.]

That's something that came from a Handelsblatt editorial, quoted in der Spiegel's international edition. This gives Germany the same leverage over Western Europe as Russia currently holds over Eastern Europe—if Russia decides to turn off the spigot to Ukraine again, Germany won't get affected...but this pipeline gives Germany the power to turn off the gas to the EU.

[size=1]11/06/2009
The World From Berlin[/size]

[size=4]On Nord Stream Pipeline, 'Germany Must Take a Selfish Stand'[/size]

The Swedish and Finnish governments have finally consented to the construction of an ambitious new gas pipeline from Russia to Central Europe after years of opposition. German commentators welcome the removal of this last obstacle to the project but express reservations about Russian geopolitical ambitions. ...

Business daily Handelsblatt writes:

This pipeline project is ambitious, but embattled. From the beginning, Eastern European and Scandinavian voices have expressed their misgivings -- both environmental and security-related. But Germany must take a selfish stand on this. In terms of a secure delivery of natural gas for us, the fact that construction of this pipeline can finally begin, after years of assessment, is good news. ...

[Pauli]

Thank God for that. The best news I heard all day. Probably won't be topped.

[Al.]

So Germany being able to do to western Europe what Russia did to eastern Europe is good news?

(This is bad news for Switzerland as well, you know.)

[Pauli]

So Germany being able to do to western Europe what Russia did to eastern Europe is good news?

(This is bad news for Switzerland as well, you know.)

When I look at Germany, I see a democratic federal republic. When you look at Germany you see something else entirely. I am not overly worried about the future development of Germany. You obviously are.

[Sync]

Stupid Germany spending their own money to ensure a gas supply for their people. And what have they done for us over the past 50 years? Apart from all that money we got from the EU of course.

If only there were gas reserves other countries like Ireland could get to. Wow, the people would be REALLY happy then!

[Al.]

When I look at Germany, I see a democratic federal republic. When you look at Germany you see something else entirely

So? There was a "democratic federal republic" from 1919 to 1933 as well. Democracy isn't absolute, especially when from the beginning this republic has been peppered with politicians with ambitions and outlooks that are more imperialistic (and dare I say ecclesiocratic) than democratic (I've posted enough Adenauer quotes on this site to the effect of that point), and now has a very powerful undemocratic institution under its control. (This "democratic federal republic" is allowing openly antidemocratic parties in as well, the NDP and the Left Party being the chief examples out in the open, and it won't ban them.)

I am not overly worried about the future development of Germany. You obviously are

The word "development" is too neutral to describe the permutations.

And if it worries me, then I daresay that I'm in good company. Unless you think of Helmut Kohl threatening a rift with all Germany's allies back in 1991 (including the USA) over Croatia and Slovenia to be innocuous foreign policy? That's an act of aggression, and the US backing down doesn't make it less aggressive. How about the recent invocation of the Munich Agreement, to threaten the Czech Republic?

[Clanrickard]

This Gas pipeline should have come through Poland and possible the Baltic States. but knowing the friction that exists between Russia and the Eastern Bloc the Germans selfishly, and in a bizarre pro-Russian, move decided to shaft their EU "partners" in the East and get the gas direct. Germany has been slavishly and unconscionable pro-Russia even as it has slowly regressed to its former thuggish self.

[Al.]

Germany has been slavishly and unconscionable pro-Russia even as it has slowly regressed to its former thuggish self

That look like a pattern repeated from history at all...?

Last year, Stratfor claimed that there was a sort of new version of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact that Merkel and Medvedev had brokered. It was co-incident with the conflict in Georgia. Following that are developments that mirror the old agreement, which basically involve dividing up eastern Europe between Putin's Russia (remember, Putin is of the mind that the collapse of the Soviet Union was the biggest disaster of the 20th Century) and the EU. Such agreements were always a prelude to aggression from both parties. Remember George Santayana's words...

[bormotello]

Following that are developments that mirror the old agreement, which basically involve dividing up eastern Europe between Putin's Russia

Does it mean that EU will invade into Poland?

[Ramon21]

Does it mean that EU will invade into Poland?

Tell me, how would the EU invade in itself?