Baron zu Guttenberg uses the word "war"

[Al.]

Anyone realise what a taboo that has been in Germany? Now the Reichsfreiherr has broken that taboo. He also says, in essence, that Germany's in Afghanistan to stay (Germany's been entrenched in that land since the 1920s). Look at your future, European Union...a microcosm of same.

The Local

[size=4]Guttenberg says Taliban waging ‘war’ against German troops[/size]

[size=1]Published: 3 Nov 09 10:03 CET[/size]

Breaking a long-standing semantic taboo in Berlin, German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said on Tuesday that Taliban forces are waging a "war" against the international community. ...

Guttenberg, who was sworn in last week as Germany's new defence minister following a general election in September, recalled that the law defines a war only as a conflict between two nations. But he also admitted the conflict in the strife-ridden country defied easy description.

"Certain traditional choices of words do not really work in the current situation. In parts of Afghanistan, there are, without question, conditions that are like a war," he said. ...

Germany, whose troops levels in Afghanistan he said had risen to more than 4,300 soldiers, will not shirk from its responsibilities in the country, the minister vowed.

"One day, the Afghans will have to be able to provide for their own security. Then our military task will have been accomplished," he said. ...

[Panopticon]

Um, nonsense.

The Weekly Standard

Even the conservative Weekly Standard says the message is:
"Zu Guttenberg’s polite but unmistakable message to Karzai was very clear: Get serious about cleaning up your government or risk loosing the West’s political, military, and economic support for the Afghan regime."

[TommyO'Brien]

Anyone realise what a taboo that has been in Germany? Now the Reichsfreiherr has broken that taboo. He also says, in essence, that Germany's in Afghanistan to stay (Germany's been entrenched in that land since the 1920s). Look at your future, European Union...a microcosm of same.

The Local

The usual fantasy post from Al the Ejjit.

[Pauli]

zu Guttenberg is the German Defence Minister. There are Bundeswehr troops in Afghanistan. There is a war on there. He uses the word "war". What is your point, Al? And why refer to him as "Reichsfreiherr"?

[eyeswideopen]

I must have missed the Taliban onslaught on Berlin. When did that happen ?

[Al.]

(Baron) zu Guttenberg is the German Defence Minister. There are Bundeswehr troops in Afghanistan. There is a war on there. He uses the word "war". What is your point, Al?

I hope you aren't going to deny the long-standing taboo in Germany over the word "Krieg". Even the German media isn't in denial over that.

And why do you say that there's a war going on there?

And why refer to him as "Reichsfreiherr"?

Because he refers to himself as "Reichsfreiherr"...? Eugen Hain, the Mayor of Guttenberg, once said in an interview: "His correct title is 'Reichsfreiherr'; one addresses him as 'Baron'. Here, one must know the correct titles..."

The usual fantasy post from Al the Ejjit

From someone who doesn't seem to know the common spelling of the slang word "eejit", that's almost a compliment. You think the German media doesn't know what it's talking about, or writes fantasy articles? Maybe you're the one in a fantasy world.

[Pauli]

There is no taboo about using the word "Krieg" in Germany. The Deutsche Reich ended in 1945. Germany has been a republic for over 60 years. Titles of nobility are used today as a courtesy, such as "Graf" or "Baron" but have no official status in society. There is certainly no official title as "Reichsfreiherr". If that is what the Mayor said, he was mistaken

[Al.]

There is no taboo about using the word "Krieg" in Germany

So the reporters at The Local lied? I quoted the text where they called it a "long-standing semantic taboo".

There is certainly no official title as "Reichsfreiherr". If that is what the Mayor said, he was mistaken

I cited the source. How was Bürgermeister Hain mistaken? and assuming that he was, why would he make such statements in public?

[Quinn Quinn]

The usual fantasy post from Al the Ejjit.

and the usual nonsense from yourself Timmy (aka TheAnalyser2007 aka MylesPerHour aka NotDevsSon aka DS-09)

[Pauli]

So the reporters at The Local lied? I quoted the text where they called it a "long-standing semantic taboo".I cited the source. How was Bürgermeister Hain mistaken? and assuming that he was, why would he make such statements in public?

A semantic taboo!! But not an ordinary everyday taboo, so. Thanks for the clarification.

Burgermeister Hain was very much mistaken. Small villages often vote "eccentric" figures to play at Burgermeister. I suspect that's the case here.