Eamonn Fitzgerald's Rainy Day

Since the September elections, when Gerhard Schroeder stoked fears of war to gain another four years in power, German popular culture has become more and more neurotically anti-American. This week's issue of Der Spiegel, with it's "Blood for oil" title and cover image where the Stars and Stripes are turned into a version of the Hammer and Sickle is but the latest manifestation of the pathology. This is a high-risk course, though, because once the war in Iraq has ended, it's likely that Washington will take the position that American blood wasn't shed to provide economic support for Germany. And act accordingly.

The enormous damage Schroeder has done to Germany's internal well being and to its foreign influence is addressed in "Rot at Europe's Core", in the current issue of Newsweek. Writer Stefan Theil sees Paris as the immediate beneficiary of German weakness — France is essentially the leader of the EU now. And Britain? It's further away from joining the euro than ever.

Regarding Schroeder, Theil says:

"Abroad, he's robbed Germany of nearly all clout with his count-me-out stance on Iraq and his near-total absorption with domestic crises. No one even tries to understand his policies. One week he raises taxes by 23 billion, soon afterward his chancellery "leaks" a paper calling for the exact opposite. As if he had nothing more important to do, he?s suing two tiny regional newspapers for claiming his marriage is on the rocks. Woe betide them had they suggested he dyes his hair."

According to Theil, Germany's weakness means that Europe will have to forget its ambitions of rivalling the US, despite its constant protestations about American "unilateralism." A resurgent Germany is needed if Europe hopes to carry the same weight as Washington, argues Theil, but adds: "None more ardently pursued this vision than Germany. What a paradox that it should become the greatest obstacle to its realization."

Diarist of the day: Iris Origo, 14 January 1944

"Anatole France, in his old age, intended to write a novel, of which the title was to be Les Autels de la peur, "The Altars of Fear" — could a better title be found for an account of our times?"