Just like in another time in Germany once again we find one and only one person responsible. This time it is a female. Angela Merkel and her CDU party is the cause of a stable and peaceful Germany that lasted 65 years to go bad. What arrogance would allow some to let millions of refugees to come in and proclaim to the world "Wir schaffen das"??? German newspapers can't print the names of the perpetrators or their heritage. Swimming pools are empty or a hotbed for sexual crimes. Old ladies get raped. The beautiful town of Cologne in shambles. Neighbors closing their borders. I have always been fascinated by the German people and how they pick their leaders. Thank God I live in the USA and in the face of this madness will vote for Donald Trump.
34
You should be proud of what Germany is today. Especially after Merkel's almost reckless generosity last summer. But an almsgiver whose generosity turns him into one more beggar isn't really helping the situation. Keep your civic accomplishments intact. Europe needs you. The world needs you. Hell, Greece needs you.
26
Typical European equivocation and handwringing - the threats are not equal. The German Right effectively shot their load on the wrong people 75 years ago, it is not coming back in any meaningful form. Whereas ISIS and its cohorts are at full strength and have infiltrated the West in ways the Sultans could only have dreamed of - that is the clear and present danger that needs to be addressed.
65
Germany has had the home grown issue of the Far Right to deal with for a long time. And they have made great strides. They have now imported a Muslim population that will cause a whole new set of problems, except with this new issue they can't speak honestly about it for fear of sounding xenophobic. With their newly imported Muslim population will come a small number of horrifying terrorist attacks, which are already starting. Also will come open assualts on their values: group sexual assaults, harassment of women at public pools, young male students treating their female teachers like second class people. And no one can really talk about these new problems without being called Islamophobic. I'm a liberal and I am horrified at the West not defending their hard-won liberal values.
85
The fear of Islam is real, but when you speak with Germans and German residents who are not ethnically German, the fear of the right is much greater. Very few Germans sympathise with it, but it is enough for every vulnerable person to have a story or two, and to watch their back in a way that they would not if they looked more like the majority of their neighbours. This is why it is so important that so many Germans, many themselves refugees or the descendants of refugees, have welcomed so many foreigners into their country recently.
8
Europe has become soft due it's liberal mindset and now they are paying the price. Foreigners who were welcomed in are now biting the helping hand that feeds them. Once "Refuge" is generously granted many decide to hold on to their third world value system that will never fit into the modern non Muslim world. The far right makes noise but rarely strikes so to ask which is worst is silly. We all know the answer.
55
Perhaps, and I doubt it, the far right might be the more dangerous in the long run. However, to quote Keynes, "In the long run we are all dead" and the attacks from the Islamic terrorists are doing their best to shorten that run.
31
This should not even be a question. ISIS (Islamic Extremism) is not an ideaology as in "Political Party" (Right Wing, Left Wing, Moderate, Centrist, etc.). ISIS and other Islamic Terrorists will kill you and behead you.
Enough said.
Enough said.
52
TERRORIST Attacks in Germany are very disturbing. Since 1968 I have visited Germany a number of times. During each visit, I was impressed by the general pacifism, the quiet and the greenery that reminds me of what I see in PA where I live. My wife and I, being Jewish, have experienced no antipathy toward Jews. One time a cab driver of Turkish origin made some propaganda driven comments critical of Israel. But he as remorseful that had unwittingly offended us. My wife and I were incredulous that the peaceful nation that Germany has become is where so many atrocities against humanity had transpired in WW II. But the emergence of terrorist attacks by Muslims against German nationals is profoundly distressing. The irony is striking. My opinion is that Merkel was naive in opening the floodgates to Middle Eastern refugees and, frankly, hypocritical in causing so much severe hardship in places like Greece, Spain and Portugal. I wonder whether how the bizarre nature of her contradictory attitudes is viewed by Germans in general. Of course, Germany must beware of the far right that is prepared to cause great harm. I hope that the green, peaceful place we visited will not disappear and transform itself into a gritty, violent place.
33
At the height of our "Willkommenskultur" in Germany last summer, I told my family living there that it wouldn't last past Christmas.
They told me I was too cynical -- But I should have put money on it.
There was simply no way that Germany would be able to accommodate, let alone integrate so many refugees and migrants at they rate they were arriving daily.
Yes. Chancellor Merkel gave an open invitation to the Syrians, yet everyone else started to come as well -- and most unchecked over borders, or through human-smugglers. The situation was out of control.
ONLY after other countries started to close their borders, Germany realized it's time to do something -- But by then it was too late.
The right-wing and nationalist groups, like NPD & AfD were on the rise, some had already started weekly marches, and torching refugee housing -- with random street-attacks soon to follow.
It would only be a matter of time before things would escalatae to the point where they are now with these recent attacks-- but of course, that too was inevitable.
And those family members who called me cynical last year, know much better now.
But none of us know where it will all end. Or, if it will.
They told me I was too cynical -- But I should have put money on it.
There was simply no way that Germany would be able to accommodate, let alone integrate so many refugees and migrants at they rate they were arriving daily.
Yes. Chancellor Merkel gave an open invitation to the Syrians, yet everyone else started to come as well -- and most unchecked over borders, or through human-smugglers. The situation was out of control.
ONLY after other countries started to close their borders, Germany realized it's time to do something -- But by then it was too late.
The right-wing and nationalist groups, like NPD & AfD were on the rise, some had already started weekly marches, and torching refugee housing -- with random street-attacks soon to follow.
It would only be a matter of time before things would escalatae to the point where they are now with these recent attacks-- but of course, that too was inevitable.
And those family members who called me cynical last year, know much better now.
But none of us know where it will all end. Or, if it will.
29
The difference between you and them is that they are exposed to continuous brainwashing by the government controlled TV stations. The constant Merkel drivel is further amplified by peer pressure to conform. On top of that, Merkel is patrolling Facebook and demands that (admittedly vulgar) government critical posts are removed and violators are prosecuted, fined and searches of their homes conducted by the thought police (what else would they expect to find there). This creates a climate for subliminal fear of non-conforming that cows most of the population into submission. There really is no basic right equivalent to our First Amendment in Germany. Artikel 5 of the German Constitution doesn't come close.
28
The fact that people two generations born in France of Muslim French colony antecedents still have not integrated in the banlieus should have been a good warning for Germany's leadership.
60
Correction.The Munich attacker was an Iranian- German.
Europe's problem is that the leadership does not have the courage to assert Western liberal values or the virtues of that history and tradition.. The leader who stands for nothing can be made to yield to anything.
Terrorism will get worse before it gets better.
Europe's problem is that the leadership does not have the courage to assert Western liberal values or the virtues of that history and tradition.. The leader who stands for nothing can be made to yield to anything.
Terrorism will get worse before it gets better.
53
Your tolerant and cosmopolitan identity will eventually end if you keep inviting in people who are neither. Just as companies become who they hire, nations also invariably evolve to reflect their makeup. If Germany has worked so hard after WWII to groom a pacifist populace, why admit violent immigrants? How can this possibly help Germans? If the choice is between a quick but deep psychic realization that you can't with any logic simultaneously help those who will surely injure you and alter your culture or a future that is continuous erosion of your cultural principles (and economy), only the infantile would choose the former.
52
If the goal is integration, there needs to be something hard core, like shave beards and remove headscarves, or leave. The US developed the Pledge of Allegiance solely to deal with its immigrants; something more draconian may be needed for older, more homogeneous countries than ours.
1
Terrorism is not going away. And now that domestic terrorism seems to be on the rise, we have just as much to fear from insiders, as outsiders. All terrorism is horrific because of the randomness and unnecessary violence and complete disregard for life. Which is why it is so effective and creating the kind of panic that turns people against each other. It is likely that just as many Muslims lost their lives in the terrorist attacks over the past several weeks. They are living in fear too. And dying at the hands of other Muslims, extremists, who represent a very small percentage of practicing Muslims.
But facts do little to provide the emotional comfort and reassurance people need at times like this. When we most need to come together, is usually when we could not be further apart.
But facts do little to provide the emotional comfort and reassurance people need at times like this. When we most need to come together, is usually when we could not be further apart.
7
Ms. Sauerbrey writes well, and if English is a second language for her, she is to be commended for her mastery of it. Understand that those on the left fear rise of the right more than they fear ISIS, or so they say. Witness same reasoning in this country among "gauchisants" who r more afraid of a Trump victory in the fall than they r of an assault by the Caliphate on the citizenry. Similar phenomenon in France where at one time French Jewish community claimed they lived in fear of JM le Pen"pere"whom they mistakenly regarded as anti semitic. But it was not the FN which carried out the deadly attacks in Nice, Paris centre and at offices of Charley Hebdo, but rather "beurs,"sons of Algerian "harkis" for the most part who sought revenge for France's mistreatment of their antecedents during 130 years of colonization, and who subscribed to ISIS's lethal ideology.Merkel is dotty for opening the doors to unscreened immigrants, and German people r paying the price. U did not have to be all that prescient to see the terrible price the German people would have to pay for her decision.Finally, avoid use of term, "bete noire" to indicate negativity. A black child understands that he is being put down indirectly when someone employs the words, and comes to feel that being black is not a virtue, whereas the contrary is true.
13
The only people in the world that are actively seeking apocalyptic weapons on a daily basis for immediate, offensive use on the West are Islamic terrorists. To equate them with right wing extremist groups in Germany is disingenuous.
64
I fail to see the stark distinction the writer makes. Surely the greater mortal threat to Germany (to the West) is islamo-fascism. It is a grave mistake to underestimate it. This is an historic problem with many dimensions all of which must be spelled out in order to eradicate it, like Nazism, from the face of the earth by all just means.
46
This is full of the usual half-truths and blather. The author marvels that people are fearful although the death-toll from the Munich attack stayed in the single-digits. The guy was hacking at people with an axe.
Why does the left (including this paper) keep repeating that Germany needs young workers when youth unemployment in other EU countries such as Spain and Portugal is as high as 40%?
And why is Israel as usual omitted from the list of regions which has experienced the horrors of terrorism?
Why does the left (including this paper) keep repeating that Germany needs young workers when youth unemployment in other EU countries such as Spain and Portugal is as high as 40%?
And why is Israel as usual omitted from the list of regions which has experienced the horrors of terrorism?
47
"we started 2016 with the dozens of sexual assaults outside Cologne’s main train station on New Year’s Eve"
Not dozens, thousands. 2000 men were involved in the New Years assaults, and over 1200 women were victimized, some dozens of times each. Many of the assaults were penetrative, and would be considered rape here in the US.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/07/10/leaked-docu...
Not dozens, thousands. 2000 men were involved in the New Years assaults, and over 1200 women were victimized, some dozens of times each. Many of the assaults were penetrative, and would be considered rape here in the US.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/07/10/leaked-docu...
71
You are so right. This is my hometown that I can not and do not want to ever see again. A city I was proud of now lies in shambles. The mayor of Cologne is worse than Angela Merkel. The word rape as we know it has been redefined to "groping". German men stand idly by because they can't defend their wives for fear of being prosecuted. This is no different than the 1930. Which goes to show you that the Germans are hard headed and refuse to learn anything from their shady history.
21
If you renounce your freedom and openness, you have given into the terrorists.
Germany needs to improve their intelligence service and fight the terrorists threat without turning into a xenophobic state.
Germany needs to improve their intelligence service and fight the terrorists threat without turning into a xenophobic state.
11
Despite Sauerbrey's bleating, I can tell you that the biggest fear in Germany is NOT "about what our bête noire, the German far right,". The biggest fear is not REALLY knowing who these illegal migrants are who have been forced down our throats by Merkel's stubborn stupidity. The 17-year-old Afghan butcher who, it turns out, was 23 and Pakistani--he lied. The incompetent Syrian bomb maker who had been ordered to leave Germany, but stayed around living on taxpayer money until he could make a bomb. And the 400000 (at least) more who lied or threw away their IDs claiming this bogus "asylum" status last year in Germany. I know you have to make a living writing your drivel, Saurbrey, but talk to anyone on the street--not your journalist phonies--and you will see people who have had enough of this government's obfuscation to cover up its craven stupidity and culpability in allowing this "refugee" swindle to continue. "surprising gains by the anti-refugee..." is pure garbage journalism. I understand that German journalists have to stick SOMETHING derogatory in front of every mention of the AfD. Try "anti-illegal migration", "anti fraudulent asylum application" AfD. The BAMF has already admitted that more than 300000 fraudulent claims were submitted in 2015. Oh and there are, supposedly, 200000 (or more) of these illegal migrants like our Syrian friend with the bomb. Denied asylum but living here anyway. That is what Germans are afraid and sick of. And the government obfuscates.
88
Thanks for calling what it is!
21
Having read extensively about how Hitler came to power by sending in henchmen to cause chaos in various countries, engineering the chaos to look like it came from the "leader" of the country, blackmailing them into falling in line with him then taking over the country and it's military/weapons it makes me suspicious when following world events right now. I believe all these random attacks are backed by the same BIG democracy, society-destroying, money masters who are trying to destroy democracy in America. It's all about a power change. Someone is recruiting and paying these random individuals to cause chaos. Interestingly, many female leaders are also under attack right now and Angela Merkel has been added to the mix. Things are not looking good for the robber barons and they aren't going down without a fight. We must not buy into it. Our lives depend on it.
6
The strategy ISIS is pursuing is different from Hitler's. Hitler didn't use religion as his driving force. His march to power was fed by the yoke Germany was suffering under stemming from the reparation demands after WW-I. If you are looking for a parallel to that, look no further than Greece. That country is in the same box Germany was in in the 1920s. The only thing Greece is lacking is a charismatic leader like Erdogan, all the other ingredients are there.
Speaking of which: Erdogan is precisely following HItler's playbook and he does it openly for everyone to see. Turkey is going the way of the 3rd Reich in a hurry. Just watch. You'll see a lot more happening there over the next year that will eerily remind you of the 1930s.
ISIS's strategy is to start a religious war in Europe. And with weak leaders like Merkel waffling about, they may well succeed. You only need to look at Merkel now, she is scared out of her wits. She has no idea what to do. During her entire time as Germany's leader, she never faced a challenge to the safety of the public as she does now. Germany's defenses are degenerate and weak. The patience of the public will only last so long. When the anger eventually starts boiling over, it can get ugly pretty quickly. Merkel just hopes that she will receive her Nobel Peace Prize before it comes to that. That's all she cares about now.
Speaking of which: Erdogan is precisely following HItler's playbook and he does it openly for everyone to see. Turkey is going the way of the 3rd Reich in a hurry. Just watch. You'll see a lot more happening there over the next year that will eerily remind you of the 1930s.
ISIS's strategy is to start a religious war in Europe. And with weak leaders like Merkel waffling about, they may well succeed. You only need to look at Merkel now, she is scared out of her wits. She has no idea what to do. During her entire time as Germany's leader, she never faced a challenge to the safety of the public as she does now. Germany's defenses are degenerate and weak. The patience of the public will only last so long. When the anger eventually starts boiling over, it can get ugly pretty quickly. Merkel just hopes that she will receive her Nobel Peace Prize before it comes to that. That's all she cares about now.
13
"The only simple truth after our week of horrors is that there is no simple truth."
But there is a simple truth if journalists like this one here had the courage to dig a bit deeper, rather than simply looking at symptoms like ideologies such as those embedded in religion.
The simply biology of over-population is the underlying reason: the relatively small land mass we call Germany is packed to the gills with 80 million homo sapiens, the vast majority of which live in completely artificial urban environments made up of concrete ant colonies of multi-story housing complexes. Germans are used to very high levels of stress in navigating their daily lives in their tightly packed living areas, "Wir schaffen das"--we can deal with it--was Angela Merkel's rationale for opening the floodgates to the millions of migrants in Africa and the Middle East.
All you need to do is look at Sweden--physically about the same size as Germany--with its much more humane and manageable population of 9 million-- to recognize the profound social differences and the underlying reasons for Germany's "horrors".
But there is a simple truth if journalists like this one here had the courage to dig a bit deeper, rather than simply looking at symptoms like ideologies such as those embedded in religion.
The simply biology of over-population is the underlying reason: the relatively small land mass we call Germany is packed to the gills with 80 million homo sapiens, the vast majority of which live in completely artificial urban environments made up of concrete ant colonies of multi-story housing complexes. Germans are used to very high levels of stress in navigating their daily lives in their tightly packed living areas, "Wir schaffen das"--we can deal with it--was Angela Merkel's rationale for opening the floodgates to the millions of migrants in Africa and the Middle East.
All you need to do is look at Sweden--physically about the same size as Germany--with its much more humane and manageable population of 9 million-- to recognize the profound social differences and the underlying reasons for Germany's "horrors".
15
Population density, economics, and violence go hand in hand. Part of the problem of the 21 century is that not enough has been done to both maintain and upgrade the infrastructure of cities to supports an ever growing population. I have never been to Germany, but London, Paris, and the Florence, Rome, Naples/Sorrento regions of Italy, and am a life long NYer. It is a great failing of many western nations, including the USA.
Another huge failure has been not doing enough to repopulate the areas outside of cities so that not as many people have to crowd into the few large cities to find jobs and housing close together. It would also spurn the growth of more small businesses with better than minimum wage paying jobs that could not thrive in large cities. Germany did the right thing by letting the refugees in. A few incidents should not erase the fact that saving tens of thousands of lives, including many non-violent women and children, was the right thing to do. But being poorly prepared for a huge influx of people in a country that is already pretty densely populated was a major logistical failure and is the primary reason a number of countries do not want to take in too many refugees.
Another huge failure has been not doing enough to repopulate the areas outside of cities so that not as many people have to crowd into the few large cities to find jobs and housing close together. It would also spurn the growth of more small businesses with better than minimum wage paying jobs that could not thrive in large cities. Germany did the right thing by letting the refugees in. A few incidents should not erase the fact that saving tens of thousands of lives, including many non-violent women and children, was the right thing to do. But being poorly prepared for a huge influx of people in a country that is already pretty densely populated was a major logistical failure and is the primary reason a number of countries do not want to take in too many refugees.
4
When angry-crazy can't-take-it-anymore people run amok they are attracted to some 'ism that justifies their hatred, turns them into a martyr for something.
Islam provides a very easy road to crazy, but it's not the only way, not at all.
The sad fact of the matter is look at the United States -- whack-jobs committing mass murder for all sorts of reasons and "affiliations:" islamic crazies are not much over-represented compared to their fraction of the population.
Control the guns and the explosives, and the murders will be in twos or threes ... not the big numbers that Americans commit with their guns.
Islam provides a very easy road to crazy, but it's not the only way, not at all.
The sad fact of the matter is look at the United States -- whack-jobs committing mass murder for all sorts of reasons and "affiliations:" islamic crazies are not much over-represented compared to their fraction of the population.
Control the guns and the explosives, and the murders will be in twos or threes ... not the big numbers that Americans commit with their guns.
6
It's a common tactic by liberals to label anyone who is against admitting masses of immigrants as FAR right. I doubt that the NEAR right is much in favor of them either.
54
The biggest danger for Germany comes from its far left, which has nothing left in its playbook but labeling anyone who does not agree with it as being 'far right'.
What a pathetic ploy!
What a pathetic ploy!
37
This is going to get ugly.
First, reports in US media were that most were refugee women and children. We now know that most were illegal economic migrants and the vast majority were men from their teens through middle age. Not sure how reporters missed that, but you make the call.
Next, the attacks on New Year's eve were in multiple cities- not just Cologne.
Next, the young man in Munich was a German by law who modeled his actions on the Right Wing Norwegian Mass Killer, but was of Iranian heritage. This was also not widely reported here in the US where he was passed off as just another German citizen.
I used to live in the then West Germany and travelled as my job, a Photographer, required it. Having lived well outside the tourist bubble I have some grasp of the German people. They have been instructed and raised to be tolerant from childhood, but are also people who value order and traditions. The trains are on time, people stay in line, are polite ( bitte & bitte schön ), they wait their turn and are expected to follow the norms.
Disorder, disregard for folkways, violating the norms and rudeness are a quick route to getting under the German skin. If these migrants and their offspring continue their disrespect and disruption it will provoke a backlash in the political arena. Ms Merkel's party is a conservative party and much of this can be laid at her feet.
I hope this ends well, but do not expect it.
First, reports in US media were that most were refugee women and children. We now know that most were illegal economic migrants and the vast majority were men from their teens through middle age. Not sure how reporters missed that, but you make the call.
Next, the attacks on New Year's eve were in multiple cities- not just Cologne.
Next, the young man in Munich was a German by law who modeled his actions on the Right Wing Norwegian Mass Killer, but was of Iranian heritage. This was also not widely reported here in the US where he was passed off as just another German citizen.
I used to live in the then West Germany and travelled as my job, a Photographer, required it. Having lived well outside the tourist bubble I have some grasp of the German people. They have been instructed and raised to be tolerant from childhood, but are also people who value order and traditions. The trains are on time, people stay in line, are polite ( bitte & bitte schön ), they wait their turn and are expected to follow the norms.
Disorder, disregard for folkways, violating the norms and rudeness are a quick route to getting under the German skin. If these migrants and their offspring continue their disrespect and disruption it will provoke a backlash in the political arena. Ms Merkel's party is a conservative party and much of this can be laid at her feet.
I hope this ends well, but do not expect it.
49
Why only Germany? Almost all the countries are exposed to this scourge of terrorism, mainly the Islamist terror today, and this necessitates a well coordinated global response to meet the threat. As to which of the two- the Islamist terror or the Far right extremism - poses a greater threat? The simple answer could be the former. For if the Far right extremism is essentially a political challenge which requires a political response to counter it, the Islamist terror of the ISIS and al Qaida brands poses an existential threat to the human civilisation.
55
The author claims that when the Munich gunman was found to have no ties to Islamist groups, "there was a strange feeling of relief" among liberals. I would argue that if you felt this way -- if you are concerned only about right-wing fanatics and dismiss the real threat of global Islamist jihad -- then you aren't really a liberal. Standing up for liberal values means criticizing and countering both ideologies.
I should also point out that defining attacks as being either Islamist or xenophobic creates a false dichotomy; Islamism *is* xenophobia.
I should also point out that defining attacks as being either Islamist or xenophobic creates a false dichotomy; Islamism *is* xenophobia.
111
The feeling of relief is brought on by the knowledge that every Islamist attack chips away at the liberal, multicultural, non-authoritarian society that much of Europe still enjoys. I seriously doubt the author means to suggest that attacks by right-wingers are somehow less horrifying - but at least they can't be used by far-right political parties to advance their agenda.
1
In order to understand this article, one has to understand the ideological landscape in Europe.
German Journalists are, according to polls, nearly 95% left wing oriented, either Social Democrats or, overwhelmingly, Greens.
Greens are not about environmental issues any more but have been captured by 1968 type Marxists and are today's extreme Left wing ideologues.
For the political discussion in Germany, Austria and some parts of the EU, the major problem is not about terrorist attacks but a fear that as a result of these attacks the "wrong" parties will win the next elections.
Driving the Left from access to tax payers expense funding.
So the simple reason why Ms. Sauerbrey writes about the "Right" is that she is not overwhelmingly concerned about Islamic terror but the problem of losing out in the next elections to a Right wing party.
So she is quite happy to have found a known enemy, a fascist or extreme Right winger as the perpetrator.
The European Left has taken decades to establish itself in all kinds of political and publishing positions, to further their ideological targets.
Their immigration, economical and social policies have failed big time and have produced huge problems, among those millions of illegal immigrants over the past two generations of whom a small number are now an immense security risk.
To accept failure is not part of Marxist "historical imperative".
Which explains why Ms. Sauerbrey happily attacks the political enemy and not the real problem.
German Journalists are, according to polls, nearly 95% left wing oriented, either Social Democrats or, overwhelmingly, Greens.
Greens are not about environmental issues any more but have been captured by 1968 type Marxists and are today's extreme Left wing ideologues.
For the political discussion in Germany, Austria and some parts of the EU, the major problem is not about terrorist attacks but a fear that as a result of these attacks the "wrong" parties will win the next elections.
Driving the Left from access to tax payers expense funding.
So the simple reason why Ms. Sauerbrey writes about the "Right" is that she is not overwhelmingly concerned about Islamic terror but the problem of losing out in the next elections to a Right wing party.
So she is quite happy to have found a known enemy, a fascist or extreme Right winger as the perpetrator.
The European Left has taken decades to establish itself in all kinds of political and publishing positions, to further their ideological targets.
Their immigration, economical and social policies have failed big time and have produced huge problems, among those millions of illegal immigrants over the past two generations of whom a small number are now an immense security risk.
To accept failure is not part of Marxist "historical imperative".
Which explains why Ms. Sauerbrey happily attacks the political enemy and not the real problem.
19
Perhaps you're not taking into account how vulnerable marginal groups can be stigmatized and abused as a result of public perception and stereotypes. Perhaps if you had some personal experience of belonging to such a group, or the empathy that comes from knowing or working with such people, you would find it easier to understand the reaction that you decry as "illiberal".
2
To atone for Nazism, Germany should allow Jews from all corners of earth to come and settle in Germany to make up for all Jews killed or evicted by Hitler.
But to allow Muslims as replacements whose holy book demand 103 times that the believers must wage wars against non believes and infidels is a sure sign of
stupidity.
What we have seen is only a small sample of things to come.
But to allow Muslims as replacements whose holy book demand 103 times that the believers must wage wars against non believes and infidels is a sure sign of
stupidity.
What we have seen is only a small sample of things to come.
76
Here is an idea- stop inviting millions of economic refugees into Germany.
The far right will settle down and the threat of terrorism will decrease.
But I have no doubt that Germany will target the far right and invite millions more economic refugees, who do not share German values, into their country.
And I predict the far right will gain more and more adherents.
In democracies citizens decide policy- not economic migrants. In democracies citizens decide who is allowed into their nation- not well meaning principles.
The far right will settle down and the threat of terrorism will decrease.
But I have no doubt that Germany will target the far right and invite millions more economic refugees, who do not share German values, into their country.
And I predict the far right will gain more and more adherents.
In democracies citizens decide policy- not economic migrants. In democracies citizens decide who is allowed into their nation- not well meaning principles.
76
So we should cave in to some xenophobic blowheads ?
If it is not for the cause, than it is for my pride,
there is a simple answer to what kind of extremism i will dodge - it is none.
If it is not for the cause, than it is for my pride,
there is a simple answer to what kind of extremism i will dodge - it is none.
4
Syrian refugees are surely NOT economic migrants. I am working in immigration here in Germany, I know what I am talking about and have conversed with many about their war experiences and traumas. You surely cannot not generalize about a whole religious community, nor their motives to migrate without ever having been in true contact (there´s Trump, UKIP, AFD... to do that job, sadly).
The post-modern democratic challenge will not be - and has never been - to sharpen ethnic boundaries, but to efficiently find ways of shaping coherent and peaceful democracies of all classes and races. Keeping a whole people artificially in or out has never been a good idea in the whole of world history. And besides - migration and immigration is a social fact, if you like it or you do not. We have to find new ways instead - seriously, I am sick of all those old people trying to condemn and decide our young generation´s life.
The post-modern democratic challenge will not be - and has never been - to sharpen ethnic boundaries, but to efficiently find ways of shaping coherent and peaceful democracies of all classes and races. Keeping a whole people artificially in or out has never been a good idea in the whole of world history. And besides - migration and immigration is a social fact, if you like it or you do not. We have to find new ways instead - seriously, I am sick of all those old people trying to condemn and decide our young generation´s life.
3
Merkel indeed sold Europe to the Middle Easterns. Then she sold the EUs left-over savings to Erdogan who in turn just pocketed everything and is asking for more. This woman should resign.
69
The author here wrote: "But perhaps more so in Germany than any other country in Europe, the fear of terrorism isn’t limited to the possible attacks themselves; it is about what our bête noire, the German far right, will do with it."
I'm dubious that is 'your' greatest fear. Your greatest fear is what the German CENTER will do with it. And I imagine there is a lot the Center will do if the attacks keep up. They brought too many people in, too quickly, though their intentions were noble. And now you don't know how to respond without unleashing ugly passions. So, you don't respond, or respond, episodically, a bit here and a bit there. And meanwhile the world changes, must faster than a bit here and a bit there. I'm dubious about positive change at this point. The Left lectures, and learns nothing. The Right shouts.
I'm dubious that is 'your' greatest fear. Your greatest fear is what the German CENTER will do with it. And I imagine there is a lot the Center will do if the attacks keep up. They brought too many people in, too quickly, though their intentions were noble. And now you don't know how to respond without unleashing ugly passions. So, you don't respond, or respond, episodically, a bit here and a bit there. And meanwhile the world changes, must faster than a bit here and a bit there. I'm dubious about positive change at this point. The Left lectures, and learns nothing. The Right shouts.
28
Ms. Sauerbrey runs a political / ideological campaign that does not belong into a quality news paper.
She herself, as proven by a number of other articles, mostly on illegal immigrants she stubbornly calls refugees, is of the far Left.
She uses her opinion pieces to place her ideological marks.
This is an attempt of political agitation while posing as a neutral journalist.
Not something the NYT can be proud of.
Yes, Germany, as other EU states, have a problem with extremists from the Left, the Right and, since a few years ago, of the Muslim ideology.
To try and classify these by a degree of danger they pose while being a member of one the extreme factions, in her case the far Left, does not make any sense.
Each faction poses a different type of threat the country has to deal with in accordance to existing laws.
Yes, there have been a number of mistakes the German government has made in the past that have resulted in various extreme acts of violence from different groups and the state is now called upon to act to handle these threats and crimes.
There have been attacks on lives and property and there are a number of ideological reasons that are of far Left, far Right and Muslim origin.
But these have to be handled separately.
No victim will care for why he has been attacked.
Threats have to be treated equally and separately and not in accordance with an ideology based assessments like Ms. Sauerbreys.
This is not "Animal Far" by Orwell, at least I still hope so.
She herself, as proven by a number of other articles, mostly on illegal immigrants she stubbornly calls refugees, is of the far Left.
She uses her opinion pieces to place her ideological marks.
This is an attempt of political agitation while posing as a neutral journalist.
Not something the NYT can be proud of.
Yes, Germany, as other EU states, have a problem with extremists from the Left, the Right and, since a few years ago, of the Muslim ideology.
To try and classify these by a degree of danger they pose while being a member of one the extreme factions, in her case the far Left, does not make any sense.
Each faction poses a different type of threat the country has to deal with in accordance to existing laws.
Yes, there have been a number of mistakes the German government has made in the past that have resulted in various extreme acts of violence from different groups and the state is now called upon to act to handle these threats and crimes.
There have been attacks on lives and property and there are a number of ideological reasons that are of far Left, far Right and Muslim origin.
But these have to be handled separately.
No victim will care for why he has been attacked.
Threats have to be treated equally and separately and not in accordance with an ideology based assessments like Ms. Sauerbreys.
This is not "Animal Far" by Orwell, at least I still hope so.
32
Far Right may not allow the entry of terrorists into Germany and this is no threat to democracy or human rights. But ISIS threat is real for life and freedoms the Western world has won after long fights. ISIS may at the most generate full-employment a dream for Europe and America. But would limitless security jobs contain the lone wolf brutal attacks?
22
It's a no-brainer Anna, as one who has recently lived in Germany for 3 years if you don't get control of your borders you will have no control over terrorism. The far-right is a far more manageable problem,
93
No its not, xenophobia and domestic fearmongerer are poisening our society,
like they have divided the united states.
An islamistic threat will rather unite us.
like they have divided the united states.
An islamistic threat will rather unite us.
3
Mathias, what is poisoning our society is a piece like this by Anna Sauerbrey, which indiscriminately labels anyone not agreeing with her and her far left buddies as a Nazi.
70% of the German population, probably more by now, have at least some doubts about the wisdom of Merkel's open border policies. I do remember critical comments from you to that effect as well, following the Cologne incident at New Year's Eve.
By Anna Sauerbrey's definition, all those people belong to the far right. For bigoted liberals, there is nothing in between. Who does not agree with them is by definition a Nazi.
It is time for honest German citizens to stand up and say enough is enough!
This is what is dividing our society. Far lefties insulting the rest of us in an effort to make us cower to them.
70% of the German population, probably more by now, have at least some doubts about the wisdom of Merkel's open border policies. I do remember critical comments from you to that effect as well, following the Cologne incident at New Year's Eve.
By Anna Sauerbrey's definition, all those people belong to the far right. For bigoted liberals, there is nothing in between. Who does not agree with them is by definition a Nazi.
It is time for honest German citizens to stand up and say enough is enough!
This is what is dividing our society. Far lefties insulting the rest of us in an effort to make us cower to them.
26
The terror within us or outside of us, that is the question. Both exist in the modern state. Copycats are everywhere.
There is only one answer and that breaking down the isolation many suffer for lack of advancement, lack of connection and ignorance.
The American Republican party has been fighting social spending for 40-50 years. Germany's call for rectitude across the EU has made beggars of millions. France's fight for conformity intensifies the isolation of the downtrodden.
Can there be any surprise that strike-back is not far behind? the only question is: How come not more?
There is only one answer and that breaking down the isolation many suffer for lack of advancement, lack of connection and ignorance.
The American Republican party has been fighting social spending for 40-50 years. Germany's call for rectitude across the EU has made beggars of millions. France's fight for conformity intensifies the isolation of the downtrodden.
Can there be any surprise that strike-back is not far behind? the only question is: How come not more?
3
Fascism has mutated from a primarily European political movement that culminated in the disastrous twelve-year terror state known as the Third Reich. Now it has grafted an extremist, nihilist perversion of Islam onto itself and has arisen from some unholy nest in the Middle East, like something out of a movie, looking for fresh blood and finding it in the politically correct regions of Europe. To combat the ongoing menace of Daech/ISIS, the western polities must strategize together by sharing intelligence and deploying united force against the threat, and not relying on their own atavistic nationalism and separatism as a method to destroy this 21st century dragon.
17
Do you think it is somehow a coincidence that the Arab world is fascist, or that this was an unintended result of American foreign policy for decades?
The US and the UK, along with France, have been the principal actors in preventing secular nationalism from taking root in the Middle East now since the 1930's. That's why they took out Mossadegh in Iran, that's why they opposed Nasser in Egypt, and that's why they're gunning for Assad right now.
The people in the foreign policy think-tanks think they have done a swell job. I disagree but they think so, and they think that secular nationalism would be the "real" threat (to Israel at least).
The US and the UK, along with France, have been the principal actors in preventing secular nationalism from taking root in the Middle East now since the 1930's. That's why they took out Mossadegh in Iran, that's why they opposed Nasser in Egypt, and that's why they're gunning for Assad right now.
The people in the foreign policy think-tanks think they have done a swell job. I disagree but they think so, and they think that secular nationalism would be the "real" threat (to Israel at least).
7
"Germany, Caught Between Two Violent Extremes" Why?
You have one extreme ideology/culture allowed to flourish informing altruistic enforcers/punishers/aligners to deliver systemic terror in your streets with inept cultural gatekeepers enabling it to do so what do you expect to happen?
As after WWI you will inevitably have another force of equal barbarity developing to counter it. Either the culture who continues to deliver terror is removed or it will get worse as it always has with terror- developing from the other direction.
We have seen this so often in history why is anyone 'stunned' or has not a clue what to do?
You have one extreme ideology/culture allowed to flourish informing altruistic enforcers/punishers/aligners to deliver systemic terror in your streets with inept cultural gatekeepers enabling it to do so what do you expect to happen?
As after WWI you will inevitably have another force of equal barbarity developing to counter it. Either the culture who continues to deliver terror is removed or it will get worse as it always has with terror- developing from the other direction.
We have seen this so often in history why is anyone 'stunned' or has not a clue what to do?
13
The simple answer is: there is no simple answer.
Every country tries so hard to shield its society from the local distressed areas. We should acknowledge, we can't succeed in this.
We must realize this is a war, and we must bring back the action to the regions, that causes the trouble. But tanks, guns and bombs are not the means. We need people, and we have people. We need a moral supremacy, and we even can provide this.
The violence will keep flowing into central europe, will unsettle our society, we cant just dodge, we must strike back, we need a plan. And the refugees have to be an active part of this plan.
Every country tries so hard to shield its society from the local distressed areas. We should acknowledge, we can't succeed in this.
We must realize this is a war, and we must bring back the action to the regions, that causes the trouble. But tanks, guns and bombs are not the means. We need people, and we have people. We need a moral supremacy, and we even can provide this.
The violence will keep flowing into central europe, will unsettle our society, we cant just dodge, we must strike back, we need a plan. And the refugees have to be an active part of this plan.
4
There are no refugees in Germany. The refugees are in Syria. The folks entering Germany are not arriving from Syria. They are arriving from Turkey- where there is no ISIS or Assad. They are economic migrants.
I want to earn more money. Please provide me with the address for the home in Germany that you are going to give me. A job too, please. I would like it to pay very well.
And if I am unhappy with the accommodations you provide me I will call you out on your racism.
I want to earn more money. Please provide me with the address for the home in Germany that you are going to give me. A job too, please. I would like it to pay very well.
And if I am unhappy with the accommodations you provide me I will call you out on your racism.
92
The answer lies in the question itself: "What kind of extremism poses the greater danger to Germany — the Islamic State, or the German far right?"
In a word: Both. But to this mix we need to add the Loony Left which has compounded the dangers posed by the first two.
The terrorism we are witnessing has been caused by two main factors:
1. Barbaric invasions and bombings of Middle Eastern nations by so-called Western 'democracies', resulting in millions of displaced citizens seeking refuge and/or crying for revenge;
2. Western nations that have opened their doors to floods of refugees without even the slightest attempt at monitoring, let alone controlling, the asylum seekers.
Add to this mix the wide scale misuse Western hospitality and welfare by the asylum seekers, and you have a potent concoction for the Far Right.
Instead of wringing our hands and blaming the Far Right in knee-jerk fashion we should focus on combating terrorism at its source: An end to barbaric Western mercantile aggression, and infinitely better control of the immigrants. These two factors would remove many of the legitimate grievances of the Far Right.
In a word: Both. But to this mix we need to add the Loony Left which has compounded the dangers posed by the first two.
The terrorism we are witnessing has been caused by two main factors:
1. Barbaric invasions and bombings of Middle Eastern nations by so-called Western 'democracies', resulting in millions of displaced citizens seeking refuge and/or crying for revenge;
2. Western nations that have opened their doors to floods of refugees without even the slightest attempt at monitoring, let alone controlling, the asylum seekers.
Add to this mix the wide scale misuse Western hospitality and welfare by the asylum seekers, and you have a potent concoction for the Far Right.
Instead of wringing our hands and blaming the Far Right in knee-jerk fashion we should focus on combating terrorism at its source: An end to barbaric Western mercantile aggression, and infinitely better control of the immigrants. These two factors would remove many of the legitimate grievances of the Far Right.
64
What the Public can't understand is that all these incidents are far, far simpler (and cheaper) than a war.
Germans have grown so fat and dumb that they can't recognize the favors a well-organized and prosperous country is offering them. Although I hate Conservatives, and especially the moon-party CSU, I'm still convinced Chancellor Merkel took the right path. And don't worry: Germans are as hard as Krupp steel!