Les Allemands

TW: Ah the Europeans, just as the French under Sarkozy have seemed to wander back into the flock the Germans seem intent on straying ever eastward. The Germans have long historical ties with Russia, going back hundreds of years. Former Chancellor Schroeder went from office straight to the payroll of Gazprom, the Russian energy giant. Yet to date, Germany has been a bedrock of European integration and NATO.

The conservative parties in Germany have been losing electoral strength to more left-wing parties in regional elections over the past 18 months. Since the departure of Schroeder, Angela Merkel has been governing at the head of a tenuous right/left coalition (roughly akin to Obama as POTUS with McCain as Sec. of State and Defense). Additionally, Germany's reaction to the recent financial crises has been less cogent and pro-Europe than past actions.

From Economist:
"On Russia, Iran and Afghanistan—trouble-spots that matter to both countries—Germany’s position is annoying Washington. At the NATO summit in Bucharest last April, Ms Merkel stood most visibly against American pressure to grant a Membership Action Plan—a road-map to join the alliance—to Ukraine and Georgia. This was a marked change from previous summits at which France habitually obstructed American proposals...a think-tank, gives warning that Germany and America may “clash” over Iran and that differences over Russia could harm the relationship “severely”. In part, Germany’s problem is that it can no longer hide behind France now that President Nicolas Sarkozy has moved closer to America...

Germany is the biggest Western exporter to Iran. Last year Russia was the second-fastest growing export market among Germany’s main trading partners. Germany imports more than a third of its oil and gas from Russia...

German officials insist that its comparative advantage will remain its knack for talking to almost everyone. Mr Steinmeier, who will challenge Ms Merkel for the chancellorship next year, is renowned, and often reviled, for not allowing a foreign government’s shortcomings to spoil a fruitful relationship. A senior diplomat argues, for instance, that “rhetoric which excludes Russia pushes it in the wrong direction”. He rejects the idea that Mr Steinmeier favours “equidistance” between Russia and the United States, a notion advocated by some members of his party."

From Int'l Herald Tribune:
"...It insisted German banks were safe when in fact they appear among Europe's most troubled. And it claimed no involvement in the crisis itself - casting Germany as righteous and distant - when some of its financial institutions have been described as among the world's most inventive in packaging the derivative investment schemes that symbolize an unfinished implosion of international greed...The ongoing political problem in Germany is that the actions of the coalition have resulted in an extensive mood of anti-capitalism and a dominant rationale of self-interest.
http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12517177
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/20/europe/politicus.php