End of an era: Germany's Merkel bows out after 16 years

Auf wiedersehen Multi !

Invalid CSRF

That will be some coincidence if Russia invades Ukraine next week. 

Yes. It would be a coincidence. Unless you imagine…Wait…the new Matrix movie also opens next week. Are you saying…? No, it can’t be.

She served alongside four U.S. presidents, four French presidents, five British prime ministers and eight Italian premiers.

And 10 Japanese Prime Ministers...

Bye bye Merkel!

We shan't miss ya.

I don't think she was that well like in Europe. She was the one who open Europe borders completely to refugees during the arab spring crisis and force nations to accept massive amount of refugees. Even getting into conflict with other EU nations who refuse to open up their borders like Hungary. She even threaten the UK when the brexit thing happen. At least that is what some people i met said. She was extremely dislike for a lot of her policies and cause the rise of many right wing movement within Germany. She kinda left some big mess for her next successor to solve.

I think people opinion of her started to change from 2015 on. When the whole new year sexual assault happen and the police completely try to bury the incident. From then on, people started to becoming aware just how destructive her decisions were and how bad things really starting to get. She left Europe extremely vulnerable and the covid thing didn't help matters. Funny thing is that Trump really dislike her and probably the only president to call her out. She was also extremely active during several middle east wars trying to end their regime with no success. Trump also complain that germany is willingly to pour tens of billions into her army but refuse to shoulder more cost for the stationing of the US troops there to defend her from Russia (only 1 billion in 9 whole years). It makes Japan look like saint when it comes to the cost sharing. Her botch attempt to sanction Belarus also made the crisis there even worse.

Downvote if you like,but i am just saying it's not all sunshine during her reign and she is not that well like as you might think.

It says a lot about the stability of the leadership in Germany!

Thank you, Merkel! Aufnimmer Wiedersehen.

Gotta love Abe’s ‘mirroring’ body language of his former buddy in the accompanying photos.

Hats off to Angela Merkel - A well respected leader at home in Germany, in Europe, and in the wider world.

Given that she suddenly looks at least ten years younger in these pictures I think that she is happy to finally escape.

The international political environment will miss Mother Merkel. A lot of times she was the only adult in the room. Remember when that vertically challenged fella let dogs into the meeting room knowing how terrified she is of dogs... but she handled it so well. As she did most things.

Trump Called German Chancellor Angela Merkel 'That B----':

Not good for sure, but these leaders have called him worse.

Trump unable to handle her

He didn't have to handle her, Germany needs the US help, not the other way around.

While Merkel perhaps lacks a spectacular signature achievement, 

In 16 years!

TomiToday  09:30 pm JST

She leaves Europe in ruins with all the illegal migrants and LGBT agenda.

Exactly.

The weakest leader Germany could ask for.

Paired with a weak US leader in Biden, you get the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, making Europe energy dependent on Russia.

And paired with a weak UK government, you get an overflow of illegal immigrants all over Europe, and the UK is seeing aftereffects still, as migrants hit the shores there, and taking away jobs from Brits, which isn't all that bad since many Brits, especially teens, don't want to work anymore and would rather take government handouts or deal drugs, which leads to crime--thanks Angela!

So, in the end, thre US military is soon going to have to bail out Germany and the rest of Europe again.

zichiToday  11:35 pm JST

What help does Germany need?

ROFL!

What help does Germany need?

To even ask that question is mind-blowing.

https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/us-should-keep-troops-germany

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/01/europe-needs-to-start-thinking-more-like-the-us-on-security-former-german-vice-chancellor-says.html

zichiToday  12:02 am JST

Russia or Putin will never attack Germany or any other EU country. What are American troops in Germany for? Leftover from the Cold War Era. Didn't Trump reduce the troop numbers in Germany? Reducing the numbers to 25,000 from 34,500.

What will America do if Putin invades Ukraine?

What are American troops in Germany for?

Good question.

Russia or Putin will never attack Germany or any other EU country.

Good answer.

Russia or Putin will never attack Germany or any other EU country.

Why would Russian troops attack Germany with a strong US presence? 

What are American troops in Germany for? Leftover from the Cold War Era. Didn't Trump reduce the troop numbers in Germany? Reducing the numbers to 25,000 from 34,500.

At least he didn't give our hardware away to the Russians and they have some pretty powerful weapons and quite an arsenal. Putin is not that stupid

What will America do if Putin invades Ukraine?

Good question, what will Biden do?

> zichiDec. 7  11:09 pm JST

Trump Called German Chancellor Angela Merkel 'That B----':

Trump unable to handle her

https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/99223135c2bd66d3268e7b72edf97b1d0335dd98/0_0_1200_800/master/1200.jpg?width=940&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cd7d8cd43c700acb1f58218b11be15a1

She stared him down at the G8 conference while he tossed Starburst fruit chews like the spoiled brat he is,

Merkel is mature and she has GUTS, she didn't take any crap from Trump the Chump.'

So much as happened in Germany, as well as all of Europe itseld during those 16 years and she handled it all OK.

Auf Widersehen, Merkel. Vielendank.

zichiToday  12:21 am JST

America could withdraw all of its troops from Europe and Putin/Russia will not attack any EU country or the UK. It is not in the interest of Putin to make war.

How many American troops are in Europe? Less than the total numbers of troops from other countries there.

Why get all wound up and defensive?

bass4funkToday  12:09 am JST

Why would Russian troops attack Germany with a strong US presence? 

starpunkToday  12:13 am JST

zichiDec. 7  11:09 pm JST*

Trump Called German Chancellor Angela Merkel 'That B----':

Trump unable to handle her

https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/99223135c2bd66d3268e7b72edf97b1d0335dd98/0_0_1200_800/master/1200.jpg?width=940&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cd7d8cd43c700acb1f58218b11be15a1

BTW, that word exists in the German language but it's never a dirty word or an insult word. It means 'female dog' as in Lassie or Laika, it's never used on a person. Not only is Trump unable to handle an intelligent female, he doesn't enough sense to know that if he said that word to Angela it wouldn't register as anything. 'Bitch' is not a bad word in German, ever.

Of course not only is Trump not able to handle intelligent women, he isn't fit for anything diplomatically or socially in the first place. And every day on Twitter he always was sassing somebody off and calling them rude and ugly names anyway.

She stared him down at the G8 conference while he tossed Starburst fruit chews like the spoiled brat he is,

What? So that's your idea of intimidation? Are you serious? Trump told Germany they need to pay more for NATO defense and they did.

Merkel is mature and she has GUTS, she didn't take any crap from Trump the Chump.'

And he didn't take her crap as well and didn't even skip a beat while telling her.

So much as happened in Germany, as well as all of Europe itseld during those 16 years and she handled it all OK.

Not according to the majority of Germans.

Auf Widersehen, Merkel. Vielendank.

Yeah, Aufnimmer Wiedersehen im ernst!

America could withdraw all of its troops from Europe and Putin/Russia will not attack any EU country or the UK. It is not in the interest of Putin to make war.

Ok, you can believe that I don't, but we really don't need to play with hypotheticals because it is not happening.

How many American troops are in Europe? Less than the total numbers of troops from other countries there.

Funny and Europe knows if they wouldn't lend one single hand or weapon to the EU or completely pull out, it's over, we know it, they know it and the Russians know it.

Why would Putin start a war with Europe?

I said, hypothetical

It would be an economic disaster for them.

Only if this President can back up his diplomacy by aggressive hard force and I don't see that happening.

That is just what Big Weapons America likes, helps sales.

And everyone else that gets them it's a win, win situation.

When was the last war in Europe? 

80 years ago

The American Afghanistan war cost $7.5 trillion. Disputes are no longer settled by wars.

Yup, thanks Biden.

zichiToday  12:56 am JST

That is just what Big Weapons America likes, helps sales.

Sounds like a conspiracy!

When was the last war in Europe?

How come you don't know?

The American Afghanistan war cost $7.5 trillion. Disputes are no longer settled by wars.

An article about Merkel retiring and the US and Afghanistan war--you really outdid yourself again with the irrelevancies.

But wow, it's expensive protecting countries like Germany and the UK, and the US is still able to continue as the superpower? Amazing.

I would want to own a house in Florida, claim to have a bro in NY, and to have an American family.

Not only is Trump unable to handle an intelligent female, he doesn't enough sense to know that if he said that word to Angela it wouldn't register as anything. 'Bitch' is not a bad word in German, ever.

Again, what on Earth are you talking about? ROFL! Trump had zero care or second thought about the woman, the only thing he cared about was, he NATO wants the US to do more of the fighting and defending while the EU enjoy their Perrier and bottles of wine and fixing their aging Typhoons, they need to pay their fair share.

Of course not only is Trump not able to handle intelligent women, he isn't fit for anything diplomatically or socially in the first place.

And yet, we didn't have to worry about the border, Afghanistan, the Mullah's, Putin and Xi. When Trump met with Xi a few years ago he had to excuse himself as he was being briefed and ordered the bombings of some Syrian forces and then went back to Xi and excused himself and told Xi what he did, the guy meets with his Chinese counterpart and bombs terrorist at the same time. Biden would never do that as predictable as he is.

And every day on Twitter he always was sassing somebody off and calling them rude and ugly names anyway.

zichiToday  12:56 am JST

I said, hypothetical

That is just what Big Weapons America likes, helps sales.

When was the last war in Europe?

Remember the Yugoslavia Breakup Wars? The last one was in Northern Macedonia in 2005 - 2004. Russia conquered the Crimea from the Ukraine about a decade later.

Anyways, well done Merkel. Sixteen years as a democratically elected leader is an impressive stint. From an outside perspective, the best thing she did was let Trump expose himself as a misogynistic man-baby, but I'm sure she did many better things internally for the German people.

zichiToday  01:38 am JST

Yugoslavia was a civil war. In 1991, the Balkan nation of Yugoslavia was torn apart by civil war between opposing ethnic groups. ... The conflict began in June 1991 after the republics of Slovenia and Croatia seceded from Yugoslavia and declared independence.

The Invasion of Crimes wasn't a war.

Then why ask:

zichiToday  12:56 am JST

When was the last war in Europe?

And to make this relevant to the article:

zichiToday  12:02 am JST

Russia or Putin will never attack Germany or any other EU country.

What are American troops in Germany for? 

Exactly; great use of the rhetorical question.

Yes, stop from addressing the disgusting comments on your team, by pointing out the equally disgusting comments on the other team without doing anything about your own horrible comments.

Relax, just pointing out the left have no stick to hold on the name calling, they do it and quite well with more finesse

Then they do the same to you guys, and America wins, right?!

What?

Anyways, well done Merkel. Sixteen years as a democratically elected leader is an impressive stint. From an outside perspective, the best thing she did was let Trump expose himself as a misogynistic man-baby, but I'm sure she did many better things internally for the German people.

If you think that’s the best thing, then you’re making my point if you think insulting Trump is a geopolitical achievement. Anyway, for the majority of Germans the woman was less than lackluster. But that’s history and she’s gone now so the future is bright.

Good riddance. Europe is a disaster.

bass4funkToday  01:20 am JST

Russia conquered the Crimea from the Ukraine about a decade later.

Thanks, Obama 

And Obama slapped economic sanctions on Russia for that. He's not a sputnik who kowtows to Russia like his usurping successor.

zichiToday  01:38 am JST

Remember the Yugoslavia Breakup Wars? The last one was in Northern Macedonia in 2005 - 2004. Russia conquered the Crimea from the Ukraine about a decade later.

Yugoslavia was a civil war. In 1991, the Balkan nation of Yugoslavia was torn apart by civil war between opposing ethnic groups. ... The conflict began in June 1991 after the republics of Slovenia and Croatia seceded from Yugoslavia and declared independence.

Slobodan Milosevic stirred the pot of ethnic hatred and Yugoslavia self-destructed into a charnel house of genocide, mass rapes, concentration camps, the grossest abuses in Europe since WW2. There is no Yugoslavia now, thanks to that bigmouth fascist. Although Croatia's Tudjman regime committed some war crimes too.

The Invasion of Crimes wasn't a war.

You invade another country. There will almost certainly be some resistance so you kill them. You occupy the territory. You kill whoever resists your imposed authority. That's a war.

And Obama slapped economic sanctions on Russia for that.

How’d that work out?

He's not a sputnik who kowtows to Russia like his usurping successor. 

Biden just agreed with his old buddy Xi that Taiwan is not an independent nation and will respect the one China policy, that in itself is a complete surrender and you say Biden is not a pushover? Ok, so after his meeting with Putin, if Biden doesn’t want to answer any questions to the media, then at least he should provide to the public and in the press with a transcript of his meeting with his Chinese counterpart, then we will know.

If you think that’s the best thing, then you’re making my point if you think insulting Trump is a geopolitical achievement.

How is it not geopolitical? The only nations who thought he was a good leader were dictatorships.

And Obama slapped economic sanctions on Russia for that.

How’d that work out?

Do you think he should have defended Russia like Trump did?

Do you think he should have defended Russia like Trump did?

He killed and bombed quite a few of them in Syria

But should Biden have defended Putin and Russian like Trump did?

Good riddance, Merkel. The damage she did in her zest to turn the Europe of nation states into a German-Franco led empire is immeasurable. Alas, there are still a number of like-minded antidemocratic globalists with her mindset in power in other countries in Europe. And her hand-picked successor is Merkel mini.

Good riddance, Merkel. The damage she did in her zest to turn the Europe of nation states into a German-Franco led empire is immeasurable

Heh, yeah, she singled handedly dropped the mic on extremist right rhetoric for 15 6 years, immeasurably damaging their agenda.

Respect Merkel, respect.

Strangerland

But should Biden have defended Putin and Russian like Trump did?

"Defended"? In what universe? Trumps anti-Russian stance, from sanctions to lethal aid to Ukraine to opposition to Nordstream was deplorable. Then again, he probably had to bow to the neolib/neocon swamp that is now back in power.

It is amazing to see how the corporate media consumers imagine a different reality.

She looks 30 years younger in that photo. I guess taking the heavy backpack full of national responsibility off does that.

Biden just agreed with his old buddy Xi that Taiwan is not an independent nation and will respect the one China policy, that in itself is a complete surrender and you say Biden is not a pushover?

If you are honest you will admit that at first Mr. Biden stated a clear and unequivocal intention to defend Taiwan if PRC attacked her. Unfortunately that sort of statement violates a long standing public law passed by the US Congress known as the Taiwan Relations Act. He was forced to back track a bit to prevent China from thinking the US was renouncing the One China policy and/or advocating for Taiwan's independence. That law passed way back in 1979 greatly constrains US policy towards Taiwan and what US officials can say on the record. Take heart however because members of Congress are currently debating how they can craft a law that grants a US President, this one or one in the future, authority to use force to defend Taiwan without creating the war they are trying to prevent. There is bipartisan support for this but everyone is leery of pushing China to break relations altogether of lead to war. And obtw, Congress is where such laws need to originate.

Based on comments, it's halfu halfu favouritism for her. In this generation, it's like that for everyone.

Based on comments, it's halfu halfu favouritism for her.

I don't speak German. What does halfu mean?

Merkel set the bar high, Trump low.

Yep. She made him look bad. After all, the people actually wanted her - multiple times. So he called her a b!tch because it made him feel better.

The most grossly overrated politician of our time. Longevity is not the same as ability. She is detested all over Europe, from Italy to Greece to the UK, her economic and immigration policies are creating huge problems right across the continent, Germany is Europe's worst environmental polluter and her legacy is that her party has been swept out of power and the socialists and greens are now in control. Historians will not be kind to her.

Meekly more than anyone else was responsible for stepping into the vaccine and holding the Western alliance together in spite of Trump’s best efforts. She will be missed.

Merkle....

GdTokyoToday  06:27 am JST

Meekly

Couldn't agree more.

Bill AdamsToday  06:04 am JST

The most grossly overrated politician of our time. Longevity is not the same as ability. She is detested all over Europe, from Italy to Greece to the UK, her economic and immigration policies are creating huge problems right across the continent, Germany is Europe's worst environmental polluter and her legacy is that her party has been swept out of power and the socialists and greens are now in control. Historians will not be kind to her.

Excellent. Nothing more needs to be said.

and the socialists and greens are now in control

Ah, that's your problem.

They usually try to bury the real reason so you won't notice.

Good riddance, Merkel. The damage she did in her zest to turn the Europe of nation states into a German-Franco led empire is immeasurable. Alas, there are still a number of like-minded antidemocratic globalists with her mindset in power in other countries in Europe. And her hand-picked successor is Merkel mini.

Exactly. 100% spot on.

StrangerlandToday  05:24 am JST

Merkel set the bar high, Trump low.

Yep. She made him look bad. After all, the people actually wanted her - multiple times. So he called her a b!tch because it made him feel better.

Trump made himself look bad, he didn't need her help. And he called her a bitch to feel better about himself because he ain't man enough to deal with an intelligent woman and he's too stupid and ignorant to even realize that the word 'bitch' is never a slur or curse word in German. It's used to infer to a female dog only, never a person.

Of course he's always sassing off like a brat kid anyway.

Ok, so after his meeting with Putin, if Biden doesn’t want to answer any questions to the media, then at least he should provide to the public and in the press with a transcript of his meeting with his Chinese counterpart, then we will know.

Yet it was alright for Trump to meet closed doors with Vlad and whine 'I can do wot I waaaaannttt....'.

And yet, we didn't have to worry about the border, Afghanistan, the Mullah's, Putin and Xi. When Trump met with Xi a few years ago he had to excuse himself as he was being briefed and ordered the bombings of some Syrian forces and then went back to Xi and excused himself and told Xi what he did, the guy meets with his Chinese counterpart and bombs terrorist at the same time. Biden would never do that as predictable as he is.

those attacks on Syria were a farce. Drop your bombs on airfield after your russian masters get all that hardware out of the way, yeah! Yippy-yi-yay! Yippy-yi-yay!

StrangerlandToday  07:05 am JST

and the socialists and greens are now in control

Ah, that's your problem.

Having the Socialists and the Greens and other parties in power, working together. There's a word for such a government. It's called 'democracy'.

Actually, there are no socialists in the new German government. There are social-democrats by name only but anything of social values is governed by the democratic socialists (Die Linke) who sadly didn't make it into government.

You can't tell that to a lot of Americans. Too many people in America can't tell the difference. 'Socialism' is a spook word for all the ignorant dufuses and Pavlov dogs who fall for boors like Trump. They have no clue what 'social-democrat', 'socialist' or 'communist' is.

It's a dialectic issue. The American right-wing dialect has a different meaning of the words Communist and Socialist from the rest of the world. In their dialect, these words are catch-alls used to express anything they hate or fear. Kind of like the boogieman. Unfortunately, they don't have any words in their dialect for these concepts, and indeed, as a result they lack the ability to comprehend what the words actually mean.

Good riddance at long last to Merkel. Enabling & empowering the EC to lord it over smaller EC countries with new punishing powers & the infamous European Court of Justice fools.

Not only did she turn Germany into Merkelistan with millions of unvetted illegal immigrants now wreaking all kinds of havoc on German citizens, she never paid her NATO 2% budgetary obligations. The German Army under Merkel is a joke now. Germany ruiner Merkel is enabling the Russians with NordStream 1&2 gas pipelines & shown little interest in her American allies. Why are we protecting Germany with our forces?

2% is false ZL.

she recieved alot of criticism when allowing so many refugees to enter ... but overall, i believe many ppl are grateful for her service... personally i like that she looks after the interest of smaller countries like the Netherlands, i don't know many German politician who does that....