May 20, 2008
THE HUN AT THE DRAGON'S FEET:
Dalai Lama is snubbed during visit to Germany (Judy Dempsey, May 19, 2008, IHT)
The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, on Monday ended a five-day visit to Germany that became mired in controversy because only one government minister agreed to meet with him.Posted by Orrin Judd at May 20, 2008 7:09 AMHeidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, the development minister, met with the Dalai Lama on Monday. She apparently did so against the wishes of Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the leader of the Social Democrats, Kurt Beck. Both had said that no senior party leaders would meet with the Dalai Lama.
Chancellor Angela Merkel, who met with the Dalai Lama in the chancellery in September, was on a weeklong tour of Latin America during his latest visit.
The Chinese Embassy in Berlin spoke out against Wieczorek-Zeul's meeting.
The only throats the Germans will endanger today are those of her pensioners.
Posted by: ratbert at May 20, 2008 7:29 AMThey are more French than the French.
Posted by: ic at May 20, 2008 1:22 PMTypical.
I remember Max Hastings years ago quoting some whiny German official as to how he can't speak up about the Israeli-Palestine situation because he's German.
I guess I was supposed to feel sorry for him, but it's impossible to calculate my level of disregard for anything the Germans have to say about the Jews. Give me a break.
Posted by: Matt Murphy at May 20, 2008 6:51 PM