Schröder's Memoirs

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I agree completely with Mr. Schröder's comments. Mr. Bush's professed dependence on "divine guidance" has no place in Western politics, let alone in the politics of a country whose constitution expressly denotes a separation between church and state. - Mike Cohen, New Mexico, USA

Mr. Schröder has finally put into words what many think but are afraid to say out loud. Bravo Gert! - Liliane Chaglassian

I totally agree with Schröder's thoughts on Bush and religion in the US. It would be good if there were a serious discussion in this country about the separation - or rather, non-separation - of church and state! - Gabrielle Callison

If anyone believes that political decisions can be made devoid of personal beliefs they are delusional, or a liar. If Bush's decisions are biased by overtly Christian beliefs this is no worse than being overtly humanist, capitalist, rationalist or Islamic. - Simon

I think Schröder hit the nail right on the head with Bush's religiosity and managed to say it in a matter of fact way without being unkind. - Detlef Karthaus

1) Schröder is right on the money, 2) I could not say it better about US politics and religion. - Michael Ruso

It is not unusual for politicians to use their memoirs to rationalize their tenure. It's generally not expected to be a truthful account, given the hard knocks of normal politics. But in the case of former German Chancellor Gerhardt Schröder, it is just more of the same. Sad to say, Mr. Schröeder was far and away the most irresponsible and self-indulgent chancellor in recent German history. Today Mr. Schröder claims he was not anti-American, but during his tenure he used constant anti-American rhetoric to raise his poll numbers. That is what made Mr. Schröeder such a disaster from abroad. We can take criticism in stride, but this was political demagogy performed for the most cynical purposes. For those Germans who dislike America --- and dislike is fine, this is not a matter of love --- Mr. Schröder still lied to them about the economy. And he failed utterly to deal with the universally understood weaknesses of the German economy, the rigidity of the labor market, high taxation, and all the rest. Mr. Schröder has apparently not changed a single idea since he was an immature radical. He is simply stuck in the past. Schröder's Gazprom job put the icing on the cake as far as international observers of Germany are concerned. It looked very bad after political concessions made to Russia under Mr. Schröeder's rule. The former chancellor should have been far, far more sensitive to the appearance of a quid pro quo. - Bernard Baars