Transatlantic Relations Are Facing Break
“There is every indication that the US-American intelligence service NSA did not only spy out conversations of several millions of German citizens, but even the cellular phone of the Federal Chancellor. It was well-known for long that US-American secret services disregard basic democratic rights. It is bitter that the Chancellor remained silent and placating even though new details on the spying out of German citizens emerged every day.”
It is shameful that Angela Merkel let declare the debate closed, although the enormous breach of rights of freedom has been evident. And it is scandalous that this country is headed by a Chancellor, who is not shocked until her own cellular phone is intercepted.
We experience nothing less than a cesura within the transatlantic relations which bundles many developments. The U.S. replaced the principle of multilateral partnership by unilateral self-righteousness. The NATO has lined up as an alliance which wages economic wars. The idea of peaceful conflict resolution by dialogue, reduction of commercial and social disequilibrium, and non-use of force on all sides is increasingly replaced by violent interventions according to requirements. International law is continually breached until it is effectively supplanted by the rights of the stronger one. Acting this way, one may not wonder that our planet is continually shaken by new wars, that distrust grows between people and their countries where confidence would be indispensable. It is not new that the future and raisond'être of the current North Atlantic security architecture are called into question.
After this scandal there is no turning back to the former normalcy of European-US-American relations. The US still act as world police. They have to overcome those airs of world power. A new beginning is needed, a new consciousness compulsory, a broad public debate inevitable.
The newly elected Bundestag has to convene a special meeting and, with greatest possible unity, make it unmistakably plain, that the spying on citizens will not be endured, be it the Chancellor or anyone else. The Chancellor owes parliament and public an explanation and an idea of the perspective of the transatlantic partnership for peace, democracy, economic and social balance. Now is the time when Angela Merkel has to take a stand.