Jan 18, 2009
Soon to be inaugurated President-elect Barack Obama might make a comeback to Berlin, the German weekly Focus reports. And this time it might be nothing less than the Brandenburger Tor for Germany’s favorite US President since the days of JFK. [Read more]
Jan 16, 2009
As the days of George W. Bush as President of the U.S.A. draw to an end, every part of the transition process takes on historic proportions. Nobody knows how many people will turn out on January 20 to see Obama take over the White House. It will probably be the biggest crowd ever at any Presidential Inauguration, which will also make it the costliest Inauguration ever. We tell you where to watch the celebration in Berlin!
[Read more]
Dec 14, 2008
While the lead- up to the war in Iraq has been harshly criticized by many, new evidence suggests the carrying out of those plans was shockingly unprofessional and haphazard. The New York Times, along with ProPublica, have obtained a draft version of a report on the implementation of rebuilding plans that exposes practices such as
- faking numbers of Iraqi security forces
- hiring inexperienced personnel, or personnel with experience and qualifications completely unrelated to the job they were hired to do (National Security and Tennis, anyone?)
- decision making that was often carried out on the go, or by only few individuals without consultation of further expert opinions (Big Decisions, Little Debate)
The whole report can be accessed and searched via the New York Times website, where you can read all the outrageous information for yourself.
The report concludes with a part on “Lessons Learned”, and one can only hope that those lessons will be absorbed by the people in charge of the USA’s other war, as the article points out:
“The United States could soon have reason to consult this cautionary tale of deception, waste and poor planning, as both troop levels and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan are likely to be stepped up under the new administration.”
Dec 7, 2008
William R. Timken is leaving with style. In a classy interview with “Welt am Sonntag”, the outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Germany shares his opinion on the incoming administration. [Read more]
Dec 2, 2008
Desperate times call for desperate measures, apparently. That is what the Liberal Party, the New Democratic Party and the Bloc Québécois seem to believe. Out of nowhere, Canada is on its way to a coalition government – a constellation not seen since WWI. And there’s drama, too!
[Read more]
Nov 15, 2008
Namely, Lutz Heilmann, a member of the German parliament, Bundestag, since 2005. Through a legal measure put forward by Heilmann against Wikipedia e.V., the German part of the non-profit organisation running the Wikipedia website, the German-language version is unavailable right now. But since it’s the internet, this is not enough to silence unwanted information.
[Read more]
Nov 12, 2008
Precisely one week ago, Obama declared that “change has come to America,” as he became the first black president of the United States. On the very same day, Nov. 4th, 2008, the state of California voted yes on Proposition 8, legally restricting the sanctity of marriage to heterosexual couples only.
“Just how much change can a nation take in one day?” I’m ironically tempted to ask…
Prop 8: Like Icing on the Change?
[Read more]
Nov 7, 2008
Government officials today announced the highest unemployment rate, 6.5 percent, the country has seen since 1994. October thus marked the tenth consecutive month of decline. President-elect Barack Obama is facing what might well be the greatest challenge of his presidency – while scrambling to put together a team that will calm the markets.
[Read more]
Nov 7, 2008
November 4th, 2008. What better place to be on Election Day, than the place they promise to change: Washington, D.C.?
At U Street Corridor, Reps Won't Find Rest
[Read more]
Oct 21, 2008
Last Monday, the debate circus hit Berlin. Granted, actual presidential candidates had scheduling issues, but worthy proxies showed up at the Amerika Haus on Hardenbergstraße.
[Read more]