Category Archives: Politics

“[Trump’s] speech was packed with make-believe numbers from controversial or disproven studies. It was hypocritical and dishonest.”

Der Spiegel: Paris Disagreement Donald Trump’s Triumph of Stupidity. “German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other G-7 leaders did all they could to convince Trump to remain part of the Paris Agreement. But he didn’t listen. Instead, he evoked deep-seated nationalism and plunged the West into a conflict deeper than any since World War II.” By SPIEGEL Staff.

“Renewable energies, said the chancellor [Angela Merkel], present significant economic opportunities. “If the world’s largest economic power were to pull out, the field would be left to the Chinese,” she warned. Xi Jinping is clever, she added, and would take advantage of the vacuum it created. Even the Saudis were preparing for the post-oil era, she continued, and saving energy is also a worthwhile goal for the economy for many other reasons, not just because of climate change.

But Donald Trump remained unconvinced. No matter how trenchant the argument presented by the increasingly frustrated group of world leaders, none of them had an effect. “For me,” the U.S. president said, “it’s easier to stay in than step out.” But environmental constraints were costing the American economy jobs, he said. And that was the only thing that mattered. Jobs, jobs, jobs.

At that point, it was clear to the rest of those seated around the table that they had lost him. Resigned, Macron admitted defeat. “Now China leads,” he said.”

“I don’t feel safe. I am always frightened. Nobody feels safe in Kabul”

Deutsche Welle: Huge explosion in Kabul, extensive damage to German embassy. “A massive truck bomb has hit Kabul’s highly secure diplomatic area, killing at least 80 people and wounding hundreds. The German embassy was heavily damaged, although it’s unclear whether it was the target of the attack.”

Deutsche Welle: Viele Tote nach Anschlag in Kabul. “Bei der Explosion einer Autobombe im Diplomatenviertel von Kabul sind mindestens 80 Menschen getötet worden. Auch ein Mitarbeiter der schwer beschädigten deutschen Botschaft starb, mehrere wurden verletzt.”

“[Trump] ist eine Herausforderung für die Erwachsenen im Raum”

Deutsche Welle: Merkel: Europe can no longer rely on US and Britain. “The German chancellor’s comments came after contentious meetings with US President Donald Trump at NATO and G7 summit meetings. Trump clashed with America’s allies over global warming, mutual defense and trade.”

“US President Donald Trump, who campaigned as a global-warming denier – calling it a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese – refused to go along with his six counterparts in reaffirming their support for the 2015 Paris Agreement, which aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit the rise in global temperatures.

“For that reason,” Merkel continued, “I can only say: We Europeans really have to take our fates in our own hands.”

Of course, that must be done in a spirit of friendship with the United States and Britain, she said, “But we have to wage our own fight for our future, as Europeans, for our fate.””

Deutsche Welle: Merkel nach G7-Gipfel: USA kein verlässlicher Partner mehr. “Der G7-Gipfel auf Sizilien hat offenbar Spuren hinterlassen: Kanzlerin Merkel zeigte sich bei einer Rede in München enttäuscht. Sie setzt auf den Zusammenhalt der Europäer und hofft dabei vor allem auf Frankreich.”

“Beim Gipfel der sieben großen Industrienationen in Italien hatten die Staats- und Regierungschef am Freitag und Samstag kaum Fortschritte erzielt. Der US-Präsident hatte die G7 mit seinem Konfrontationskurs in eine tiefe Krise gestürzt. Der Versuch, Trump ein Bekenntnis zum Pariser Klimaschutzvertrag abzuringen, war kläglich gescheitert. Eine endgültige Entscheidung dazu will er nächste Woche treffen. Kaum gesichtswahrende Formulierungen fanden die G7 in letzter Minute zum Thema Handel.”

Kommentar von Barbara Wesel: Warten auf bessere Zeiten. “Dieses G7-Treffen hätte das Ende des Bündnisses bringen können. Doch es gelang sechs Gipfelteilnehmern, den siebten zu bändigen: Donald Trump. Dennoch war die Veranstaltung äußerst peinlich, meint Barbara Wesel.”

“I now actually have something in common with Donald Trump because I, too, preferred my previous life before he became president.”

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO): Stupid Watergate. (YouTube, 24min) In which John Oliver answers the questions “What the fuck is going on? How big a deal is this? Where do we go from here? Is this real life?”

Link via MetaFilter: It has been _0_ days since the last Trump disaster.