Brave Only on Climate Change

It was what Americans loved to hear: Chancellor Angela Merkel told Congress all about her longing for liberty in the former East Germany. That aside, she stayed with generalities – save for her appeal to U.S. politicians to do more for the environment.

She was received with warm applause – with cheers, even. Some senators and representatives gave her a standing ovation. It was Angela Merkel’s day, her moment of glory and the high point of her political career, as the honor of addressing both houses of the U.S. Congress is granted only rarely to the heads of foreign governments.

Angela Merkel was honored as Chancellor of a united Germany 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and also because of her special biography. Like a black Obama from Hawaii, the East German wasn’t born to ascend to the highest governmental job. Her career was more improbable and consisted of the stuff of fairy tales.

Angela Merkel addressed the joint meeting for 40 minutes. It wasn’t an outstanding speech, but it was still a great speech. She talked about herself and her life behind barbed wire; about her longing for blue jeans and freedom, and the wonderful, unimaginable moment when the Wall came down and she could finally go west to fulfill her own “American dream” – exactly what Americans love to hear.

General approval was also assured when she thanked the United States for the Berlin Airlift and the U.S. troops, when she bowed her head for the millions of victims of the Nazi era and when she energetically reaffirmed Israel’s right to exist, saying, “The Iranian President should never be allowed to have a nuclear bomb!”

There was also friendly applause when the Chancellor referred to Germany’s international obligations, such as their participation in the military operation in Afghanistan, calling it a “partnership in leadership.” On the other hand, she remained vague and never explained what she understood that phrase to mean; for example, whether she intended to cave in to Obama’s demands and send more German troops into combat.

On the whole, she stayed on safe ground – until she brought up one courageous point. “I’m delighted,” she said, “that you and President Obama give environmental protection a high priority. We all know there is no time to lose … we need agreement on one goal: the rate of global warming must not exceed two degrees Celsius.” And even more specific: “We need all nations to abide by internationally mandated commitments.”

That’s where she poked a stick into the American wasp’s nest. Most Democrats jumped enthusiastically from their seats; most Republicans remained seated, grumbled and shook their heads. These days, the battle over proposed changes to U.S. environmental law and America’s contribution to the Copenhagen Climate Conference are hot button issues.

Nearly all Republicans, and a few Democrats, oppose a national automobile emissions law, as well as rigid internationally set standards. They fear the U.S. coal industry will suffer competitive disadvantages that will result in higher electric bills for consumers. Besides that, they don’t believe global warming is man-made in the first place.

Angela Merkel deserves respect and approval for her clear language on that issue. That helps make up for the fact that other aspects of her speech often came off as petty. In her praise for those responsible for German reunification, she mentioned Helmut Kohl and several American presidents, but made no mention of Willy Brandt, father of German policy towards the East and Nobel Peace Prize winner who observed, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, “That which belongs together may now grow together.”