Bush’s Ambassador in Berlin Settles Accounts with Europe

The end of the Bush era also signals the end of U.S. Ambassador William R. Timken’s tenure in Germany. Why weren’t there better relations between Germany and Timken, who was not a professional diplomat? Timken took one final opportunity to throw a haymaker at Obama, the Clintons and Europe’s media.

Shortly before his departure from Berlin, American Ambassador to Germany, William R. Timken, strongly criticized President-elect Barack Obama in an interview with the German newspaper “Welt am Sonntag.” He characterized Obama’s Berlin speech as a “big show” that meant little.

“It was his first visit and he chose to give a major speech. In my opinion, if you want to gain foreign policy experience, you have discreet conversations with important people instead of giving big public speeches,” Ambassador Timken said.

The departing Ambassador also criticized Obama for admitting that he had experimented with drugs during his youth. “That Obama admitted his drug use so unashamedly is actually astounding. It would have been preferable if he and his wife had taken on a leading role in the battle against drugs. Anyone wanting the nation’s top job should set a moral example.”

Timken also criticized Hillary Clinton’s nomination as Secretary of State – mostly because of her husband, former President Bill Clinton: “Bill Clinton’s personal data will have to be closely examined. There are still a few awkward questions he needs to answer,” said Timken.

The Ambassador also accused the European media of being one-sided in their reporting: “I regret that the European media’s reporting is so one-sided rather than scrutinizing prevailing opinion. In Bush’s case, they were extremely unjust.”

According to Timken, Bush’s accomplishments in Africa and in the war on terror were never properly recognized. He feels especially frustrated that nobody acknowledges how close German-American relations were under Bush and Merkel. They telephoned one another so often that “they had a special video-telephone system installed” he said.

Angela Merkel was the first person Bush would call on important matters. “During this time, we witnessed the closest, most fruitful, most balanced and most diverse relationship that Germany and the United States has ever had. What I can’t understand is why so many Germans are unable to see that. That’s been my greatest frustration,” said Timken.