The Americans ‘Execute’ Merkel

“Remember the eruption of German indignation over recent disclosures that the U.S. had spied on Berlin? Well, never mind,” commented in an obviously haughty tone the article on the Opinion page of The Wall Street Journal on May 5 about Germans and their government.

As for the reason behind this tone, it is none other than the evidence showing that not only has the German federal intelligence service, the BND, been working hand-in-hand with the U.S. National Security Agency for decades, but it has also regularly ratted on its European partners, snooping on them.

In addition, the newspaper goes on to shed light on the intelligence-gathering charade being put on by the Germans, at the same time leaving Angela Merkel irreparably exposed.

“Now it turns out that while Ms. Merkel was excoriating the U.S. for its intelligence gathering, her office was well-aware of Berlin’s own neighborly spying activities, and had been at least since 2008 when the BND sent the chancellery a letter about the program,” stated the article, wagging a warning finger at the Germans and suggesting indirectly, but quite clearly, that they should align themselves with the U.S. without protest.

“Yes, friends do spy on friends. Perhaps now Berlin will focus its energies on the real security threats to German and European security, not least an aggressive Kremlin ruled by a former KGB agent.”

“If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas,” says a popular adage. That’s exactly what Angela Merkel the “Iron Chancellor” is currently at risk of suffering, after the hard “punch” from the Americans that “slammed her to the canvas.” You see, she chose to play with them, and even worse, to attack them in a field they completely control. In fact, they control intelligence to such an extent that they have greater accessibility to the German intelligence agency than the German government itself does! Angela Merkel “put the cart before the horse” and lost!

Actually, this event may prove to be the end of her omnipotence within Germany, where the majority of citizens, whether they voted for her or not, show their full trust of her, mainly because she managed to lead the country out of the current great economic crisis unscathed and more powerful than ever, turning Germany into one of the most dominant countries in Europe. Now, the people realize that they have been hustled, and the political climate is changing. Der Spiegel’s recent issue is characteristically titled “The Treason,” and on its cover is featured a photo of Angela Merkel with the lead “BND and government against German interests.”

Of course, the consequences of this development affect not only Angela Merkel, but the German political elite as a whole. It also demonstrates the relevance of the comment about Germany made by the well-known Greek politician, Theodoros Pagalos, who is probably making the most pertinent point in his long political career: “Germany is an economic giant with the brains of a child.”

Berlin’s rage to “squash” Greece, which dared question the accuracy of its policy, its arrogance and cynicism — sealing its attitude even toward strong powers such as France — and moreover, its thoughtlessly brutal engagement in the civil war in Ukraine and the redrawing of Europe’s borders, reinforces the above conclusion. The question is, how many more will suffer the consequences until this situation stops?