Merkel Arrives At Bush’s Ranch For Weekend Talks Of Killing Taliban, Maybe Iranians
CRAWFORD, Texas, Nov 9 (AFP) Nov 09, 2007
German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived at US President George W. Bush’s Texas ranch late Friday for two-day talks on issues such as Iran’s nuclear program and efforts to stabilize Afghanistan.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was expected to join the two leaders and brief Merkel on her recent trip to the Middle East.
The discussions were also expected to cover the future of Serbia’s breakaway Kosovo province, unrest in Myanmar, and Lebanon’s political crisis.
On Friday, the German chancellor joined an elite group of world leaders invited to the “Prairie Chapel” property for talks that were expected to showcase diplomatic efforts to confront Iran over what the West suspects may be a nuclear weapons program.
“In Texas, when you invite somebody to your home, it’s an expression of warmth and respect. And that’s how I feel about Chancellor Merkel,” said Bush, who added he hoped for “constructive talks as well as a chance to relax and visit.”
Merkel thanked Bush for the invitation after the helicopter ride that took her to the 1,600-acre ranch near this flyspeck town.
“Already, a first glance of the area shows us that this is indeed a wonderful place to be in, a wonderful atmosphere. And we have a number of issues that I think we will have now time to discuss,” she said.
Ahead of the talks, US officials downplayed fissures between the allies on the US hard line toward Iran and Germany’s restrictions on its troops in Afghanistan but also downplayed the likelihood of any breakthroughs.
“Strategically we see eye-to-eye. I think tactically there are some slight differences,” on issues like Iran and Afghanistan, said US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
Bush will take up the new round of US sanctions on the Islamic republic and tell Merkel “this is part of our diplomatic strategy,” he said. “While, yes, we never take any options off the table, this was the next step in trying to make diplomacy work.”
Merkel, who leads Iran’s largest European trading partner, said Germany would embrace “further, tougher sanctions” if ongoing talks fail to convince Iran to heed UN demands to freeze sensitive nuclear work.
Washington has been leading a push for an immediate third wave of UN sanctions against the Islamic Republic which has defied UN demands to suspend uranium enrichment, a possible step towards building nuclear weapons.
On Afghanistan, Johndroe flatly refused to repeat past US jibes at NATO partner Germany for refusing to allow its troops to deploy in the dangerous part of southern Afghanistan to fight the Taliban insurgency.
Bush was also expected to take Merkel on a tour, because “he’s fond of taking visitors around and showing off the ranch,” said the spokesman.
Merkel’s visit capped a busy diplomatic week for Bush, who hosted Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for tense talks about Iraq and welcomed French President Nicolas Sarkozy to the White House for a charm campaign.
Ties between the United States and Germany notably soured under Merkel’s predecessor Gerhard Schroeder, who steadfastly opposed the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, backing the stand taken by then French president Jacques Chirac.
But Bush is known to have a soft spot for Merkel, who took office in November 2005, and even relished a down-home barbecue of wild boar with her in her electoral district on July 2006.
The two leaders were to have a social dinner at the “Prairie Chapel” property on Friday, then a meeting and lunch on Saturday as well as a joint question-and-answer session with reporters.
According to a menu released by the White House, they were to dine on citrus and arugula salad with shaved parmesan; pecan-smoked beef tenderloin with sauteed mushrooms, green chili-cheese grits souffle, and roasted asparagus; and Prairie Chapel Pecan Pie with Blue Bell ice cream.
Merkel joins an elite group of world leaders to be invited by Bush to the ranch, and arrived in the United States just three days after he welcomed French President Nicolas Sarkozy to the White House.
Bush is known to have a soft spot for Merkel, who took office in November 2005, and even relished a down-home barbecue of wild boar with her in her electoral district in July 2006.
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All of these talks between, germany,US,Israel and france are definitely leading up to something big. Action against Iran is at hand i believe
November 9th, 2007 at 3:59 pmUnfortunately, I think it ain’t gonna happen any time soon, and probably not until its too late.
If more than half the members of Congress were not traitors, we would be out of Iraq sooner and Iran and Syria would not dare act the way are now.
Instead, we have the D’rats giving aid and comfort to the enemy. Which I believe has prolonged the fight in Iraq and has ensured a nuclear equipped Iran.
I have a favorite quote from Winston Churchill that sums up how the D’rats have acted:
“Britain and France had to choose between war and dishonour. They chose dishonour. They will have war.”
To Neville Chamberlain in the House of Commons, after the Munich accords (1938)
November 9th, 2007 at 4:33 pmI hope you’re right Kurt. It’s about damn time.
We had better be ready to duke it out with the ragheads that have infiltrated the States. Pick your mosk targets this weekend. It’s Veteran’s Day.
November 9th, 2007 at 4:43 pmTo hear the Dhimicratz talk, our relations with the Europe are at an all time low. That’s fucking laughable. France, Germany, England, Poland et al is on board with the US on Iran, and Afghanistan. What’s not to like?
BTW, the food on the menu sounds great. As did the Wild Boar menu. All the menu needs is some good German Beer to top it off.
November 9th, 2007 at 4:51 pmCheese grits w/chillis, Blue Bell, steak, to be home in Texas again….
The Huddle House makes good cheese grits and eggs at 2am, those were the days…
I miss the USA.
November 9th, 2007 at 8:13 pmI make the best green chili grits with New Mexico green chili, garlic and cheddar rice, I would have cooked for them!
November 9th, 2007 at 9:29 pmConcur Dan. It does appear “old Europe” has finally gotten Rummy’s wake-up call. France coming around is a real mind-blower.
November 10th, 2007 at 11:06 amYou know the saddest part Dan, The DemoRat misinformation campaign is still working on lots of uninformed Americans. Many still believe the world hates us and we are losing in Iraq. bunch of BS as we know it
November 10th, 2007 at 11:16 amCouldnt agree more on the German beer, that tops off alot of stuff