this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2026
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Netanyahu is also Merz's daddy.

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[–] qevlarr@lemmy.world 60 points 3 days ago (1 children)
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[–] verdi@feddit.org 26 points 3 days ago (1 children)

For those outside of the loop, this US pawn worked for Blackrock, this reaction is wholly unsurprising.

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[–] brainwashed@feddit.org 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Legally trivial, morally complex and very much dependant on the outcome.

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[–] nuko147@lemmy.world 47 points 4 days ago (8 children)

"this is not the time to comment on the legality of the recent actions." ...

[–] andxz@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago (15 children)

What the fuck?

They seem content to inform the rest of the world that they like to gurgle the combined balls of the group of narcissistic idiots who currently are speedrunning the 4th Reich from the white house.

If they are this brazen with it we're probably about to go into what seriously could be a modern recreation of the dark ages.

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[–] floquant@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 3 days ago

Of fucking course now is the time. When would that be, in a couple of months when all is done and settled?

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[–] RoidingOldMan@lemmy.world 64 points 4 days ago

Relationship status: it’s complicated

[–] Gsus4@mander.xyz 51 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89lys%C3%A9e_Treaty

Just two months after the signing of the friendship treaty, a new controversy between France and West Germany occurred. President de Gaulle intended the treaty to make West Germany distance itself and eventually separate itself from its American protector. He saw West Germany (and the other member states of the European Economic Community) as vassalized by Washington. The treaty was notable in that it made no mention of the United States, United Kingdom, NATO, or the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).[9]

However, after US President John F. Kennedy expressed his displeasure about this to the West German ambassador to the United States, the Bundestag ratified the treaty with a preamble which called on France and West Germany to pursue tight cooperation with the United States; the eventual admission of the United Kingdom to the EEC; the achievement of a free trade accord in the framework of the GATT; and for the West's military integration in NATO under US leadership.[10] This effectively emptied the Treaty of any sense (in Gaullist understanding) and put end to General de Gaulle's hopes of building the EEC into a counterweight to the US and the USSR. "The Germans are behaving like pigs. They are putting themselves completely at the Americans' service. They're betraying the spirit of the Franco-German Treaty. And they're betraying Europe."[11] Later, in 1965, the General told his closest aides behind closed doors: "The Germans had been my greatest hope; they are my greatest disappointment."[12]

This shit has been going on since 1963...

[–] Tja@programming.dev 10 points 3 days ago (3 children)

As much as I like the French surrender jokes, they have been the greatest advocates of a strong and independent Europe for the last 80 years, from de Gaulle then to Sarkozy now (domestic popularity aside). They are on to something...

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[–] gigachad@piefed.social 53 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (14 children)

I mean, it is embarrassing but the strategy is clear here. Don't piss off Daddy in hope to prolong the support for Ukraine (or preventing the support for Russia).

The EU and especially Germany has been grabbed by the nuts by the speed the US is leaving the show in Europe. Germany is doing as much for building up the military as the German society can take, it was admired for this strategy some time ago.

But they need a couple of more years to gain real independence (if they succeed). And for this time, they are vulnerable.

I see the hipocrisy, sure, but I don't think it's just stupid, but a strategy. I am genuinely interested, what would you guys do?

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 31 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The trouble is that on a lot of topics, the German government and especially Merz' party clearly aren't interested in independence. It's very obvious with digital services.

Just look at Merz' employment history and you know why. He is bought by the US investment firm Black Rock. It's as complicated as this.

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[–] hanrahan@piefed.social 33 points 4 days ago (15 children)

Same post when Greenland's taken presumably?

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[–] Mulligrubs@lemmy.world 27 points 4 days ago

"It's complex"

translation: "It's very simple, it was illegal. But I won't ever say it. That's my job, you see."

[–] iglou@programming.dev 16 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Can't wait to see what all those spineless politicians will say when Trump appoints a Governor of Venezuela.

[–] Kornblumenratte@feddit.org 6 points 3 days ago

He already did - kind of. He acknowledged the Vicepresident of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, as acting President, and stated pretty bluntely, that they can treat her like Maduro if she doesn't submit to his demands. I'd view this as appointment as governor Trumpi gratia.

[–] ZkhqrD5o@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago (19 children)

I do realise we are vulnerable right now because we let the US handle everything security related. And now we're paying the price for it, but is appeasement really the proper strategy here?

[–] Redacted@lemmy.zip 7 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Only option for Europe i see going forward is heavy militarization. Usa is no longer an ally in any real capacity

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[–] WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today 7 points 3 days ago (1 children)

No, they are complicit. All the elites are just playing games against each other, using their pawns (us). The only time we get a break, is when our interests happen to align with other elites.

[–] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 days ago

Don’t call them β€œelites” because they aren’t good at anything. Call them what they are, oligarchs. Then eat the rich.

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The Mossad has tapes of him eating sloppy Bockwurst on the Autobahn.

[–] Ziggurat@jlai.lu 28 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Isn't the legal classification is complex some diplomatic version of you fucked up, but we're ready to believe your lawyer?

Adding an acceptability benchmark to it, feel like preety critical considering the strong tie between US and Germany.

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[–] Th3D3k0y@lemmy.world 20 points 4 days ago (3 children)

As an American, it's complex in that it's definitely illegal, but it went faster than expected and we aren't really in a "just put them back and apologize" situation. So now what?

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