From: slider@anashram.com   
      
   Berlin says it stands ‘very closely’ on Kyiv’s side but won’t change   
   position on arms exports.   
      
   German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock sought to calm a diplomatic   
   storm with Ukraine on Monday, offering economic aid to the war-threatened   
   country and reiterating Berlin’s strong support.   
      
   The move came after Germany’s top navy official over the weekend played   
   down the threat of the 100,000 Russian troops massed along the Ukrainian   
   border, suggesting the West should show some “respect” to Russian   
   President Vladimir Putin.   
      
   The German government was quick to distance itself from its navy chief,   
   who resigned later on Saturday. But the damage was done: Ukraine’s foreign   
   minister publicly scolded Germany, saying that it “must stop such words   
   and actions [which] undermine unity and encourage Vladimir Putin to a new   
   attack on Ukraine.”   
      
   Arriving at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday,   
   Baerbock vowed support for Ukraine and argued that “economic stabilization   
   ” was “one of the decisive measures” of support Germany could provide.   
      
   “It is important that we especially keep the economic situation in Ukraine   
   in mind,” she said. “We are very closely on Ukraine’s side in terms of   
   both financial and economic support.”   
      
   Baerbock did not offer any details about the monetary aid, however.   
      
   Her announcement came the same day that European Commission President   
   Ursula von der Leyen proposed a €1.2 billion emergency aid package to   
   “help Ukraine now to address its financing needs due to the conflict.” The   
   money still needs to be approved by EU countries and the European   
   Parliament.   
      
   The pledges of financial support are occurring against the backdrop of   
   another issue that has left Ukraine frustrated: Germany’s refusal to send   
   Ukraine arms to help the country defend itself against a potential Russian   
   invasion. Germany has even hindered Estonia to this point from sending old   
   German howitzers to the country.   
      
   Moreover, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz only hesitantly announced last   
   week that all options — including a stop of the controversial   
   Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which Ukraine opposes —   
   would have to be discussed if Russia attacked Ukraine.   
      
   While Baerbock spoke of economic and financial aid on Monday, a government   
   spokesperson said in Berlin that the German position concerning arms   
   exports to Ukraine, even when it comes to defensive weapon systems,   
   remained “unchanged.”   
      
   The spokesperson further said that the government “has not yet made a   
   decision” whether to allow the export of the Estonian howitzers to   
   Ukraine. “I cannot say precisely” when the decision will be made, the   
   spokesperson said, “but it’s not a matter of months.”   
      
   Asked whether Germany was a reliable partner when it comes to dealing with   
   Russia, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday that “all   
   members of the European Union are united.”   
      
   ### - had to really laff over everyone suddenly turning on germany   
   (again!) for NOT wanting to get too involved in anything to do with   
   sending military arms and wars and stuff?   
      
   and yet the answer for their reluctance is actually very simple really...   
   the exact same reason they also balked that time when it came to them   
   being asked to go to israel during the gulf war to test for chemical   
   weapons that saddam hussain was reported to have chucked at them: everyone   
   called them cowards for refusing to go?? :)))   
      
   what they were NOT taking into consideration, however, and it's very   
   important... being that since the end of ww2, germany has literally been   
   on the end of a stick they've been beaten with for the last 70 years!!! ya   
   rotten nazi-bastards causing ww2 (poke/dig) gassing & killing millions of   
   people?? (poke-poke-dig) on & on like that, by the whole world, for near   
   on 3 generations???   
      
   is it any wonder then that, after being put through ALL that, of   
   generations all being beaten with the same awful stick, that the 'current'   
   generation are all now quite genuine pacifists that wants absolutely NADA   
   to do with wars or killing people ever again?   
      
   that although (because of their history) they just so happen to be the   
   world's best experts on 'gassing' people (lol @ the irony) they then felt   
   distinctly 'uncomfortable' when asked to go to 'israel' (of all places   
   lol) and investigate them being 'gassed' LOL ! they were horrified at even   
   the very idea ffs! and it was actually 'quite 'cruel' of us to poke them   
   for feeling that way?? (very cruel actually, mixed signals and all that?)   
      
   ditto again now: as confirmed pacifists not wanting to ever do anything   
   illegal or violent again, they don't wanna get involved in sending arms to   
   anywhere that'll maybe use them to either, rightly or wrongly: 'kill'   
   people, right?   
      
   this being perfectly understandable! of course they're part of europe and   
   stand with them now as allies! but after being treated/conditioned like   
   that for 70 fuckin' years don't pretend to be surprised when they   
   immediately shy like a horse at the prospect of getting involved with   
   violence of ANY description???   
      
   i.e., we DID that TO them as PUNISHMENT for their involvement in ww2!   
      
   and it worked!!! they NEVER ever wanna be violent EVER again LOL ! they've   
   become total pacifists!   
      
   even if that means being kicked around & despised by the rest of europe   
   for wanting peace...   
      
   coz in truth, after being conditioned so brutally like that, for sooo very   
   long, they actually need therapy! (lol anyone would!)   
      
   iow: 'because' of what they (as a nation) have BEEN through over the last   
   70 years, germany is thus the very LAST person ANYONE should ever ask to   
   join their army LOL ! LOL !   
      
   (do you remember the movie clockwork orange? well THAT what was   
   effectively done TO germany as punishment!!! go figure...)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)