Angela Merkel Talks to Joint Session of Congress
German Chancellor Addresses American Legislators on World Issues
Nov 4, 2009
German Chancellor Angela Merkel provided a skillfully crafted, four-part speech that centered on thanking America. The remaining three parts were divided into Foreign Affairs, World Economics and Climate Control. Amid thunderous applause, occasional shouts and numerous standing ovations, Merkel became the first German chancellor to address a joint session of Congress.
Thank You America
For the first several minutes of her speech, Merkel thanked the American people for helping and supporting Germany following World War II. “I wanted to use this opportunity…to express our gratitude, my gratitude, to the American people for the support [you] have given us throughout the process leading up to German reunification," she said Tuesday. "And let me tell you that this is something that we, the Germans, shall never forget."
Her intimate talk gave America a moving insight into the woman born into communism on the East side of the Iron Curtain. Inspiring words of thanks were subtly wrapped throughout her talk that forced the stoic members of congress to rise to their feet and applaud her robustly. "In my wildest dreams, I would not have thought this possible…it was beyond my imagination to ever even travel to the United States, let alone stand here before you…" she told Congress.
She personally thanked the Americans that gave her hope as a teen growing up in the German Democratic Republic (Communist East Germany.) But as leader of a unified Germany today, she went out of her way to thank the hundreds of pilots who sacrificed all during the Berlin Airlift. “Without their help,” she continued, "overcoming the division of Europe would simply not have been possible."
Foreign Affairs
- Afghanistan – Germany has the “…third-largest number of troops in NATO’s…contingent,” Merkel told Congress but refused to comment further. As President Obama presses Europe for more troops Ross Colvin of Reuters News Service reported on Nov 3rd 2009, “In Germany, polls show about two-thirds of people favor withdrawal.…[But Merkel] was likely to stick with...4,500 troops….”
- The Two State Solution – Merkel has been a strong advocate for a lasting Middle East Peace Plan. Yesterday, before the US Congress, she repeated her June commitment. “We need a two-state solution;” Merkel reiterated. “We need a viable Palestinian state and a viable state of Israel.”
- Iran – The German Chancellor saved her harshest words for the Islamic Republic and its president. Iran’s threat to Israel is "a threat to the free world…” she said on Tuesday. "We must show zero tolerance to the possibility of Iran getting hold of nuclear weapons. It threatens us all," Merkel said, to roaring applause. “Nuclear weapon at the hands of an Iranian president who denies the Holocaust…is simply unacceptable….”
World Economics
Merkel, as leader of Europe's largest economy, pledged to keep working with the U.S. to prevent another global financial meltdown. "We have to do everything to prevent such a crisis in the future," she reminded Congressional leaders.
Global Warming
She received the most hostile reaction from Republicans while pleading with Congress on the need for action in the upcoming Copenhagen Conference. "Icebergs are melting in the Arctic…we have no time to lose," she declared. “We need an agreement on one objective: Global warming...” She likened the need as a second Berlin Wall, “Today's generation needs to prove that…we are able to tear down walls of today."
An extraordinary visit by an extraordinary leader, Angela Merkel’s address should help Americans better understand their friends across the Atlantic. The former shy physicist found the right formula to charm her way around the halls of Congress yesterday – and Congress was the better for it.
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