Should Guantanamo Bay be America's problem to solve?

Die Zeit, Germany

By Refusing Gitmo Prisoners, Germany's Making a Big Mistake

"Obama is now in urgent need of help with his plan to shut the prison camp by January, 2010. But instead, he has met with nothing but resistance on every turn - and not just at home, but just about everywhere on earth. 'You made your own bed, now lie in it,' is the scornful rejoinder."

By Martin Klingst

Translated By Ulf Behncke

June 12, 2009

Germany - Die Zeit - Original Article (German)

Washington: It's still true: The relationship between Germany and America is, by and large, good. Barack Obama appreciates the cool intellect of the chancellor. And the government in Berlin remains one of the main allies of the United States.

And yet with its petulant attitude on the matter of admitting Guantánamo detainees, the federal government is missing a tremendous opportunity. With a bit of goodwill from the Chancellery and Interior Ministry - America's President would be beside himself with gratitude. A positive wink from Berlin would strengthen his position. Obama is now in urgent need of help with his plan to shut the prison camp by January 20th, 2010. But instead, he has met with nothing but resistance on every turn - and not just at home, but just about everywhere on earth. “You made your own bed, now lie in it,” is the scornful rejoinder.

Germany is making a serious mistake, because a little more solidarity with the United States would pay off quickly. Particularly on issues where the federal government is looking for American concessions: climate protection, the anti-missile shield, and so on. At last, Germany has the U.S. president it always wanted: peace loving, a listener, emphatic and cooperative. But now it leaves him in the lurch.

It's quite embarrassing that not Germany, but a nation hardly anyone knew of until Tuesday let alone could find on the map has now offered to be the new home to 17 Uyghurs from the American military prison. The President of Palau [Johnson Toribiong], who rules over 230 islands and 20,000 people, just announced: We're ready!

The U.S. asked, among others, the federal government to take in the Uyghurs, who were picked up in Afghanistan. They belong to an oppressed Muslim minority in China, and must be released soon because the original terrorism suspicions against them couldn’t be substantiated.

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

They can't return to China because the Beijing regime would send them straight back to prison, which is why German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble has had the list of names for weeks now. Most of the Uyghurs would prefer to come to the Federal Republic because there, in and around Munich, are a large number of people from their ethnic group.

Naturally, Germany can't blindly say yes to the request of taking in prisoners - some reservations do carry weight: Are the Uyghurs really as harmless as some now say? Or were they trained as Islamic fighters in Afghanistan before the attacks of September 11, 2001, as others allege? Why doesn't Washington grant the Germans unrestricted access to their files, continuing to be a secrecy monger? And why doesn’t America take the Uyghurs itself? It's quite odd that the United States is asking its allies for assistance, yet is so keen on sending the Guantánamo detainees at far away as possible.

Nevertheless, The German government, once used to be among the most vocal critics of Guantánamo, could also have been generous and said, “Yes!” - and then engage in tough behind-the-scenes bargaining on the conditions for individual cases of asylum. But, as we know since the Kurnaz Case, Berlin seems hold a double standard as far as Guantánamo is concerned. Publically it wields the moral cudgel, yet when actual help is required it pretends to be deaf. Moreover, one can't exclude the possibility that the Uyghurs are most unwelcomed by the chancellor and many of her ministers for yet another reason: During these times of economic malaise, Merkel & Co. aren’t at all keen on having a falling out with the Chinese.

The ill-tempered back and forth in Berlin, the petty fence-sitting - all leaves a rather negative impression in America. It was also noted that during Obama’s visit to Germany last week, Angela Merkel, perhaps unconsciously and even unintentionally, spent most of her time with the corners of her mouth pointed down. Germany seems somewhat pig-headed and stubborn - and thus does itself no favors. Four Uyghurs from Guantánamo, it seems, are still interested in coming to Munich. The Federal Government still has a chance.