American Embassy in Berlin Misuses September 11th Ceremony

The American embassy in Berlin and ambassador William R. Timken, Jr. are at it again. During Barack Obama's visit to Berlin, Timken refused to allow any embassy officials to attend Obama's speech -- a blatantly political act. Now, as one of Germany's leading journalists, Malte Lehming of the Berlin Tagesspiegel reports, has arranged for the embassy to hold a memorial ceremony for September 11th together with the Jewish Community of Berlin.

This is a horrendous mistake, a fiasco that is sure to fan the conspiracy flames around the world about a link between America, Zionism, and the destruction of the World Trade Center towers. There is nothing specifically Jewish about September 11th. The terrorists murdered indiscriminately. The American embassy has issued a vaguely threatening and ugly letter claiming that journalists need to exercise more careful judgment when it comes to press freedoms. This is nonsense. Instead of compounding its original error and attacking Lehming, the embassy should cancel the joint event and apologize. Even better, Timken, a crony of President Bush's who knows nothing about Germany, let alone international relations, should resign. But since when has mere incompetence ever stopped Bush? America continues to pay the price abroad for his ignorance.

Comments

[truthtrumpshype]

Jacob, Jacob, if you truly believe in your convictions, there should be enough factual information from which to draw without lowering yourself to the same misinformation that the politicians stoop to. Believe what you want, but back it up with the truth! Embassy employees are not to participate in any function that has a specifically campaign related agenda. Read the handbook; do your research. As for your statement that Timken is unqualified to serve because of his lack of knowledge in international matters - do you ever do research? The Timkens have devoted themselves to meeting and listening to those in the German community who are directly impacting the special needs and concerns of the German people. They have become active in helping as many of these groups as possible with their own time and hard work. Think what you will about someone's political affiliations; but to denigrate this man after the hours and years of dedication to the German people is no more than yellow journalism.

[jhNY]

Tried to say this earlier, but I was banned. No idea why. On the National Geographic Channel over this very weekend, they had a program about the activities of the various participants in the planning of 9/11. And what I remember from the program is that one of the planners had enlisted his boyhood friend to train in bomb-making,and that during the sessions they discussed attacking New York City because lots of Jews live here, and the World Trade Tower specifically, because they believed many Jews worked there. Now this may have been in reference to the first attack, but as the attacks and some of the participants are linked, it's still worth noting. Ant--Semitism was a motive in the choice of the twin towers as a target for terrorist actiion.

Is this some kind of blood libel I'm spreading? I can't imagine it would be broadcast as history by National Geographic if it were

And while I'm certain that a political appointment like the ambassadorship to Germany is held by a Republican Party loyalist, and no doubt this ceremony was conceived at least in part to benefit the party during this election season, I don't think it's some kind of devious propaganda trick to link anti-Semitism to 9-11. I think it's historically correct.