Condoleezza RiceColin Powell, who in all likelihood will renounce to using the phrase “between a rock and a hard place” for the rest of his life, is leaving the US administration, and Condoleezza Rice, currently US National Security Advisor, has been nominated by President Bush as next Secretary of State. Many in Europe, Deutsche Welle, I don’t think it matters if Powell’s departure strengthens hardliners who are insensitive to European sensitivities. Both European and American leaders have by now realized the need to work together, and they have – somewhat – adjusted their sensoric system and significantly reduced their mutual expectations. Pessimists may lead unhappy lives, but at least they are less likely to be disappointed.

Certainly, Mr Powell will be missed as a voice of moderation. Yet all too often he, and his partners, had to realize that nuanced diplomacy was only a viable option if it did not stand in the way of President Bush exercising “strong” – ie unrelenting – leadership. Remember how, in early 2003, the President “accidentally” met with German Conservative state premier Roland Koch in the White House, while Colin Powell was meeting the Chancellor in Berlin, for the first time attempting to straighten things out after the disgreement over Iraq had soured the relations of the two governments? I wonder who felt more embarrassed that day – Chancellor Schr?der, or Colin Powell.

The general “Old European” reaction to Ms Rice’s nomination is understandably a little reserved. After all, she reportedly stated in early 2003 that the US should “forgive Russia, forget Germany and punish France.” But the European, particularly the German, relationship with Ms Rice goes beyond her last office – and that’s why I think the above statement will probably not reflect her politics in the State Department.

She is no Michail Gorbachev, but political Germany still very much likes “Condi”, because of the important role she played in managing the process leading to the German reunification, working as an expert in Soviet affairs in President George H. W. Bush’s White House. Later, she and her colleague Philip Zelikow co-authored a remarkable book called “ This entry was posted in A Fistful Of Euros, Europe and the world and tagged Europe and the world, european, Germany, national, national security, powell, president, security, state department, the president by Tobias Schwarz. Bookmark the permalink.

About Tobias Schwarz

German, turned 30, balding slowly, hopefully with grace. A carnival junkie, who, after studies in business and politics in Mannheim, Paris, and London, is currently living in his hometown of Mainz, Germany, again, working on a phd when he's not too busy writing, composing, or supporting his home side Mainz 05. Turned New Labourite during a research job at the House of Commons, but difficult to place in German party-political terms. Liberal in the true sense of the term. His political writings are mostly on A Fistful of Euros these days. His personal blog Almost A Diary was a predominantly political blog in 2002-2003 but is now usually living up to its name, even though it can also be reached through the promising URL www.ichbindeutschland.de. Other bloglike activiy includes his musicblog www.tapsmusic.de, his musician account at myspace.com (myspace.com/tobischwarz), where you can listen to some of his songs..

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