The Cowboy in the Castle

How far might the US go to get Schröder to break his most popular promise?

How fitting it was that last week's NATO summit was staged in a Baroque castle overlooking a quaintly picturesque European city. Consider that just days before, the New York Times based an article on the burning question, "Will Mr. Bush shake Mr. Schröder's hand?" You wonder if anyone present in Prague was reminded of the arcane rules of etiquette at Versailles in pre-Revolutionary France: Who, according to the rules of hierarchy determined by rank and title, may sit in the presence of the King? Who may help dress His Majesty in the royal chambers? Who must bow before whom and how deeply?

Schröder and Bush in Prague. Foto

The world's leaders may be dressing more comfortably these days and George W. Bush's cowboy rhetoric may be an attempt to conjure a more casual air -- "Contrary to my image as a Texan with two guns on my side, I'm more comfortable with a posse," he said on Wednesday -- but, to quote him again, "Make no mistake": Everyone inside Prague Castle knew their place, knew what was expected of them and knew of the costs of not delivering.

Like a jealous monarch, Bush has made an example of Schröder for all eyes to see, and very unlike Michael Corleone, business is not just business and politics are not just politics. It's all personal for Bush. He demands loyalty and when the chancellor campaigned a few months ago on the promise that Germany would not be joining an attack on Iraq, Bush slapped him with a big fat public snub (see Laughing Off the Brouhaha).

In Prague, Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer reiterated Germany's stance but downplayed the US-German rift, likening it to a spat within the family. But things are about to get tricky. When Bush comes to shove, how firmly can Germany oppose the war?

The US has requested use of German air space and its own bases, for example, once the invasion of Iraq gets rolling. Well, ok, Defense Minister Peter Struck has answered. Then, this weekend, there were reports that the US wants German Patriot missiles as well -- just to protect Israel from incoming scuds, mind you, not as part of the invasion itself. A Sunday paper quoted a German government official as saying, "When it comes to Israel, it will be difficult for us refuse." But Struck has denied that the request was made at all. So what has the US asked for? When the time comes to inform the public, Struck says, he will.

But what about this new "rapid response" force NATO is supposed to come up with to help fight the "war on terror"? Who'll be ordering whom where and how far?

With the post-election mood in Germany so dismal (see The Scope of the Crisis) and Broken Promises), Schröder cannot afford to back down from what is, after all, a very popular pacifist position. Yet the US seems to be tickling the situation for all its worth, just to see how far it can get.

Oh, by the way, for the record: Bush did shake Schröder's hand. But the photographers didn't catch it the first time, so he shook it again -- and: whispered in his ear! Looks like Schröder hasn't been banned from the global Court just yet.

Elsewhere

The Einstein exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History.

Darian Leader and Jeanette Winterson introduce the Eva Hesse retrospective at the Tate Modern.

Christine Reh on the prospects of success for the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Anthony Kaufman in indieWIRE on the state of the German film industry.

Simon Doonan has fun with the newer, thinner Karl Lagerfeld.

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