Syria Tests Germany’s Culture of Reluctance
In the wake of the chemical weapons attack near Damascus, Western military strikes against Syria seem imminent. And Germany will once again demand a special role.
With elections less than four weeks away, the developments in Syria are putting Chancellor Angela Merkel in a tough spot. Certainly, Berlin has felt compelled to ratchet up its rhetoric vis-à-vis President Bashar al-Assad, dubbing his regime’s alleged use of chemical weapons as the “breaking of a taboo” and a “crime against civilization.”
On the other hand, an escalation of the conflict could derail Merkel’s plans to coast to easy re-election on Sept. 22.
German political leaders know full well that the country’s public opinion remains highly skeptical of any military deployments abroad, let alone combat operations.… Seguir leyendo »