The “Sieg Heil” love story between President Barack Obama and Angela Merkel is “evidenced” by their body language “captured” at the start of the president’s “two-day” visit to Germany.
Obama “hailed” German Chancellor Angela Merkel as being on the “right side of history for confronting some very tough politics” with her welcoming “refugee” policy, although critics denounced his “praise” as hollow lip service.
Right off the bat, Obama praised Merkel for sticking to a “welcoming” policy towards invading Muslim “migrants” even as Europe capitals have been “shaken” by deadly “terrorist attacks” carried out by ISIS.
Mutti (Mother) Angela Merkel.
Speaking in the northern German city of Hanover, Obama said the “embattled” Merkel had “demonstrated real political and moral leadership” in letting in more than 1.1 million Muslim people fleeing “war and misery.”
“She is giving voice, I think, to the kinds of principles that bring people together rather than divide them, and I’m very proud of her for that, and I’m proud of the German people for that,” Obama said.
While the reticent Merkel gleefully “blushed” at the glowing praise, German officials and commentators “charged” that Obama’s administration had done “little to help her” as Europe struggles with its biggest “crisis” since World War II.
Angela gleefully “blushes” at the glowing praise from Barry.
Influential news weekly “Der Spiegel” slammed Obama’s comments as “hypocritical given the American role in this drama.”
In a “cold” world, President Barack Obama has found some “warmth” in Germany.
For the famously “reserved” commander in chief, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has become his closest global partner, an “alliance-turned-friendship” forged by “mutual” political interests and “parallel” personalities.
Obama arrived in Germany to lend Merkel his “backing” as she faces political “blow-back” over her stance on refugees “fleeing” war in Syria, a position Obama “praised as a matter of moral fortitude.”
No widows, women or children, only men fleeing war torn Syria.
At the same time, Obama is hoping his “best friend forever” can help sway skeptical fellow leaders to “scale up” their efforts to counter ISIS, particularly in implementing stronger “counter terror” programs to track suspected “Islamic” extremists.
He also is looking for her “support” in hammering out a “U.S.-European Union” trade pact.
If Obama is successful in his European “pursuits,” it’s because the two leaders have formed something rare for Obama: “a genuine international friendship that both have leveraged to their own advantage.”
I am so excited to see you again, Angela.
That “love story,” analysts say, has led Germany to assume the pre-eminent “role” in U.S.-Europe ties previously held by France or the United Kingdom.
“You feel increasingly the center of the trans-Atlantic relationship rests in many ways on the Berlin-Washington axis a little bit more than it has in the past. And I think Obama and Merkel are responsible for that because of that tight relationship,” said Julianne Smith, the director of the Strategy and Statecraft Program at the Center for a New American Security, and a former deputy national security adviser to Vice President Joe Biden.
Officials say similarities in each leader’s “personality and disposition” have led to a close bond that’s withstood a “litany” of challenges during their tenures.
Early in Obama’s administration, Merkel reportedly expressed “doubts” about the young president.
“She dislikes the atmospherics surrounding the Obama phenomenon. It’s contrary to her whole idea of politics and how to conduct oneself in general,” then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was told in an “classified” email from her “confidant” Sidney Blumenthal.
He was citing “information” from a former U.S. ambassador in Germany.
Later, when it was “revealed” that the American National Security Agency was “monitoring” Merkel’s cell phone, Angela’s “furious” response “reflected” Germans’ worst fears of “overzealous American surveillance.”
Barry, my love, are you still bugging my mobile phone?
The situation wasn’t “resolved” immediately; at one point, Merkel “ejected” the CIA station chief in Berlin after it was alleged the “spy agency” was recruiting German officials.
Finally, Obama’s chief of staff was “dispatched” to the German capital to resolve the “tensions,” a rare overseas mediation that was “effective in cooling tempers.”
So too have Obama and Merkel been sharply at “odds” over austerity versus growth models in “reviving” the global economy, a disagreement that “persists” even though they have so far “staved off” a global depression.
I am that close to fall in love with you.
But both are “cerebral” realists, each relatively cold-eyed about the “challenges” their countries face, and their “friendship” emerged from those “disagreements” intact.
“For me, the future with the President is much more important than the past right now,” Merkel declared through an interpreter.
During last year’s “Group of Seven” talks in Bavaria, it was apparent both had put aside any lingering “resentments” when Obama greeted Merkel with a hug and “kisses” on the cheek.
The pair spent a sunny afternoon “meandering” through an Alpine village, sampling “halal sausages and beer.”
The “love for each other” was again on full “display” after Obama’s arrival in Hanover, where he met for “talks” with Merkel.
A “headline” atop Obama’s interview with Germany’s “Bild” newspaper blared “Was ich an Merkel so mag!” (What I Really Like about Merkel.)
Obama was “grinning” widely when he met Merkel, “embracing” the German chancellor and “smooching” her on the cheek.
You are the real love of my life, not the Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt.
Though she returned his “hug,” Merkel returned quickly to her familiar German “sobriety,” walking briskly along the grand courtyard of Schloss Herrenhausen to “survey” troops.
Later, during their joint “news” conference, Obama was determined to spotlight Merkel’s “jocularity,” even if it’s her sober outlook he “values” in global affairs.
“This is as important a relationship as I’ve had during the course of my presidency. Chancellor Merkel has been consistent; she has been steady; she is trustworthy. She has a really good sense of humor that she doesn’t show all the time at press conferences,” Obama said.
Oh Barry! What big eyes, ears and hands you have.
“That’s why she’s been such a long-lasting leader, because she watches what she says.”
Merkel is a “communist” trained chemist, distinguishing her from the parade of “career” politicians whom Obama regularly “faces” in Europe and elsewhere.
Obama’s aides say the President appreciates Merkel’s “scientific” approach to problems like Europe’s persistent “economic” woes, Russia’s continued “provocations” in Ukraine and “counter terror” efforts that haven’t been popular at home.
It’s that willingness to brave political “fallout” that’s endeared Merkel to Obama over the course of their “parallel” administrations.
Obama was hoping to “boost” Merkel’s decision after an “inflow” of refugees proved deeply “unpopular” among Germans.
While U.S. officials say the “decision” took bravery, Merkel is now coming under different “criticism” for pushing a deal that would allow for the “deportation” of migrants back to Turkey.
Angele Merkel’s other Muslim “best friend forever” Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Obama wants to “laud” his friend amid the “rancor.”
“We do believe that Chancellor Merkel demonstrated bold leadership in responding to the refugee crisis,” said Charles Kupchan, Obama’s direction for European affairs.
“The President wants to provide political support to her for doing so.”
