Obama's Berlin speech: History raises the stakes

June 18, 2013 @ 11:19 pm


US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Sasha, left, and Malia disembark from Air Force One at the Tegel airport in Berlin Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Obama arrived for a two-day official visit to Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) | Zoom

BERLIN (AP) - Five years and 50 years. As President Barack Obama revisits Berlin, he can't escape those anniversaries and the inevitable comparisons to history and personal achievement.

His 26-hour whirlwind visit to the German capital caps three days of international summitry for the president and marks his return to a place where he once summoned a throng of 200,000 to share his ambitious vision for American leadership.

That was 2008, when Obama was running for president and those who supported him at home and abroad saw the young mixed-race American as a unifying and transformational figure who signified hope and change.

Five years later, Obama comes to deliver a highly anticipated speech to a country that's a bit more sober about his aspirations and the extent of his successes, yet still eager to receive his attention at a time that many here feel that Europe, and Germany in particular, are no longer U.S. priorities. A Pew Research Center poll of Germans found that while their views of the U.S. have slipped since Obama's first year in office, he has managed to retain his popularity, with 88 percent of those surveyed approving of his foreign policies.

Obama also has an arc of history to fulfill.

Fifty years ago next week, President John F. Kennedy addressed a crowd of 450,000 in that then-divided city to denounce the Soviet bloc and famously declare "Ich bin ein Berliner," German for "I am a Berliner." Since then, presidents from Ronald Reagan to Bill Clinton have used Berlin speeches to articulate broad themes about freedom and international alliances.

Obama, fresh from a two-day summit of the Group of Eight industrial economies, will speak at the Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of Germany's division and later reunification. It is a venue that German Chancellor Angela Merkel denied him in 2008, saying only sitting presidents were granted such an honor.

The past context _ and the weight of it _ are not lost on the White House.

"This is a place where U.S. presidents have gone to talk about the role of the free world essentially," said Obama's deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes. "He is seeking to summon the energy and legacy of what's been done in the past and apply it to the issues that we face today."

Rhodes said Obama will make the case that even though the Berlin Wall came down 23 years ago and the threat of nuclear war has dissipated, the type of activism apparent during the Cold War needs to be applied to such current challenges as climate change, counterterrorism and the push for democratic values beyond the United States and Europe.

A senior administration official said Obama will also renew his call to reduce the world's nuclear stockpiles, including a proposed one-third reduction in U.S. and Russian arsenals. He is not expected to outline a timeline for this renewed push. The official insisted on anonymity in order to preview the issue before the president's speech.

Obama will also hold a joint news conference with Merkel.

The visit was attracting widespread attention in Germany. People waved and snapped photos as Obama sped by after his arrival and a thick cluster awaited the motorcade as it passed the Brandenburg Gate. An evening news show in Berlin devoted itself to the president's visit, highlighting "Das Biest," or "The Beast," as the president's armored limousine is called.

There have been a few small protests, including one directed against the National Security Agency's surveillance of foreign communications, where about 50 people waved placards taunting, "Yes, we scan."

Merkel has said she was surprised at the scope of the spying that was revealed and said the U.S. must clarify what information is monitored. But she also said U.S. intelligence was key to foiling a large-scale terror plot and acknowledged her country is "dependent" on cooperating with American spy services.

For Merkel, the visit presents an opportunity to bolster her domestic standing ahead of a general election in September.

The U.S. and the Germans have clashed on economic issues, with Obama pressing for Europe to prime the economy with government stimulus measures, while Merkel has insisted on pressing debt-ridden countries to stabilize their fiscal situations first.

But the two sides have found common ground on a trans-Atlantic trade pact between the European Union and the U.S. At the just-completed G-8 summit, the leaders agreed to hold the first talks next month in the U.S.

___

Associated Press writers Julie Pace, Robert Reid and Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (157)


  • Add A Comment

  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    'What
    October 20, 2012 4:41 am
    recovery?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    The Recovery that's occurring in the US economy?
    October 29, 2012 12:06 pm
    Got to love the right, they ignore everything positive and view only negative things... If Obama single-handedly cured cancer they would criticize him for not thinking of the impact it would have on pharmaceutical companies that make billions searching for the cure... If he achieved world piece they would attack him for all the wasteful spending on the military leading up to world peace... If he drove unemployment down to 4% they would say, yeh but look at the 4% who are struggling in this terrible economy... There is nothing the Republican party won't do to try and paint Obama as a terrible person and leader. Unemployment dropped below 8% last month... 5 million jobs have been created since early-mid 2010, The stock Market S&P and NASDAQ are all double what they were when he took office... housing market is starting to trend back upward... None of these things are positive signs to Republicans, instead it's a worsening economy... the trend is upward, but not in the eyes of a repub, it's all down... They bury their heads in the sand and ignore facts... Republicans are a joke, once this election is over and Obama is re-elected, i will be here to laugh at all of them, but i have a feeling, they will all dissapear until next election cycle when they can try to spin their lies again.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    @cbrew
    January 5, 2013 9:07 am
    How about the 16 trillion in negative debt mostly spent by the Obama administration...is that the negative things the right are saying that you are referring to? Your stupid.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @SickofSeattleite
    January 19, 2013 6:51 am
    Wanna bet something? That if it were a Republican President, we would have ended up in a nearly identical spending problem? That we'd be hearing constant praise for the recovery that we do actually have going (very slow recovery, but still moving in the right direction)? Yup. you can guarantee that would be what you and others would be doing if Obama were just a Republican...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    @formerMarineSgt
    February 6, 2013 5:24 am
    I don't support Republican's either, I support Americans!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Obama is a LIAR and a FRAUD
    April 1, 2013 10:58 pm
    “Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen." Now add this, "Many of those who refuse or are unable to prove they are citizens will receive free insurance paid for by those who are forced to buy insurance because they are citizens.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    I have four words for this 'recovery' :
    October 20, 2012 5:38 am
    "DAY LATE"

    "DOLLAR SHORT"

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    I have two words for the Republican Party that nearly destroyed this country with it's last President
    October 29, 2012 12:08 pm
    NEVER AGAIN!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chrisfrommv wrote...
    After 5 years
    April 3, 2013 9:43 pm
    Still blaming Bush! A stout stock market is not, I repeat NOT, an indication of a good economy. The GDP remains low, we are printing money nearly at a trillion a year to flood the market while keeping interest rates artifically low. Enemployement is still around 7.7% and much higher if you look at all the people underemployed and not collecting unemployment or looking for work. what happens when we take away our crutch? (QE3).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sohojo wrote...
    Wait until
    April 27, 2013 6:10 pm
    The affordable care act kicks in January of 2014. This will pinch American's (consumers) even more than they are today. I think you will see negative growth and higher unemployment in the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2014.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fishnpol wrote...
    Just like a lib
    June 4, 2013 9:14 pm
    Blaming conservatives for what the libs caused. Look at the economy and how well everything went under Bush until the the housing bubble caused by the dems burst (Can you say The Community Reorganization act) and they took over both the house and the senate and everything went down the tubes. You can but facts right in front of them and they are so blind that they'll still blame it on someone else. If they just knew where the light switch was to turn up the upstairs lights this country would be in a lot better shape. Get a clue!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Obama project "Leadership?"
    October 29, 2012 12:29 pm
    Kinda late now. Don't you think?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    Leadership? Romney would try to outsource it
    October 29, 2012 12:46 pm
    Obama has lead this nation through the worst recession in our history.. he's done so with a combative congress that has refused to help try to fix the great problems that have faced this Nation... Republicans have spit in the face of America while she tries to recover... I will never forget what this party did these last 4 years... Until the Republican party purges itself of the anti-American strategies... I will never vote for another Republican again.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Obama has lead this nation through the worst recession in our history.. he's done so with a combative congress
    October 29, 2012 1:26 pm
    Wow! Such a mindless Left wing Parrot you are!

    "Combative Congress"? Combative toward whom? The Conservative controlled house sent 13 jobs bills to the Liberal controlled Senate and Harry Reid. They would be "Dead on arrival" promised Reed and they all were. And how about your Dear Leader, cbrew, who promised to kill any Conservative bill that made it to his desk?

    NO! You Parrots Dear Leader and the Liberals have produced this ObamaEconomy that has done so much damage in four years that it will take generations to pay back. In money and American pride and respect in this world. And we Americans will not forget about ObamaCare and ObamaGate between now and November 6th.

    How is that icy stabbing chill in the pit of your stomach Parrots?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    It's me! Ha ha! all i can say is, you're dillusional
    October 29, 2012 3:07 pm
    When the Republican held Congress stated unequivocally that they would not work in a bi-partisan way to pass legislation then writes completely partisan bills and sends them to the senate what do you expect to happen? You're blaming Obama for the same thing your Republicans in congress are doing. Aside from that you're being a complete idiot and a revisionist on history, The Recession began under BUSH whether you like to admit it or not, his administration ran the economy off the cliff and Obama has been trying to climb back up it since. No matter what you want to say about that it's the truth. Your leaders in congress said immediately following the election that their sole purpose was to ensure Obama was a 1 term president, They didn't say, our goal is to fix the economy, our goal is to restore America to prosperity, NOPE it was your party that said we're going to fight tooth and nail on every single issue and refuse to help the American people. Your party is has been dang near treasonous in it's operations over the last 4 years. If this was a different era, your party would have it's members hanging from lamp posts all the way to DC. Because you've been ANTI-AMERICAN for 4 years, Forcing the economy to stall during a recession JUST so you can try to regain power during this Country's worst recession. Finally, i have no such chill, The Swing states are all still in Obama's favor, November 6th i will be here laughing at you, you and your incompetent party and all you morons that have hurt this country for 4 years.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hnuh wrote...
    10-29-12 0bama aims to project leadership...
    October 29, 2012 2:26 pm
    If the Zedster is successful in this pretense it will be a first for his sorry self.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    hnuh - yeh because he hasn't shown leadership right?
    October 29, 2012 3:21 pm
    He didn't lead us out of Iraq, didn't make the call to send our boys into Pakistan to take out Bin Laden with the Sec of Defense argued against it... He didn't pass the most sweeping reform to Health Care in a generation... nope no leadership... hey moron, maybe take a step back and look up the definition of leadership, because the party you support is the opposite of that term, they hide behind their desks in Congress refusing to take responsibility for their failings to try and work to restore the economy, they're on talk shows talkin trash about an economy they refuse to lift a finger to help, that's not leadership that's cowardice and that's what Republicans are, COWARDS. They have spent 4 years trying to get 1 President out of power, that's it, not trying to solve the Country's biggest problems, in fact, they tried to run this economy off a cliff again by refusing to pass any kind of jobs bills.. they are the worst of our country, republicans should be kicked out of this country for their treasonous actions over the last 4 years... they've done more harm to America than Al Quaida ever could.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    When the Republican held Congress stated unequivocally that they would not work in a bi-partisan way to pass legislation then writes completely partisan bills and sends them to the senate what do you expect to happen?
    October 29, 2012 3:25 pm
    Sees e! You are a Parrot cbrew. What I posted was the truth. We Americans removed Liberals from the house (and I wish we could have taken the Senate. We will next week!) Those were the quotes I heard Reid make that pledge with my own ears before the first bill got there. The Libs will use any excuse to justify themselves to you useful idiot Parrots simply for your votes!

    Cbrew how is that ObamaEconomy today? How is ObamaGate damaging to the Dear Leader with each passing day, hour? Where is that Obama "Bounce" in the polls? Face it, even with the over sample of likely useful idiot voters, Romney is beating your Dear Leader. Obama will lose!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hnuh wrote...
    Oy!! Cbrew...
    October 30, 2012 12:48 pm
    No he did not lead us out of Iraq. He followed Bush's lead. No he did not "make the call" to smoke Bin Ladin. He just didn't refuse it. 0bama was supposed to be one thing and he has proven to be quite another. Vaclev(sp) Havel said of the Zed(null set)ster... I think he craps his pants too fast... referencing a negotiation 0bama bungled near the beginning of his misbegotten term. The guy is an unserious president for an unserious public. If re-elected it will be proof the public couldn't care less how incompetent, corrupt and destructive a president can be. You call me a moron, I retort with a much greater insult: You are a leftist, what is commonly called a liberal. Put that smelly old wino puke stained coat on and wear it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @hnuh,,,
    January 19, 2013 6:52 am
    And you call Cbew delusional.....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Day two - Lets go for the guns now that Im re-elected
    November 8, 2012 3:39 pm
    Didnt take him long did it

    http://www.examiner.com/article/the-day-after-u-n-moves-quickly-on-global-gun-control-debate

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    Old posts
    November 8, 2012 6:59 pm
    Go away its me, you are history for four years, 8 years if Hillary runs in 2016. I don't think you will live that long, given the stress of being the stupidest poster of all time.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    The wealthy should pay more in taxes?
    November 10, 2012 3:14 am
    Hey Dear Leader Obama, how about that Massive middle class tax increase to pay for ObamaCare?

    Mr. Romney was right about the 47 percenters who do not pay taxes.

    Right Parrots!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }