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What WikiLeaks Does—And Doesn't—Tell Us About Germany

Germany and the EU

I would be very surprised if any sane person regards the United States as "the" global leader. I believe that "concept" originated as a neocon delusion. The EU is more or less doing its own thing. Getting every member state to toe the economic line is like herding cats, and the austerity budgets are sparking revolts. Germany is a little put out, because the EU wants their money to bail out the weaker economies. With so many diverse economies and cultures, I would be surprised if the EU survives.

The US and Germany have had intimate relationship since the end of WWII. I would be surprised if American diplomats, the military and various intelligence services didn't have contacts with their German counterparts. With regard to the German military and intelligence services, we helped with their rebirth, and the Warsaw Pact nations were of mutual interest. With the exception of the Green Party, every political party has led Germany, and the American embassy should know everyone of political significance. This would also include the Green Party.

Everybody gossips! Certainly, Intelligence personnel operate under diplomatic cover, but ordinary diplomats deal with commercial relations, along with visa and immigration issues as examples of their many duties. Like the news media, diplomats gather information, but it is generally from open sources.