Today, it is about Donald Trump's fatal decision to withdraw troops from northern Syria, AKK's climatic absence, and a fresh start in the Brexit drama.
The fatal deduction
Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS
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Perhaps it was an attempt to force a medial break on the impeachment process , perhaps it was an act out of affect, anyway, the president's decision yesterday to withdraw American troops from northern Syria is an indirect declaration of war .
From this morning onwards, it is expected that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will invade his army into the Kurdish areas of Syria every day, and one may assume that this will not be bloodless. Trump, who, as he said, wants to step out of "ridiculous and endless wars," has given his short-lived decision the reason for such a war. He also reaps criticism from his own party.
The Kurdish civilian population is suffering, but also the fighters of the YPG are suffering. Although they are an offshoot of the PKK, which is also regarded in Germany as a terrorist organization and is therefore prohibited. But at the same time, they were the ones who provided the physical end of the "Islamic State" in Syria with money and weapons support from the USA, and German authorities also collaborated selectively with the YPG. You can see Trump's decision as a betrayal of loyal allies .
The effects will be felt in Europe: many Kurds will try to flee the Syrian territories. At the same time, the Kurdish military may not be able to do it any more and want to keep the captured IS fighters from Europe with them. So you have to go back home, even to Germany?
Last night Trump tried to recapture his decision by warning Erdogan not to attack the Kurds. In this case he would "completely destroy and eradicate the Turkish economy". The only question is whether Recep Tayyip Erdogan gets caught.
- Trump's Syria push: "Guarantee for endless strife"
So far, far away
Arne Immanuel Bänsch / DPA
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer can do whatever she wants right now, she does not do it right. The Grand Coalition has suffered a storm of indignation since Sunday, after SPIEGEL has reported that its already not very courageous climate package is even less courageous than expected. Even the Chancellor felt obliged to promise that the monitoring of the climate targets would be "crystal clear in the law anchored". As a backdrop for her word of power, the Chancellor had appropriately chosen the new "Climate Arena" in Sinsheim.
And the chairman of the scolded CDU? Currently far, far away, on troop visit in Africa, she is also still Defense Minister.
No, not the best setting in a week, when it's all about the climate politically.
No, not the best timing at a time when the CDU chairman is in desperate need of a sharp profile.
The criticism of AKK, especially in her role as Crown Princess, does not stop, not even in Africa. No sooner had she landed in Niger on Monday night, the "Bild" reported a new anecdote of the internal power struggle. Accordingly, the Minister prevented a visit by Minister of Health Jens Spahn to the Bundeswehr in Mali on 3 October. Allegedly, she did not want to treat the man who was defeated by her in the fight for the party presidency to the show in front of the soldiers.
In Kramp-Karrenbauer's team, the news caused unrest, as reported by my colleague Matthias Gebauer, who accompanied AKK to Africa. A spokesman hurried to assure that there had been no "ban on visiting" for Spahn in the Bundeswehr. Rather, one did not hear anything after a preliminary request for the visit of Spahn.
Quite correct, this statement was not. So Spahn's team in the summer had asked for a possible troop appearance on the planned trip to Africa, then Ursula von der Leyen was still Minister. After the change of office, the ministry asked again and signaled that the new minister would like to visit the most dangerous mission of the Bundeswehr before her cabinet colleagues. Only then Spahn said the troop visit.
What remains is the impression that AKK wanted to humiliate their annoying adversary. Embarrassing power games instead of saving the world, so now is the new reading about AKK.
Tonight, the CDU chairman returns from Africa. Perhaps then is the opportunity for a word of power in front of the appropriate backdrop.
- Unliked CDU leader: Has Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer lost the race for the chancellor's candidature?
arbiters
Francisco Seco / AP
Today, when President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, first travels to Berlin and then on to London to meet British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for a Brexit reconciliation meeting, hardly anyone seriously anticipates a breakthrough. Sassoli will only detail to Johnson the difficulties that the European Parliament has with the British proposals on the Northern Ireland issue.
"At least in its present form, the British proposals are not even a rudimentary basis for an agreement that could be approved by the European Parliament," Sassoli told my Brussels colleagues Peter Müller and Markus Becker. It is for example "completely unclear, where and how exactly customs controls are to be carried out". That was not an insignificant detail, but could have serious consequences, for example regarding the peace process.
Because the rapprochement on the Northern Ireland issue could be complicated, Sassoli may also recommend the Prime Minister to request a further extension of the withdrawal. We are curious what Boris Johnson will answer.
- SPIEGEL Editorial: Why We Need to Go to Johnson
Winner of the day ...
Lucas Jackson / REUTERS
... is Kersti Kaljulaid , the President of Estonia, who is also a guest in Berlin today. Your country is considered a pioneer of digitization, all official services are available online. A scenario that one never dare to dream as a citizen of Berlin.
From Germany we only reached bad news on the subject. The Federal Court of Auditors warns that the project to modernize and standardize the IT landscape in more than 200 federal agencies threatens to fail. Partly because the cost of the project has already risen from the beginning of one billion euros to 3.43 billion euros.
Maybe Angela Merkel should take a lot of time with Kersti Kaljulaid today.
The compact news overview in the morning: current and opinionated. Every morning (weekdays) at 6 o'clock. Order directly here:
The latest news from the night
- "A shortsighted and irresponsible step" : Donald Trump is reaping massive criticism for his plan to withdraw US troops from northern Syria - now also from within his own ranks
- "Extinction rebellion" is planning more protests in Berlin: The night spent the climate activists, among other things, at Potsdamer Platz, according to police, it was quiet - "they have to sleep, they want to continue tomorrow"
- In Limburg in Hesse, a man with a stolen truck has hit several vehicles: 17 people were injured. Whether it was an accident or the incident was based on a terrorist motive is still unclear, according to police
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I wish you a nice start to the day.
Your Martin Knobbe