1.
The Greens have recently become tank fans and are putting pressure on the Federal Chancellor – but the thinker Jürgen Habermas today expressly praises Olaf Scholz and his caution.
What feels like 60 million military professionals currently live in Germany.
Most of them also appear to have extensive knowledge of geostrategy and international conflict management.
When I hear, read and see how the German Chancellor's supposedly cautious policy is being criticized these days, I get the impression that large parts of the German population are equipped with great war skills.
Olaf Scholz is said to be too quiet, too hesitant, he wants to keep Germany out of a war in which it has long been fatefully involved.
Is that correct?
The Ukrainian soldiers fought for "peace and freedom" not only in Ukraine but throughout Europe, it was said yesterday in the German Bundestag.
"Die Olivgrünen" - The new SPIEGEL, now digital and from Saturday at the kiosk
The many military experts in Germany have recently also included numerous politicians from the Greens.
"The Olive Greens," the current SPIEGEL cover story, deals with the question of how a party of peace-loving idealists could become a party with a large number of tank fans - and with what that means for German politics as a whole.
Green politicians like Annalena Baerbock, Robert Habeck and Anton Hofreiter want to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons.
With their demands, they are driving Chancellor Scholz in front of them.
"Instead of giving the government the pacifist part, instead of slowing down, delaying, preventing when it comes to heavy war equipment for Ukraine, the Greens are the ones who want more," writes a team of 14 colleagues.
The Chancellor is the one who seems hesitant at the moment.
"On the one hand, that's because of his sound - compared to the steel thunderstorm rhetoric of the Greens, these days he sometimes reminds of a man doing community service who is discussing with an artillery sergeant.
On the other hand, the differences also lie in the substance.«
Enlarge image
Political philosopher Habermas (at a speech in 2018)
Photo: Arne Immanuel Bänsch / picture alliance / dpa
The thinker Jürgen Habermas also commented today on the German attitude towards Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine.
In a long, naturally clever article for the Süddeutsche Zeitung, which urgently emphasizes the advantages of reason in political action and speech, Habermas criticizes the polemics of "morally indignant prosecutors" against the federal government.
The 92-year-old believes that the government's decision not to become a party to the war is morally well-founded and, given Russia's nuclear threat potential, rationally understandable.
At the same time, the West tied its hands with this decision.
The risk of a great world conflagration leaves "no room for risky poker," writes Habermas.
Nevertheless, the West "cannot allow itself to be blackmailed at will." Leaving the Ukraine to its fate would be "not only a scandal from a political and moral point of view, it would also not be in one's own interest".
In this constellation, Habermas welcomes the fact that Chancellor Scholz insists on a "politically responsible and factually comprehensively informed assessment".
Even if Scholz, according to Habermas, is confronted with a “shrill battle of opinions fueled by press voices about the type and extent of military aid”.
Alice Schwarzer is one of the many millions of Germans who apparently believe they know at least as much about the business of military support and international politics as the elected chancellor.
She, along with other celebrities, released a letter today warning against the delivery of more heavy weapons to Ukraine.
The letter, in which the fear of a "Third World War" was formulated, was immediately criticized.
Read the current SPIEGEL cover story here: The Olive Greens
And here is more news and background information on the war in Ukraine:
The Russians apparently almost captured Selenskyj at the beginning of the war:
Putin wanted to overthrow the government in Kiev with the attack on Ukraine.
According to one report, the Russian invaders got very close to President Zelenskyy and his family in the first hours of the war.
The controversial heroes of Mariupol:
The Azov regiment of the Ukrainian national guard is considered a haven for right-wing extremists.
The leadership of the unit is now distancing itself from this reputation, and critics are calling for a reassessment – rightly so?
"If necessary, we can absolutely ruin Russia's economy":
Moscow is capable of a major cyber attack on the West, says IT security expert Dmitri Alperovitch.
It may already be prepared.
In response, he pleads for a radical step.
Why Germany has been considerate of Russia for years:
In 1991, the Helmut Kohl government wanted to prevent the eastward expansion of NATO and the independence of Ukraine - this is shown by previously unknown files from the archive of the Federal Foreign Office.
Did Manuela Schwesig deceive Parliament?
New statements show how the alleged climate foundation was primarily about the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
The Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania faces a dilemma.
Find all the latest developments on the war in Ukraine here: The News Update
2.
Frontex boss Fabrice Leggeri has resigned - after revelations about illegal pushbacks it is right that he is resigning from his office.
In the Aegean Sea, the Greek coast guard tows refugees out to sea on life rafts and simply abandons them.
She has drastically reduced the number of refugees arriving.
But the actions are illegal.
You are breaking Greek, European and international rules.
Fabrice Leggeri, head of the EU border protection agency Frontex, has apparently partially covered up the often life-threatening so-called pushbacks by the Greek coast guard.
According to the report by colleagues Giorgos Christides, Steffen Lüdke and Maximilian Popp, he "apparently never had a problem" with the illegal practice.
Enlarge image
Frontex boss Fabrice Leggeri
Photo:
FRANCOIS LENOIR / REUTERS
A year and a half ago, DER SPIEGEL, together with Lighthouse Reports and other media partners, revealed that Leggeri's agency was involved in the illegal pushbacks in the Aegean.
Frontex officials located and stopped the refugee boats, leaving the rest to the Greek coastguards.
When Frontex planes recorded an aerial pushback, Leggeri also personally took care of it.
Research showed that he covered up at least one clear pushback by filing it.
The SPIEGEL finally published the pictures that Leggeri wanted to keep secret.
He concealed the incident from the European Parliament when asked.
Leggeri drew the consequences of the revelations yesterday evening and announced his resignation internally.
In the letter to the chairman of the board of directors, he thanked him for the "invaluable experience" he had gained at Frontex.
Today the Board of Directors accepted Leggeri's resignation.
Frenchman Leggeri has managed the agency since 2015.
During his tenure, it developed from a small EU agency that hardly anyone knew into a huge organization that some see as the forerunner of a European army.
“Fabrice Leggeri has been covering up the crimes in the Aegean for months.
His resignation was overdue,” says my colleague Maximilian Popp.
“What Frontex needs now is a fresh start.
The agency must consistently respect European law.
And it has to take protecting people seriously, not just protecting borders.«
Read the comment on the Frontex scandal here: Resigning is not enough
3.
After a two-year break, the Munich Oktoberfest can take place again this year - but the fun is likely to be overshadowed by Corona and the Ukraine war
At lunchtime today, Munich's Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter announced that this year his city will be able to celebrate properly again.
After two years of corona-related interruption, the Oktoberfest should take place regularly again.
Most recently, after a performance by Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the Munich City Council debated live on whether it was possible to celebrate happily in view of the war and the suffering of the people.
Kyiv is one of Munich's twin cities.
Enlarge image
Oktoberfest 2019
Photo: Felix Hörhager / dpa
My colleague Jan Friedmann, who works in the Munich SPIEGEL office, writes in his report on the Oktoberfest decision that Reiter's words "rescued the Bavarian state capital from a two-year phantom pain".
However, considerable risks remain: after all, the festival and the reputation of the city are closely linked.
The example of the Austrian ski resort of Ischgl shows how badly a major corona outbreak can damage reputation.
“And no sooner had the health risks subsided with the Omicron variant than a new obstacle shoved the joy of celebration: the Russian invasion of the Ukraine.”
What will the beer cost in the Oktoberfest tents this time?
We don't know yet.
The prices are checked by the city and are always a small political issue.
The spokesman for the Oktoberfest gastronomy has already announced that "our guests must reward this service with greater appreciation, i.e. higher prices.
That's how it is."
Can the people of Munich and their guests look forward to the festival?
My colleague Anna Clauss wrote in a column that »visiting a folk festival is certainly not the worst idea to keep up the joy of life and the willingness to make sacrifices.
And what does my colleague Jan say about today's decision?
"Mayor Reiter didn't make a celebration of the Wiesn release, and his stomach ache is understandable," says Jan. "Corona will not be gone by autumn, the war in Ukraine may continue.
With prices continuing to rise, many will consider how much they want to invest in beer, pretzels and chicken.
Nevertheless, I think it's basically right to let each individual decide whether he or she wants to go partying or not.«
Read more here: This is how Munich justified the Wiesn comeback
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What else is important today
Boris Becker sentenced to imprisonment:
In his insolvency proceedings, Boris Becker did not disclose assets of more than one million euros - a jury in London sees this as proven.
The judge has now announced the sentence.
Inflation rises to a record high in the euro area:
war and pandemic are making themselves felt throughout the euro area: consumer prices rose by 7.5 percent in April, the strongest ever.
Baerbock's husband starts at a lobby agency:
The husband of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has a new job - Daniel Holefleisch becomes a partner at an international PR agency.
There is criticism of that.
Foreign Office orders Turkish ambassador:
Turkish cultural promoter Osman Kavala should be imprisoned for life.
The verdict strains relations between Ankara and Berlin.
Now the ambassador of Turkey was asked for an interview.
My favorite story today: Michel Houellebecq on elections in France
Enlarge image
Author Houellebecq
Photo:
Philippe Matsas / opale.photo / ddp
The man is a great writer, because he always surprises, and his statements on politics are often a severe test of nerves.
France's most exciting contemporary writer Michel Houellebecq, 66, has now written a text for SPIEGEL about the elections in France.
In it he also pays homage to SPIEGEL in a very funny way.
About the outcome of the election he claims: »The election has always been, more or less, a class election;
but it has never been to this extent.” And: “The rich vote for Macron, the poor vote for Le Pen, the middle class votes for Mélenchon.
It's a simple, brutal reading, and it works perfectly.« The writer looks gloomily to the future, as one might expect of him: »Perhaps (or perhaps not?) the stupidity of the population has its limits.
Read the full story here: In 2027 we will do better
What we recommend at SPIEGEL+ today
How Habeck wants to boost the domestic green electricity industry:
After a decade of decline, the federal government in Germany wants to build production facilities for wind and solar systems again.
But almost everything is still missing.
»Only a few students here dare to openly drink a sip of water«:
Teachers in Berlin have long complained about religious bullying in schools.
The Senate rejects a new contact point for those affected.
Why?
The "kicker" and its Nazi involvement:
The historian Lorenz Peiffer has examined the questionable role of the "kicker" in National Socialism.
Here he talks about advertising for Nazi politics - and why the sports magazine was even delivered to the front.
Why right-wing extremists can do business undisturbed:
concerts, online mail order, martial arts events: right-wing extremists sometimes generate large sums of money.
But the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has so far not been able to shed enough light on the sources of money for the scene.
That should change.
Which is less important today
Enlarge image
Elon Musk at the opening of a Tesla factory in Texas
Photo: SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP
Twitter clown joking about cocaine:
Elon Musk
, 50 and founder of the electric car company Tesla, has received a huge response with the probably not serious message that he wants to buy the Coca-Cola group.
Following the global outcry surrounding his attempt to take over Twitter, the billionaire claimed on the same social network in a so-called tweet: "Next I'll buy Coca-Cola and put cocaine back in it".
Typo of the day
, now corrected: "Against the ongoing dispossession of Palestinians in Jerusalem and extreme wages against Palestinian civilians employed by Israel."
Cartoon of the Day:
Forward!
And tonight?
Could you listen to exciting music again?
Perhaps the new Rammstein album entitled »Zeit«.
My colleague Andreas Borcholte writes about him that the best phase of this big, also internationally successful German band really seems to be over now.
»What remains are a few jagged guitar riffs, a few synthesizer sounds sprinkled merrily into the mix, and high-pitched lyrics about condoms, botox and big breasts.«
Enlarge image
Rock band Rammstein: frozen in pathos
Photo:
Bryan Adams / dpa
So maybe one of Klaus Schulze's great albums with titles like »Moondawn« or »Dune« would be better.
The great German electronic musician died this week.
"He was one of the first to recognize the possibilities that lay in the then still new and expensive magic boxes," writes my colleague Christoph Dallach in his obituary about Schulze's once revolutionary use of the synthesizer.
From the beginning of the 1970s, Schulze, who was part of the band Tangerine Dream for a time, succeeded in creating a worldwide sensation together with other music from the so-called »Berlin School«.
At that time, writes Christoph, »a young generation in Germany tried to overcome the past and dare to make a new start in art.«
I wish you a relaxing weekend.
Yours sincerely,
Wolfgang Hoebel
Here you can order the »Situation in the Evening« by e-mail.
