Helmut Schmidt: The United States is "Dangerous"

Germany's "most-admired" ex-chancellor Helmut Schmidt chain-smoked his way through a one-hour interview with Sandra Maischberger on German TV the other night (video can be accessed through the ARD Mediathek).  Once again he showed himself to be a reliable "Putin-Versteher" and he had nothing good to say about the United States, making disparaging comments about President Obama. and even trashing his former role model ("Vorbild") John F. Kennedy.  In the interview, Schmidt was emphatic that Putin is not wanting war ("kein Kriegstreiber") despite the fact that he has been sending troops and heavy weapons into eastern Ukraine.  And he pointed out that the United States is every bit as "dangerous" as Russia.  The entire crisis in the Ukraine is, in Schmidt's view, the fault of the European Union, which "stupidly" and "childishly" extended its borders into Eastern Europe:

"Der Versuch, die Europäische Union auszudehnen auf die Ukraine, gleichzeitig auf Georgien, am liebsten noch auf Armenien - alles das ist ein ziemlicher Blödsinn, das ist geopolitische Kinderei. Da fing der Unfug an, lange vor der heutigen Krise."

There was little sympathy or understanding for the people of Poland and the Baltic States and their aspirations to be part of the west - as if the EU imposed its will on these countries. 

But let's face it: the man is 96 years old and has been poisoning himself with nicotine for most of his life.  He seemed in a foul mood, complaining about the influx of immigrants into Germany ("we used to call them "guest workers" -Gastarbeiter") and even went into a rant about there being far too many human beings on the planet. 

But come to think of it, Helmut Schmidt never really warmed to the United States and had a habit of savaging whomever was in the White House.  Jimmy Carter, in his diaries, has bitter recollections of his German counterpart: 

"Carter's diary portrays the Hamburg-born politician as a mercurial grouch, at one moment annoying his American colleagues with lectures on global economics, and then making himself scarce when the US needed his help. According to Carter's notes, Schmidt "acted like a paranoid child," and he was upset on several occasions by Schmidt's "unbelievable" behavior toward him. For example, in early 1978, Carter wrote: "Schmidt seems to go up and down in his psychological attitude. I guess women are not the only ones that have periods."

And even back then, as Carter recalls, Schmidt was eager to appease the Russians:

And when it came to the Soviet Union, the two countries couldn't reach a common position either. As Carter noted in his diary on January 5, 1979: "I was impressed and concerned by the attitude of Helmut toward appeasing the Soviets."

Comments

[Mark Moore]

Why do we act so shocked when nationality and feelings towards other peoples of other countrys is mentioned anywhere anytime! As if the human race is so noble and meticulous so refined as to never ever hear mention of WAR and the Aftermath of global conflict. As if America has very little problems when it comes to colonial English willing to perhaps mention a kraut SANNICH to her distant kin the Saxons. BULLSHIT GROW UP all is not still anywhere anytime anyplace for the love of a phony balone USA? look at it for Jesus Christ almighty sakes. These people hate krauts anytime anyplace! if the opportunity to do so in hating the lowly one is just about right safe and sound jolly good hey. They have always said to one another DONT FEEL BAD ABOUT IT. And you know what fool! THEY?? DO NOT FEEL BAD ABOUT DUMPING ON THE SWARTHY kraut SANNICH. ALL IS NOT STILL NEVER WAS MY POOR LITTLE german. I am just SAYIN as in OH HEY! I AM JUST SAYIN BE CAREFULL AND STAY SAFE AND YOU BETTER BELIVE I GOD DAMNED WELL HAVE MENTIONED OF IT. I am not german I am SLAV Russian old chap HA HA LOL MY BROHAM I make joke for west.simply little joke this is all goodby golden capitalist.

[Nick]

Whats wrong in this?
It is an individual view, may be he did not get a chance to be a part of USA, like 20% of german population USA had got, may he feels americans have better business mind than germans or may be just hate them for historic reasons. every human being is a hater in some or the other format . Why worry so much about one individual, one celebrity, one old man?

[Therty]

What is wrong with these narrow minded people? Why do they have to bargain big to get some name?