Trump Fires Up Europe's Anti-Establishment Movement

"This year will be the year of the people."

by Soeren Kern
January 22, 2017 at 5:30 am

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/9810/trump-europe-establishment

Translations of this item:

"The genie will not go back into the bottle again, whether you like it or not." — Geert Wilders, MP and head of the Party for Freedom, the Netherlands.
A growing number of Europeans are rebelling against decades of government-imposed multiculturalism, politically correct speech codes and mass migration from the Muslim world.
Europe's establishment parties, far from addressing the concerns of ordinary voters, have tried to silence dissent by branding naysayers as xenophobes, Islamophobes and neo-Nazis.
"In many respects, France and Germany are proving they do not understand the meaning of Brexit. They are reflexively, almost religiously, following exactly the path that has provoked the EU's current existential crisis." — Ambassador John R. Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
"There is a genuine feeling that Trump taking over the White House is part of a bigger, global movement. Our critics, looking at Trump's candidacy and his speech yesterday, would call it the rise of populism. I would say it's simply a return to nation state democracy and proper values.... This is a genuine political revolution." — Nigel Farage, former head of Britain's UKIP party, who led the effort for the United Kingdom to leave the EU.
"This disruption is fruitful. The taboos of the last few years are now fully on the agenda: illegal immigration, Islam, the nonsense of open borders, the dysfunctional EU, the free movement of people, jobs, law and order. Trump's predecessors did not want to talk about it, but the majority of voters did. This is democracy." — Roger Köppel, editor-in-chief of Die Weltwoche, Switzerland.

Inspired by the inauguration of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, the leaders of Europe's main anti-establishment parties have held a pan-European rally aimed at coordinating a political strategy to mobilize potentially millions of disillusioned voters in upcoming elections in Germany, the Netherlands and France.

Appearing together in public for the first time, Marine Le Pen, leader of the French National Front, Frauke Petry, leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), Matteo Salvini, leader of Italy's Northern League and Harald Vilimsky of Austria's Freedom Party gathered on January 21 at a rally in Koblenz, Germany, where they called on European voters to participate in a "patriotic spring" to topple the European Union, reassert national sovereignty and secure national borders.

The two-hour rally was held under the banner of the Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF), a group established in June 2015 by Members of the European Parliament from nine counties to oppose European federalism and the transfer of political power from voters to unelected bureaucrats in Brussels, the de facto capital of the European Union.

Referring to the June 2016 decision by British voters to leave the European Union, and the rise of President Donald Trump in the United States, Le Pen said:

"We are living through the end of one world, and the birth of another. We are experiencing the return of nation-states. 2016 was the year the Anglo-Saxon world woke up. 2017, I am sure, will be the year in which the peoples of the European continent rise up."

Wilders added:

"The world is changing. America is changing. Europe is changing. It started last year with Brexit, yesterday there was Trump and today the freedom-loving parties gathered in Koblenz are making a stand. The genie will not go back into the bottle again, whether you like it or not. The people of the West are awakening. They are throwing off the yoke of political correctness."

Polls indicate that the political sea change engulfing the United States is fueling support for anti-establishment parties in Europe. In addition to anger over eroding sovereignty, a growing number of Europeans are rebelling against decades of government-imposed multiculturalism, politically correct speech codes and mass migration from the Muslim world.

In France, a new Ipsos poll for Le Monde shows that Marine Le Pen is now poised to win the first round of the French presidential election set for April 23, 2017. Le Pen has between 25% and 26% support among likely voters, compared to 23% and 25% for François Fillon of the center-right Republicans party. In December 2016, Fillon held a three-point lead over Le Pen.

In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders is now leading polls ahead of the general election scheduled for March 15, 2017. The PVV has the support of between 29% and 33% of the electorate. By contrast, support for the ruling People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) has fallen to between 23% and 27%.

In Germany, the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party (AfD) has become the third-largest party the country, with support at around 15% percent. The AfD had gained representation in ten of Germany's 16 state parliaments, and the party hopes to win seats in the Federal Parliament (Bundestag) for the first time in national elections set for September 24, 2017.

Europe's establishment parties, far from addressing the concerns of ordinary voters, have tried to silence dissent by branding naysayers as xenophobes, Islamophobes and neo-Nazis.

In Germany, for example, Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, in an underhanded effort to silence criticism of the government's open door migration policy, called for German intelligence to begin monitoring the AfD.

The German Interior Ministry is now proposing to establish a "Defense Center against Disinformation" (Abwehrzentrum gegen Desinformation) to combat "fake news." Critics have described the proposed center as a "censorship monster" aimed at silencing dissenting opinions.

Enter Trump. If sufficient numbers of European voters are inspired by the political transformation taking place in the United States, the balance of European political power may begin to shift in favor of the anti-establishment parties. European political and media elites will therefore surely view Trump as a threat to the Europe's established political order.

In a January 16 interview with the Times of London and Germany's Bild, Trump said he believed that Brexit is "going to end up being a great thing." He added that German Chancellor Angela Merkel made an "utterly catastrophic mistake by letting all these illegals into the country."

In the same interview, Trump said that the NATO alliance "is very important to me" but he called it "obsolete" for failing to contain the threat posed to the West by Islamic terrorism. He also complained that some countries "don't pay what they should pay." Of the 28 countries in the alliance, only five — Britain, Estonia, Greece, Poland and the United States — meet the target of spending at least 2% of their GDP on defense.

European commentators roundly criticized Trump for his comments and some accused the United States of being an "unreliable partner." European leaders repeated calls for a pan-European Army, a long-held goal of European federalists, which would entail an unprecedented transfer of sovereignty from European nation states to the European Union.

Gatestone Institute Chairman Ambassador John R. Bolton, has provided much-needed context to the debate over NATO. In a recent article for the Boston Globe, he wrote:

"NATO has taken intense criticism this year from Donald Trump, evoking howls of outrage from foreign-policy establishment worthies. The worthies know, however, that Trump is simply using his bullhorn to say what they themselves say more quietly: NATO's decision-making is often sclerotic; its mission has not been adequately redefined after the Cold War; and too many members haven't carried their weight financially or militarily for long years.... Trump has emphasized that his complaints are intended to encourage debate about improving and strengthening NATO, not sundering it. The debate is well worth having."

Bolton added:

"In many respects, France and Germany are proving they do not understand the meaning of Brexit. They are reflexively, almost religiously, following exactly the path that has provoked the EU's current existential crisis: every failure of closer integration by the 'European project' leads only to calls for more integration. Whether it is establishing a currency without a government; pledging military capabilities that collectively the EU never achieves; or pretending to an EU role in world affairs that no one outside of Brussels takes seriously, 'more Europe' is always the answer."

European Reactions to President Trump's Inauguration

Trump's presidential inauguration speech was greeted with formal politeness by European leaders — most of whom will have to work with the new leader of the free world — and with unbridled derision by European commentators and media elites — many of whom appear to be in denial about the anti-establishment fervor sweeping the United States and Europe.

Much of the European commentary about Trump has consisted of name-calling and anti-Americanism. A handful of European analysts, however, have called for introspection and self-criticism.

What follows is a brief selection of European commentary on Trump's inauguration:

In Britain, reactions to Trump were evenly divided between those who do and do not support British membership in the European Union. Prime Minister Theresa May said:

"From our conversations to date, I know we are both committed to advancing the special relationship between our two countries and working together for the prosperity and security of people on both sides of the Atlantic."

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson wrote:

"I think that the new president has made it very clear that he wants to put Britain at the front of the line for a new trade deal and obviously that's extremely exciting and important."

Nigel Farage, the politician who led the effort for the United Kingdom to leave the EU, was one of the few Europeans to understand the magnitude of Trump's rise. He wrote:

"There is a genuine feeling that Trump taking over the White House is part of a bigger, global movement. Our critics, looking at Trump's candidacy and his speech yesterday, would call it the rise of populism. I would say it's simply a return to nation state democracy and proper values. For this inauguration is not just a change from the 44th President to the 45th President of the United States. This is a genuine political revolution."

In France, President François Hollande advised Trump to stay out of European affairs — this a few days after the French government tried to impose a "two-state solution" on Israel. He said: "Europe will be ready to pursue transatlantic cooperation, but it will be based on its interests and values. It does not need outside advice to tell it what to do."

Marine Le Pen said: "Clearly, the victory of Donald Trump is another step toward the emergence of a new world, whose vocation is to replace an old order."

Jean-Marie Colombani, the former editor-in-chief of Le Monde, articulated Europe's geopolitical predicament, which is the direct consequence of a failure to prioritize French defense spending:

"From an American point of view, Vladimir Putin is a secondary problem: Russia is a medium power, which can certainly create problems for the United States, but only marginally, as in Syria, for example. China is the only power to rival the United States. It will be, already is, the only obsession of Trump's America.

"Vladimir Putin represents a problem, if not a threat, for Europe. In fact, the Russian President has set the goal of weakening the European Union, in order to restore the role of guardian that the USSR exercised in the East of Europe, in countries that are now members of the EU and NATO. Everything suggests that Trump shares the same objective: to weaken Europe.

"Indeed, Trump's European policy is inspired by Nigel Farage, who spearheaded the campaign for Brexit, and whose political aim is now to achieve the dismantling of the European Union. This explains the prediction formulated by Trump on the soon-coming demise of Europe, and his anti-German undertones. In the new American president we find the language and elements of all the populist and extremist parties whose common doctrine is hostility towards the European project. Here, then, in the East and the West, Europe is squeezed as in a vise!"

In Germany, which is wholly dependent upon the United States for defense, and which has steadfastly refused to meet its commitment to pay 2% of GDP on defense, reaction to Trump's speech was overwhelmingly negative.

Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to work with Trump to preserve the transatlantic relationship. "The trans-Atlantic relationship will not be less important in the coming years than it was in past years," she said. "And I will work on that. Even when there are different opinions, compromises and solutions can be best found when we exchange ideas with respect."

Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel was far less diplomatic. He said: "We have to take this man seriously. What we heard today were highly nationalistic tones. I think we have to prepare for a rough ride." He called on Europeans to unite to "defend our interests."

Writing for Deutsche Welle, commentator Max Hofmann admonished Europeans to stop complaining about Trump and instead put their own house in order:

"What do you do when your closest partner just disappears on you? You do what the EU should have done long ago: you fix up your home, regardless of what 'The Donald' is doing in the USA. There is enough work that needs to be done in Europe with regard to 'putting your own house in order' — Brexit, migration and refugee policies, the euro. If Europeans were honest to themselves and viewed what is happening on the old continent from the American perspective — and not just that one — then the situation would not be comprehensible to them. If US parliamentarians were to call European dissent 'madness' or 'nonsense,' no one could blame them."

Commentator Hubert Wetzel said that Trump posed a threat to European security and called for European unity to weather the next four years. In an essay laced with hyperbole, he wrote:

"Europeans will have to adapt to a new tone in dealing with America. Trump has made it clear in his speech that he will pursue a nationalist foreign policy, and his speech contained no reference to America's allies. [Trump actually said: 'We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones,' and 'We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world']. His willingness to spend money on the defense of other countries is limited. He does not see the USA as a protective power of democratic values in the world; and he is the first U.S. president since the end of the Second World War who has openly expressed doubts about the value of European unity and the existence of NATO. At a time when Russia is trying to weaken the West by means of diplomatic, intelligence, and military means, it is an attitude that is a serious threat to united Europe."

In Spain, geopolitical analyst Rafael Bardají wrote:

"President Trump promised that a new era is beginning today. In his inaugural speech he made it very clear that he despises Washington and hates the way the establishment has ruled the country up until now, defending its privileges at the expense of citizens. Yes, a speech that can be called populist, but one that nevertheless is true. Democracy, after all, emerged as the government of the people for the people, something that, at present, is far from being a reality in America as well as in Europe. The great social contract of liberal democracy, namely, growing prosperity and peace and security for the citizens, is no longer being fulfilled. This is due to the inability of our elites to deal with the [economic] crisis, due to their obsession with pacifism and due to the subordination of the interests of nationals in favor of immigrants."

In Switzerland, Roger Köppel, editor-in-chief of Die Weltwoche, warned against efforts by European elites to belittle Trump. He wrote:

"Trump's election was a healthy shock. The shock was necessary. Not only power cartels, but also worldviews are breaking down. This disruption is fruitful. The taboos of the last few years are now fully on the agenda: illegal immigration, Islam, the nonsense of open borders, the dysfunctional EU, the free movement of people, jobs, law and order. Trump's predecessors did not want to talk about it, but the majority of voters did. This is democracy."

Soeren Kern is a Senior Fellow at the New York-based Gatestone Institute. He is also Senior Fellow for European Politics at the Madrid-based Grupo de Estudios Estratégicos / Strategic Studies Group. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter.

© 2024 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

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Comment on this item

21 Reader Comments

Dr. Richard Welser • Jan 23, 2017 at 16:09

As an anti-establishment, anti-corruption and anti-self-defeating PC/liberal, anti-illegal immigrant accomodating (even those raping Americans) neo-liberal rulers and agencies in the US government, I welcome Donald Trump. It is refreshing to see that some of the intellectuals and leaders in Europe are beginning to see the light. Thanks for the article. I'll have to figure out how to subscribe to your publication. To help me keep track of what is happening in Europe. Thanks, again.

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Joe • Jan 23, 2017 at 14:07

This is the start of the revolution so many have sought. Perhaps not the players and plays imagined, but it is game on. The Internet has been one of the greatest tools of enlightenment since the library of Alexandria, which as one knows was destroyed. We must guard against the take over of the web through false flag "cyber attacks" and the such.

I always suggest here in America we must act locally to help carry water for President Trump. Attend all meetings that concern agendas to control your lives, PTA, city and county council meetings, anything on land and water use, etc. We have been lulled into a pacification of our spirit and now is the wake up call.

May we all finally rid the world of sociopathic privilege and power.

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Edward Cline • Jan 22, 2017 at 23:49

I am encouraged and heartened by the sentiments reported in this column. I would really like to visit Europe again some day. But not at present. I think now I would have to look over my shoulder and resort to dodging Muslims. I would also have to watch what I say about immigration. I don't want to be arrested by Germany's and France's and even Britain's "speech police."

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Thomas Rideout • Jan 22, 2017 at 19:46

The internet is wonderful as it allows us to research, understand what is hidden and know what is happening around us, while pretty well all of the traditional media ignores the truth, hides from us (their readers) every negative happening that our politicians wish to hide. In short without the internet we would be blind and at the mercy of our governments.

These past few years have been particularly dangerous for us due to a dramatic migration of Muslims from the Arab countries and North Africa. This migration is not by chance as migration of Muslims into non Islamic countries is one of the greatest forms of jihad that the Islamic ideology has. Muslims are urged to bring into a Christian country their many wives and numerous children so that in a few decades they will have enough Muslim people in power to take over with sharia law.

We must not allow this to happen.

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Juanita Skelton • Jan 22, 2017 at 12:34

This article covered the most important facets of Trump's Presidency. Yes, yes, and...wait....YES!
The need for people to have a voice again in Europe with all that they are being asked to tolerate, is huge! Public safety, freedom of speech, the right to sovereign borders (not just in Europe but in Israel) are prized public debates that all people should be able to have in order to have a voice in their nations' future. Watching all their cherished values like monogamy in marriage, adult-age-required marriages so that thirteen year olds can get an education, not a husband or child, must be alarming! The sexual assault by illegal immigrants and the demeaning sexual harassment by legal immigrants is NOT to be swept under some political rug just so those in office can remain in power. Quality of life issues are not to be squandered or quashed by the political elite.
Populist or not, democracy has always been about the responsibility that everyone has to "form a more perfect union" so that self-determination is a direction everyone can formulate for their lives. Humans today live in a world of amazing technology and advancement. The sharing of progress equitably has always been the "heart" of democracy. Those who wish only to advance oppressive control over their citizens, stifle innovation and the creativity that fuels progress.
I laud those leaders who see this time as opportunity and not the craven complaints of mysoginistic women. Women everywhere have always had the choice to help defeat mysoginy when it rears its' ugly head but sadly the women who want to "bomb the White House" have surely in their own way continued it, and, may I add, women betrayed by women is far more prevalent than the incidences the marchers were upset over.
I have no illusions about any candidate wanting to promote drastic change. With the misunderstandings inherent in human communication, whether in government or business, I can only hope we all learn how to take deep breaths and calm our hearts and commit to listening without political bias.
Thank you, Soeren Kern.

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Ian Glover

Juanita Skelton • Jan 22, 2017 at 19:05

People of the West are rising up against political correctness. Even those under 40, those who have been indoctrinated by state sponsored politically correct educational policies, even they will eventually acknowledge that they either rise up in revolt, or they submit to Islam. Even the under 40's could must eventually recognise the contradiction evident with Islam's attitude to women, Islam's tolerance of underage marriage, the genital mutilation of pre-pubescent girls, death to infidels who do not submit to Islam.

But what to do about those Western political elites who have caused this tragedy? Their constant lying to their electorates, their use of state power to suppress democratic principals and suppression of the peoples voice must inevitably lead charges of treason. Is this why the Western political elites are becoming more desperate to protect themselves from their inevitable day of judgement by proposing even more politically correct laws, more control over the media, more intrusion in the lives of free people and more support for Islamic migration?

The recurring question in my mind has always been; who are, or what is behind this state sponsored policy of forcing Islam upon the West?

Now that native people of the West are slowly waking up, the next question is; what to do about all the Muslims living in the West? And with this last question, I am reminded of the two common sayings; the fist is "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely", and the second, "history always repeats".

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Domus Canus

Ian Glover • Jan 24, 2017 at 02:47

We can do what is legal and deport those who have no right to be here, i.e. economic migrants regardless of where they came from, deport men masquerading as children and reaping the benefits of same, deport those who have broken any law within Europe and have been incarcerated and we must demand deportation for those involved in polygamous marriages.

We can and must remove the draw that is welfare, housing, medical and education to those who are not legitimate residents when we deprive our own citizens of these benefits they have been taxed to death to pay for all their lives. We must not allow terrorists free access to the legal system when denying our people the same privilege. We must look at the demographics that should they continue will see the indigenous peoples of Europe in a minority within our lifetime.

The world of Islam occupies many countries so the adherents to this ideology do not also need to occupy Europe. That aside it is clear muslims are unhappy, their endless complaining tells us as much so it would be within their own interest to remove themselves to one of the 60 plus countries where their behaviour is tolerated. We Europeans have reached the end of the road to treat on a level playing filed with people who make no effort to fit in, who have mistaken our kindness for softness but as I tell anyone who will listen, Europeans are good and decent people: Until they're not.

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Tommy Gibbs

Ian Glover • May 14, 2017 at 07:17

In answer to your recurring question regarding "who are, or what is behind this state sponsored policy of forcing Islam upon the west ?" allow me to answer. If you look at this problem from a broader perspective, you will see the word globalism repeated over and over. Billionaires such as the ever present George Soros are striving to create their global dream ! What is globalism ? Flood countries with people from poor countries, make Europe into one massive country without borders, ruled by the global elites like himself and creat a huge pool of cheap labour. That is why this push of emigrants is happening ! The politicians have bought into this or maybe better said the politicians have been bought.

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Daniel H Benson • Jan 22, 2017 at 10:55

Populism, freedom of the people, individual human rights and self government. Hallmarks of republics and democracies for over 300 years. At it's very core is the principle of human dignity and respect. As Trump has stated, I'm giving power back to the people.

But where principle meets reality, there is a small problem. As Ziggy once said, "I have found the enemy and it is me." As populism grows, it's going to depend on who directs this movement and where it goes. Does it end up like the American Revolution or dissolve into mobocracy as did France?

If you have ever worked in a mental institution for people who cannot function in society, live in a world where everything they do is monitored and controlled. There is no real freedom and a police state. What if one moment of clarity a patient realizes their "God given human rights are being violated and the have a right by nature that is self evident, that they must demand the inalienable human rights. He/she gets the majority of the patients to go along and the staff and management says, "no". The patients have a physical uprising to run their world by themselves. We all do not need much of an imagination to understand on how that populist movement will end up.

So in the real world, I can't, knowing history, give an unequivocal thumbs up to populism. This was exactly the lure of many dictators, with a calling card of establishing, "the people's republic of" duped a suppressed people into a populist rebellion against a dictator. Even in America the Anti-Federalist saw the Constitution as written at the Constitutional Convention as a highway to tyranny and were instrumental in getting the Bill of Rights attached document. Many Federalists argued the B of R was not needed. That this being the New Order of the Ages would be the foundation of liberty and freedom setting a perfect situation for man to evolve into a better being. But think of where we would be today w/o a Bill of Rights?

So, "Houston we have a problem", it's called we are a fallen race, a very flawed people. Left to ourselves we will and always will fail at freedom. Just look at Greece Rome and England. Even America today.

With a new nation of people, thanks to decades of a very flawed education system, the failing family and economic stupidity of credit, debt and self indulgence, we have a nation that does not know it's left hand from it's right, it does not know it's history, it does not know heritage of freedom capitalism with accountability and responsibility. Plus the biggest flaw of all is that we have morally strayed. We despite our desire to be free are slaves, either to a righteous power that is beyond ourselves or a slave to the brokenness of our own fallen natures. A revival of this morality sparked by something beyond ourselves, that can only be found in the life changing relationship found in the God of heaven that is revealed in a saving relationship with Christ found in a repentant heart. But alas even the church today is polluted with the things of this world and has been corrupted by the same things that have brought us to a world of global domination, corruption and war.

The path ahead will be fraught with all sorts of danger and deception and as my Bible tells me, short of the return of the real Jesus, this will not end well. There is truly nothing new under the sun. Vanity, vanity all is Vanity.

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James Stamulis • Jan 22, 2017 at 10:42

Thank God for Trump and now patriots like Geert Wilders finally have an ally in the USA.

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John Jaeger • Jan 22, 2017 at 10:26

Down with socialism. Down with political correctness. Fight Islamofascism on every front. God Bless America.

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Mike Briggs • Jan 22, 2017 at 10:09

Bully for: Trump, Farage and Wilders! They each deserve high praise for their leadership, for their far sightedness and for putting their own safety and comfort aside to aid their people! All three of these men are proving the maxim that, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going!" And they are certainly going good! As for: Hollande, Merkel and Obama ... going, going and gone! Thank God and good riddance!

Also, thank you Mr. Kern and Gatestone for keeping us up to speed on what is happening in the hot spots in Europe and the Middle East. The MSM is worse than useless in this regard and in these important and changing times, "We the People" need the truth now as much as ever ... and you are a valued source indeed!

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A Lancaster • Jan 22, 2017 at 09:41

I sincerely hope that 2017 represents a decisive turning point that will see the election of people prepared to deal with the massive threats presented by mass immigration and Islam.

The major stumbling block is the number of regressive left voices in most of the major media outlets. They have the megaphone and those of us who want the above threats tackled need to find ways of prising the regressive left's grip off that megaphone so we get a fair, fully informed and honest debate prior to the key elections scheduled for this year.

I am not hopeful that we will be able to achieve that, especially in the tight timescales that we currently face.

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Tom from Germany • Jan 22, 2017 at 09:32

I have to apologize for the lunacy of 'my' government and the media in this country. I have been fighting these people for years to the extent I am capable of, and I will never vote for them again. What John Bolton said is completely correct. It is not President Trump or the decision of the British people which weaken Europe, it is the European Union, which cannot be fixed, only get killed as soon as possible; a project that has crushed the Euroepan economy and security while being a gargantuan waste of money that can be invested in many better ways.

I am sure that continental European countries are deliberately destroying their national military in order to justify the pipe dream of a pan-European army - I should write pipe-nightmare, because the prospect of a European military that works as well as the Schengen open-borders system or the Euro is certainly a nightmare. The issue goes well beyond mere money - there is an utter lack of a concept what a German military is supposed to be able to accomplish while the feminist German defense minister is busy refitting tanks for pregnant women and demanding gender quotas for generals. (Not a joke.)

President Trump is, in my opinion, too polite. It is time to slap economic sanctions on Berlin and probably Brussels until border security is restored and the attempt to build a single European government is abandoned. The EU is a travel agency for terrorists who want to kill as many Americans as possible, and Germany is on its way to become an Afghanistan on European soil, in striking distance to the UK: A rogue state that aides and welcomes terrorists. Angela Merkel, who did not grew up in the Federal Republic of Germany and would have never had a chance to become Chancellor without Ronald Reagan, asked neither the German parliament nor our European partners when she called on the whole world to come to Germany, she rather acts in direct violation to the post-war German constitution and the European treaties. A united, free and democratic Germany is one of the many accomplishments of US foreign policy, and Angela Merkel seems hell-bent to throw that away. Only pain to the German industry and powerful lobby groups can impact this government's policies.

I want to add that I don't consider myself to be a traitor. The policies of the German government, if not stopped, will bring more destruction to our nation than the delusions of the Reich. However, I have to ask people in other countries to feel no contempt for the people of this country, even if they disagree with me - they are kind people at heart, and their kindness is exploited by the large brainwashing system the government has installed while they have little time or chance to inform themselves. No-one in the US should bet on these people, victims of propaganda, censorship and their own naive view on the world, waking up on their own.

Thank you so much for holding the torch of liberty within the storm. Please understand that there are millions of people in this country who deeply admire you, but have to live in fear of hate speech laws and the prospect of losing their job.

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Jeff Page

Tom from Germany • Jan 22, 2017 at 15:35

I think Tom that many across Europe only consider Frau Merkel the one to blame, not the ordinary German person. We in Britain have a large number of liberal lefty fools who welcomed Muslims, despite seeing and hearing of atrocities carried out including the rape of women in towns and cities. We have to realise that it takes all sorts to make this world and we need to make allowances for the fools who don't possess the intelligence to recognise a very dangerous cult (Islam).
We know who is responsible for the position we find Europe in today, and they are mainly politicians with the support of the local village idiots!
All the best to you Tom, and to the future of Germany. I lived in Luneburg for 3 years as a child and enjoyed every minute, but I doubt I would enjoy it so much now!

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Bob Mittendorf

Tom from Germany • Mar 6, 2017 at 16:46

Dear Tom:

Many thanks for your excellent commentary on the state of affairs in Germany and the detailed reportage by Soeren Kern at Gatestone. Both of you hit the nail on the head in your direct and frank observation of the damage brought about by Angela Merkel and the rest of her left-wing, globalist elites in Brussels. Many of us here in the US are hoping that the elections this year in Holland, France, the UK, and Germany will turn the tide on the Islamic invasion and lead to the dissolution of the EU and the beginning of the restoration of European values and culture.

In many ways, the malaise in Europe can also be found in our country. For eight years now the Obama administration has done everything in its power to bring about a socialistic nightmare that will take years to turn around. Our populist revolt in the election of Trump will perhaps set the stage for a renewal of our heritage and culture. The anger is very real and I hope that anger translates into meaningful policies that are in accordance with our Constitution and Bill of Rights. No one in his right mind could want anything less in Germany and Europe at large.

Sincerely,

Bob Mittendorf
McKinney, Texas

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Lee Millington • Jan 22, 2017 at 08:46

Your commentary is well stated, while I am encouraged by the change in the White House with the election of Mr. Trump, and seeing many European leaders waking up to the failed policies of the left. I wonder what effect this has on Biblical Prophecy, has the Lord changed direction?, has He delayed the coming of Armageddon? And, are we truly seeing a revolution? Or is this the "New World Order" being repackaged, is "Climate Change" (code word for martial law) getting ready to be enforced? We will soon find out. And what about the Lord? All these leaders are speaking "change". Psalm 127:1, states "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." What foundation are they and we building on? People want peace, but you are not going to have it without the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. True change comes from the heart, you can not force someone to love God, or one another. I will keep watching like everyone else, but I've studied Bible Prophecy, I know who, and what is coming. Thank you for your report, keep up the good work, there are so few speaking truth today. God bless to all.

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Georgia • Jan 22, 2017 at 08:18

Very thought provoking article. Very frightening that Germany unlike France seems unable to fill that "vacancy" left after a "Green" chancellor "kidnapped" the Conservative Party....and a majority of conservative votes so as to henceforth make "Green" politics.....

After the disenchantment of American liberalism we can now see a return back to the very roots of democracy, its spiritual and ethical heritage.... Not so in Europe .... Many have no more than the antidote of Fascism as an answer to the failure of Europes liberals....Boy, how far did we get if parties who are not ashamed of the Fascists in their rows are the only "saviours" of "Democracy"......How far did we get if such parties need to remind the establishment of its gross violation of democratic rules and omissions such as to involve the parliament in major decisions.....or the freedom of speech.....

How far did we get if we need an AFD to point its finger to this gross violation of Human Rights by the German Public Broadcasting Corporation that succeeded to make the consumption of soap operas a pre-requisite for shelter....

How far did we get if we need an AFD to alert us that we are in gross violation of the constitution as we inherited it right after World War Two.... A constitution that sought to grant people the right to choose their source of information freely.....

Now, before you buy your bread, medicine or physical therapy, you have to pay the "democracy" fee to the public broadcasting company...... and if you can't the taxpayer will do that for you..... If you do not want to pay it because you are revulsed like me, your property may be confiscated without a court ...It may also be confiscated (for the time being) if there happens to be a little error.... That is what German Democracy is like

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howard dewhirst • Jan 22, 2017 at 08:06

There seems to be a strong correlation between the IPCC's inability to face up to the fact that they just might be wrong, about their troika of Global Warming, CO2 and Carbon Pollution; AKA as Anthropogenic Climate Change, and the mental paralysis that affects Brussels and it minions. Many people ask me, when I discuss Climate Change data why, if it is so clear, do its supporters not see what your data shows? Does that sound familiar?

The reason is the same as when confronting Daesh idiocies or any deeply held belief, religious or otherwise: Cognitive Dissonance, the compulsion felt within any 'club' to maintain harmony in beliefs and actions. This puts the cold hand of conformity on club members lips, none cannot admit to doubts or confess uncertainty, and the stronger the attack, the stronger the resistance must and will be. This of course has benefits when fighting a Hitler or Stalin, but can be a hindrance as it is now in Europe. The simple lesson from all of this is that new facts alone will not change people's perspective, they need an emotional release as well.

To admit that Global Warming is not happening would be to admit that 30 years of work had been wasted - very hard to do when one's reputation has been built on that work. Just like the feud between flat earthers and Galileo's followers; skeptics data 'must' be wrong they think, so we can ignore it. But as with most historical examples, eventually the truth will out, and what is called the 'common sense' view - that the sun went round the earth say, or that communism is the only correct way, is overturned by observation and data.

The Club of Rome and its EU offspring will fight hard, but they will eventually crumble, the trick will be to give them emotional rather than factual incentives to change their mind more quickly. Trump's election might just be the first one.

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Jeff Page • Jan 22, 2017 at 06:29

The EU leaders really can't take the truth, can they? They are aware of the people's fears and reservations about letting in so many Muslims and yet they are in denial! They name call and label any who oppose their policies, and take little or no notice even when atrocities are carried out against their own citizens. Is it because they themselves are safe and secure with their personal security? Is it because they are in receipt of funding from Arab countries? Is it because they are so thick that they cannot recognise the threat Islam brings to their countries?

Maybe those leaders who are up for re-election feel confident of winning and staying in power because they have a system in place to ensure they are voted into power again, whatever the circumstances.

All the rubbish directed towards Trump by the liberal left media just causes more friction and division, but they are too thick to realise this. All the reluctance to report on the Muslim attacks on European citizens, particularly women and young girls suffering rape and beatings will also cause friction and division.

The attitude of the police and judiciary towards the arrest and imprisonment of Muslim offenders is a disgrace and those responsible for hiding true facts should be sacked and replaced with people willing to carry out their duties fairly and responsibly.

On the one hand, we have Germany opening the door to the Muslim invaders. We then discover that Germany is one of the countries who has done well with trade in the world, is a rich country, but has failed to pay it's fair share to the coffers of the UN. Then we must remember the deceit regarding the vehicle emissions, solely intended to encourage the sale of German cars across the world! Many European leaders are untrustworthy and their motives must be questioned when it comes to their position concerning Muslim immigration into their countries. There is a definite ploy to deceive the people, and we need to find out why this is, and what they stand to gain from it!

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Albert Reingewirtz • Jan 22, 2017 at 05:53

"In France, President François Hollande advised Trump to stay out of European affairs"

What about France staying out of other nations affairs? For example Israel.

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