LOS ANGELES -- When U.S. President George W. Bush won the last election, Beijing warmly congratulated the winner. This was remarkable, given his harsh campaign rhetoric, which was anti-China and pro-Taiwan. Yet, China avoided losing its cool and, as we have seen since, pretty much remained focused on pressing domestic priorities. No doubt its leaders figured that the Texan would in time grow up and govern diplomatically -- as did his father.
How sad then that, in reality, Washington did just the reverse to Germany during its recent national elections. This is the postwar Germany that has successfully escaped the horrors of its World War II past with exemplary international conduct and worked side by side with the United States on almost all major international problems.
Yet in this same Germany, the incumbent chancellor won favor with voters this month by raising questions about the Bush administration's military option against Iraq, and the incumbent justice minister likened the American president's attitude toward Iraq to Hitler-esque arrogance.
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