OK, mass-market BILD-Zeitung is not really what you would call an intellectual newspaper, but it is usually more America- and Israel-friendly than most other newspapers in Germany. The more I was surprised on Thursday (Feb 14, 2008) when reading BILD`s winner-looser column. It showed Robert Gates as looser.
The text on page one reads:
Letzte Woche sorgte US-Verteidigungsminister Robert Gates (64) in Deutschland für Aufregung. Der Pentagon-Chef forderte ein stärkeres Engagement der Bundeswehr in Afghanistan. Er stieß damit parteiübergreifend auf Ablehnung. Jetzt rutschte Gates in Washington auf einem vereisten Gehweg aus, brach sich die rechte Schulter.
BILD meint: Er rutscht nicht nur auf diplomatischem Parkett aus …
Translated to English:
Last week US Defense Minister Robert Gates (64) caused a stir in Germany. The Pentagon chief asked for more Bundeswehr commitment in Afghanistan. His request was rejected by all political parties in Germany. Now Gates slipped on an iced sidewalk in Washington and broke his right shoulder.
BILD thinks: He does not only slip on the diplomatic parquet …
I think: If anybody has been slipping here, it is BILD-Zeitung. And to Robert Gates: Speedy recovery!