Angela Merkel Versus Smoke And Mirrors ...
German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a landmark speech to the American Jewish Committee last night, along with President Bush.

From Deutsch-Welle:

"The right of existence of the state of Israel must never be questioned," Merkel said at a gala event in Washington celebrating the 100th anniversary of the influential American Jewish Committee. "This is why it is intolerable for any German government when the Iranian president questions the right of Israel's existence."

She was referring to stepped up anti-Israeli rhetoric by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last fall, who has called for Israel to be "wiped off the map." Merkel also said that Tehran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

The Germans historically have been good allies, and bad enemies.

Merkel been called one of the strongest leaders in Europe, because she seems to have the most robust support at home these days; while her domestic reforms in Germany have not been spectacularly successful -- her foreign policy has been seen as strong.

From the IHT:

"...This is her second visit to Washington this year; she has also had two meetings with President Vladimir Putin of Russia and six with President Jacques Chirac of France. Her advisers say she discussed Iran at length with Putin last week...

"German officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the delicate diplomacy involved said Merkel would insist on continuing a "step-by-step" diplomatic approach, rather than countenancing any military option. There is no popular support in Germany for war with Iran.

At the same time, the officials said, Merkel will try to tread carefully between the Russians, who have substantial dealings with the Iranians and no taste for military conflict on their southern flank, and the Americans, who are pushing for at least some sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program and refusing to reject the military option outright.

"Merkel wants the Bush administration to consider direct talks with Iran," said a top German official. "She is not sure if Bush will agree. But she wants to try, because how can you talk about exploiting all diplomatic channels when the U.S. and Iran are not talking directly to one another?"

Well, I guess that's a fair question, if you're talking about leaders that aren't devoted to lying to the Western World. Merkel has not publically advocated direct talks.

"Who else in Europe is going to take the lead over Iran but Merkel?" said Constanze Stelzenmüller, director of the German Marshall Fund of the United States in Berlin. "The other governments in the large countries of Europe are lame duck governments. They are on the way out. The Americans know that Merkel is not anti-American, which is why Bush should listen to her..."

Merkel will also explain to Bush why the fox should guard the henhouse, i.e., that

"... Putin's plan to enrich uranium for Iran in Russia and then ship it back to Iran should be seriously considered, if only as a way to keep Russia and China on board as part of a united front diplomatically, the German officials said

Remember, the EU has alot invested in Iran:

German officials, again speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the diplomacy in public, said it was still unclear whether the sanctions would be economic or restricted to a travel ban for Iran's top officials.

German exports to Iran amounted to €3.57 billion, or $4.5 billion, in 2004, according to the Association of German Industry, while EU exports totaled €11.8 billion, according to the European Commission

I admire Angela Merkel, and I think that after the Iranians are done with the diplomatic dance, she may have to prove her steel, like the rest of us.

To clarify: I think the wuuurld, including the US, will do the diplomatic doo, until something horrible happens. Until then, the rest is just words, smoke and mirrors -- and the mullahs understand how to take advantage of sincere diplomatic efforts on the part of the rest of the world.  ¶ 8:00 AM