Obama’s aloof style disturbing Germany, the real ‘cost of coolness,’ and the ‘King of Europe’ Griffin?
Barack Obama (Official Photograph)
US President Barack Obama has disturbed many Europeans, but especially many Germans:
Obama and Europe: The Cost of Coolness
By David J. Karl | August 12, 2014
Earlier posts have criticized President Obama for his minimalist foreign policy vision (here and here) and lack of leadership skills. But it’s also worth noting that some of his multiplying problems overseas have to do with his aloof personality and inability to forge strong personal relationships with international counterparts…
further evidence came a few weeks ago when former German defense minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg told CNN’s Christine Amanpour that Mr. Obama is “probably the most detached president [in] decades” and is “not seemingly capable to communicate properly on an eye-to-eye level with other heads of state.” Speaking of the current turbulence in U.S.-German affairs, Guttenberg noted that there is “a level of mistrust that needs to be fixed, and it needs to be fixed from Washington.”We’ve heard this complaint before from Berlin. In a comment piece last fall, Roger Cohen at the New York Times reported that:
…Germany [is] incensed by what it has perceived as a dismissive U.S. attitude. A senior official close to [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel recently took me through the ‘very painful’ saga of the Obama administration’s response to Syrian use of chemical weapons. It began with Susan Rice, the national security adviser, telling the Chancellery on Aug. 24 that the United States had the intelligence proving President Bashar al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons, that it would have to intervene and that it would be a matter of days. German pleas to wait for a United Nations report and to remember Iraq fell on deaf ears. Six days later, on Friday Aug. 30, Germany heard from France that the military strike on Syria was on and would happen that weekend — only for Obama to change tack the next day and say he would go to Congress.
Things got worse at the G-20 St. Petersburg summit meeting the next week. Again, Germany found the United States curtly dismissive. It wanted Germany’s signature at once on the joint statement on Syria; Germany wanted to wait a day until a joint European Union statement was ready and so declined. ‘The sense from Rice was that we are not interested in your view and not interested in the E.U. view,’ the official said. ‘We left Petersburg very offended. This is not what you want your best partner to look like.’
Similarly, a few weeks later John Vinocur, the former executive editor of the International Herald Tribune, quoted a senior European security official as saying that Mr. Obama “does not do consultation, and he doesn’t do discussion with allies. He reports, and he describes his analytical process.” Vinocur also noted that a biography published last summer about German leader Angela Merkel describes her as regarding Obama as inscrutable – someone “so peculiar, so unapproachable, so lacking in warmth.”
An article in Der Spiegel last fall told the same story. It reported that:
During a recent visit by a European head of government to Washington, the atmosphere was described as frosty by those in the entourage from Europe. Obama didn’t find the time for even a little small talk, the sources said, and ‘it seemed to some like an appointment with a lawyer.’
There is a heavy dose of irony at work here. Six years ago, the claim by then- presidential candidate Barack Obama to be the “anti-Bush” guaranteed him a euphoric welcome in Berlin in July 2008. Speaking before a massive crowd assembled in the “Tiergarten” (speech text here; video here), he grandly vowed to “remake the world once again,” this time in a way that allies would “listen to each other, learn from each other and, most of all, trust each other.” A year later, this sort of rhetoric garnered him a Nobel Peace Prize for single-handedly creating “a new climate in international politics” and restoring multilateral diplomacy to “a central position.”
Once in office, however, President Obama quickly went about signaling his disinterest in America’s European allies. http://www.internationalpolicydigest.org/2014/08/12/obama-europe-cost-coolness/
The above article also mentioned the Snowden leaks and other problems. Essentially it says that President Obama disappointed the Europeans in general, and the Germans in particular, who had high hopes in him based upon his visits there years ago. The article basically concluded that Obama had opportunities to better build transatlantic relations, but instead Obama’s inconsistencies and aloofness hurt this and has resulted in further distance.
When the Snowden leaks came out last year, it was reported that the USA spied on Germany more than almost any other nation, and that spying was on par with how much the USA did on large nations considered more like enemies. The Snowden leaks also showed that the USA only considered that it had four “close friends,” UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Germans and the continental Europeans were not pleased to publicly learn that (see EU tells USA to stop spying on it as it asks for more information).
Yesterday, someone sent me a link to the interview of Karl-Theodore zu Guttenberg by Christine Amanpour on CNN. In it, Herr Guttenberg called Obama “probably the most detached president since decades” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7KN8Qjk1e8). I posted a news report about this interview when it happened (see Karl Guttenberg on USA espionage and damage to US-German relations; He calls Obama the ‘most detached President’ in decades), and last night was the first opportunity I had to personally watch it.
After the Snowden leaks were mentioned in the interview, Baron Guttenberg stated that he does not believe that Germany wanted to have the same relationship with the USA that the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have. He basically stated that Germany did not want to have to collect and share so much intelligence information with the USA and that the German people would not care for this. He made it clear that Germans and Americans view various matters differently.
In the CNN interview, Baron Guttenberg also commented about the eviction of the CIA leader in Germany after revelations that the USA had recruited certain German espionage personnel to spy for the USA. He indicated that their was a mistrust and a problem with Barack Obama’s style.
Baron Guttenberg stated that the USA was not likely to publicly apologize as that would cause Barack Obama political problems in the USA. When asked what he felt needed to happen between the USA and Germany, Herr Guttenberg said that the USA would need to do something to try to placate Germany.
And, while I would call it appeasement, this month the USA placed a German general in charge of the US Army in Europe–this seems similar to what Herr Guttenberg hinted would happen. This appointment of a German general was a very dangerous step for the USA–the cost of appeasement will be high (see German general now commands the US Army in Europe).
The situation is much worse than many realize, yet the mainstream media has tended to minimize the threat this poses. The USA media seems to have a detachment from the risk that Germany and Europe pose to the USA, which is no surprise as the USA media seems to overlook history and disdains a lot of biblical prophecy. The ‘real cost of coolness,’ including overlooking biblical prophecies and admonitions, is destruction (cf. Romans 1:18-32; Daniel 11:39, Habakkuk 2:6-8).
In terms of history, prior to World War II, Germany spent time planning and preparing for a military campaign that few believed it was capable of. The UK tried appeasement, which did not stop WWII. While a few individuals (Winston Churchill comes to mind) warned about what was happening, most of the media ignored them and supported various forms of appeasement.
We now see Germany, not only in charge of the army of the USA in Europe, it is also building a European army itself. This is not covered well by the press in the USA. Steps are in progress for WWIII (see also World War III: Steps in Progress).
Here is something I machine-translated today with the actual German below it:
August 7, 2014
In the Hessian town of Stadtallendorf in Marburg-Biedenkopf a remarkable chapter in European military history was written on 12 June. Two Defense interior had come on this day in the city Herrenwald Stadium, otherwise the scene of the football matches of Hesse division TSV Eintracht.
Ursula von der Leyen and Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert lived in front of around 3,000 spectators a symbolic ceremony: In a joint appeal, the 11th Airmobile Brigade of the Royal Army of the Netherlands with its 2,100 soldiers was the command of the Division Fast forces of the Bundeswehr assumed.
Never before has a military organization of a European country had been involved in the major unit of another European country, never before had a state renounces these elementary core part of its sovereignty.
A “milestone of integration” called the Dutch Hennis-Plasschaert this step of their government. Their German colleague von der Leyen (CDU) spoke of the beginning of a “new era” on the way to a European Army . And they suggested that both countries are willing weiterzubeschreiten this way:. “This cooperation will continue even intensify.”…
The land forces of the Netherlands and Germany are certainly avant-garde. They have even found a common symbol for their military cooperation. The emblem of the Dutch army is the lion, the German counterpart of the German eagle.
The military has the two animals united, baptized the newly formed mythical creatures “Griffin” and explain the result: “The connection between the German and the Dutch army is the symbol of the Griffin expressed It is for deepening cooperation between the two armies. and for the power of community. “
In der hessischen Ortschaft Stadtallendorf im Landkreis Marburg-Biedenkopf wurde am 12. Juni ein bemerkenswertes Kapitel europäischer Militärgeschichte geschrieben. Gleich zwei Verteidigungsministerinnen waren an diesem Tag in das städtische Herrenwaldstadion gekommen, ansonsten Schauplatz der Fußballspiele des Hessenligisten TSV Eintracht.
Ursula von der Leyen und Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert wohnten vor rund 3000 Zuschauern einer symbolträchtigen Zeremonie bei: Im Rahmen eines gemeinsamen Appells wurde die 11. Luftbewegliche Brigade des Königlichen Heeres der Niederlande mit ihren 2100 Soldaten dem Kommando der Division Schnelle Kräfte der Bundeswehr unterstellt.
Nie zuvor war ein militärischer Verband eines europäischen Landes in den Großverband eines anderen europäischen Landes eingebunden worden, nie zuvor hatte ein Staat auf diesen elementaren Kernbestandteil seiner Souveränität verzichtet.
Einen “Meilenstein der Integration” nannte die Niederländerin Hennis-Plasschaert diesen Schritt ihrer Regierung. Ihre deutsche Kollegin von der Leyen (CDU) sprach vom Beginn einer “neuen Ära” auf dem Weg zu einer europäischen Armee. Und sie deutete an, dass beide Länder gewillt sind, diesen Weg weiterzubeschreiten: “Diese Zusammenarbeit werden wir künftig sogar noch intensivieren.”
Die Landstreitkräfte der Niederlande und Deutschlands sind dabei zweifellos Avantgarde. Sie haben sogar schon ein gemeinsames Symbol für ihre militärische Zusammenarbeit gefunden. Das Wappentier des niederländischen Heeres ist der Löwe, das deutsche Pendant der Bundesadler.
Die Militärs haben die beiden Tiere miteinander vereint, das dabei entstandene Fabelwesen “Griffin” getauft und erläutern das Ergebnis so: “Die Verbundenheit zwischen dem deutschen und dem niederländischen Heer findet im Symbol des Griffin seinen Ausdruck. Es steht für die Vertiefung der Zusammenarbeit beider Heere und für die Kraft der Gemeinsamkeit.”
Notice the first statement I bolded above. The Netherlands, a country overrun by Germany in WWII, has relinquished the sovereignty of part of its military to Germany. That was in June, and now the USA has done the same thing this month. Notice also the second statement I bolded. The part about a “Griffin.”
Germany and the Dutch have been working on something called “Project Griffin” since 2013:
The recent new initiatives and studies (Project Griffin) to intensify the DEUNLD Army cooperation will be the main priority of the DEU-NLD ASG for the upcoming years. Promising supervised initiatives are investigated with highest priority. Currently
existing fields of cooperation – mainly training and exercises – will be deepened where possible. (Declaration of Intent between the Federal Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the further Enhancement of Bilateral Relations in the Field of Defence. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bmvg.de%2Fresource%2Fresource%2FMzEzNTM4MmUzMzMyMmUzMTM1MzMyZTM2MzEzMDMwMzAzMDMwMzAzMDY4Njg2MTM2NmE3MDM4MzQyMDIwMjAyMDIw%2F20130528%2520DoI%2520DEU-NLD%2520FINAL.pdf&ei=-yTqU_ypB-WwjALPxYH4DQ&usg=AFQjCNHOg3GH2ETAkIz3U-C8WnUmUcIniw&sig2=gYQ5wf8GFDEy7mNjooBdCw&bvm=bv.72676100,d.cGE)
Here is something I warned about, in writing, over three years ago:
The following prophecy seems to teach that a coming “King of Europe” will be like the Beast of Revelation:
Nostradamus (16th century): As a Griffin the King of Europe shall come, Accompanied by those of Aquila. Of Reds and Whites shall lead a great army…(Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p. 105)
A Griffin is a mythological creature with parts of other animals like the head a lion, eagle’s wings, and a fish (Dupont, p. 105). One variety is known as a “sea-griffin” and tends to resemble a dragon in its appearance, so in a sense, a Griffin could be considered as a beast from the sea (cf. Revelation 13:1) which also has the mouth of a lion (cf. Daniel 7:4; Revelation 13:2). In mythology, Aquila (a constellation) was owned by the Roman god Jupiter and performed many tasks for him (Aquila. Wikipedia, accessed 02/07/11).
Notice what the Bible warns about the beast power:
1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority…and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? (Revelation 13:1-2,4b)
Thus, Nostradamus’ “King of Europe” Griffin seems to have a resemblance to the Beast of the Bible.
The Nostradamus prophecy is intriguing to me for many reasons, including the fact that it appears that many non-biblical prophecies are intended to mislead people so that they will not properly understand biblical ones.
While those of us in the Continuing Church of God are warning against an emerging “beast power” in Europe (Revelation 13:1-4), it may well be that those who support the coming Beast power will point to prophecies, such as some from Nostradamus, as proof that what they are doing is approved by their prophets.
The integration of the Dutch with the Germans resulted in a type of Griffin being adopted. An interesting coincidence? The King of Europe, the biblical King of the North (Daniel 11:27-43), will arise and is starting to do so. This will not end well for the USA or its “close friends” (Daniel 11:39; Isaiah 10:5-11).
USA actions and inactions with Ukraine have also been an impetus for Germany to push its military, which is something that Herr Guttenberg tried to get Germany to do years ago when he was its Defense Minister. Notice:
Something is sprouting in Germany. As Europeans ponder the necessity of military strength after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and NATO charts its course for the post-Afghanistan era, Europe’s reluctant central power is doing some serious soul-searching on its role as a military player.
This reflective process started years ago, when former defense minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg started to set things straight by calling the war in Afghanistan a war and a fallen soldier a fallen soldier—things that had previously been taboo. But now, after those linguistic adaptations to reality, it seems that a more profound change is happening, one that might eventually lead to a shift in political behavior.
The strongest evidence for this change comes from the reassurance debate in NATO that ensued after Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine. Not only did Germany pledge to reinforce rotating air-policing capacities in the Baltic states and send a vessel for NATO’s naval task force in the Baltic Sea. It also doubled its presence in the alliance’s Multinational Corps Northeast headquarters in Szczecin, Poland, from 60 to 120 staff officers, enabling the corps to increase its level of readiness significantly. This NATO headquarters is predominantly dedicated to territorial defense—in other words, more than anything else, it looks at Russia.
Most importantly, Germany decided to integrate its land forces into the exercise scheme NATO is currently putting together to strengthen the alliance’s troop presence on its Eastern flank. This scheme, which will likely be adopted at a major NATO summit in South Wales in September, will lead to an ongoing exercise activity in Central Europe. That would put NATO troops on the ground at all times on a rotating basis, but without the permanent stationing of units in that region. Only months ago, Berlin would have categorically ruled out such a step. …
Germany will not become a completely relaxed military partner anytime soon…At the same time, changes do seem to be under way in German political thinking on military affairs. It is now also up to Germany’s allies to carefully tend to this delicate budding flower. http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=show&comments=all&id=55928&reloadFlag=1
A German-led European Beast power is forming. The media, which does not adequately respect biblical prophecy, generally does not see it.
Many do not realize that the Obama Administration has taken many steps to encourage the rise of Germany and Europe as well as lead to the end of a world dominated by the USA. We put up a new BibleNewsProphecy video about that titled: 10 Steps Obama Has Taken Leading to the Rise of the Beast.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous.
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the former German Defense Minister (who is also the former German Minister for Economics and Technology) one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a link to a video Is the USA Pushing Germany to Start WWIII?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
WTO/TTIP and the Babylonian Beast Will international trade agreements like WTO/TTIP/CETA lead to the fulfillment of end time prophecies concerning the Babylonian Beast power that the Book of Revelation warns against? What does the Bible teach? A related video would be WTO Trade Deal and the Rise of the European Beast Power.
Can those in the USA/UK see the Handwriting on the Wall? Is everything fine in the USA/UK or is it like the days of Noah? Can we learn from the handwriting that appeared on a wall thousands of years ago? Here is a link to a related YouTube video Can you see the ‘Handwriting on the Wall’?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.
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