We all say all the time how stupid Americans are...how gullible they are. Apparently that stupidity knows no nationality. No, glynch...I don't hate the Germans. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23109558.htm Poll shows many Germans see U.S. behind Sept 11 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BERLIN, July 23 (Reuters) - Almost one in three Germans below the age of 30 believes the U.S. government may have sponsored the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, according to a poll published on Wednesday. And about 20 percent of Germans in all age groups hold this view, a survey of 1,000 people conducted for the weekly Die Zeit said. It also said 68 percent of all Germans felt the media had not reported the full truth behind the attacks, in which some 3,000 people were killed when hijacked planes were crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. After the September 11 attacks, there was an outpouring of sympathy from Germans for the United States. Despite misgivings, Germany joined a military campaign against the al Qaeda network that Washington blamed for the attacks. But as the United States geared up for war against Iraq, relations soured bady as Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder expressed vocal opposition to the plans. Although the United States took strong offence at Berlin's attitude, Schroeder's anti-war stance was popular in Germany and helped him to snatch victory in last September's elections. Asked whether they believed that the U.S. government could have ordered the September 11 attacks itself, 31 percent of those surveyed under the age of 30 in the poll answered "yes", while 19 percent overall gave the same answer. Die Zeit said widespread disbelief about the reasons given by the United States for going to war in Iraq and suspicion about media coverage of the conflict had fostered a climate in which conspiracy theories flourished. "The news is controlled," 17-year old Kenny Donaubaur was quoted as saying. "You could see that in the Iraq war. It doesn't seem to me thet you get the full truth."
Controlled. This coming from someone that lives in a country where you aren't allowed to take a bath or shower after 11 O'Clock and that taxes you for closets in your house. (perhaps this has changed in the last few years)
Similar things occurred in Germany's own recent history (like the Reichstag fire, for example), so I can see how they'd consider it within the realm of possibility. I wouldn't take the statistic too seriously. I think it has a lot more to do with relations between the countries than it does with the sincere beliefs of the populace. What is the percentage of Americans under 30 who sincerely believe, for example, that Germany opposed the war only to preserve their own oil contracts? Animosity makes people want to believe these things more.
Regarding the poll...it's probably true that some people fall for conspiracy theories, and they are wrong. But that is why it is dangerous to give the impression of misrepresenting information, even if it is meant for a good cause. Many people in the world think that facts were misrepresented in order to justify the war against Iraq. I am not stating an opinion on whether I agree or disagree with these people. I am just saying that people who easily fall for conspiracy theories will even more easily fall for them when they are given the impression that they have been lied to in other instances. And that (this is, among others, directed at DaDakota) is exactly why saying "who cares if facts were misrepresented, it was for a good cause" is a dangerous thing. But codell...that stuff about the baths and taxes for closets is, with all due respect, just pure bull**** .
there never were any oil contracts we don't have big oil companies here in germany oil contracts had france and russia and now you got them btw 60+ % of the americans believed that 1. iraq had wmd 2. iraq was linked to 9/11 3. was a threat to you i would guess most of them still believe that and @ codell don't now where your information comes from but this is not true
Good point, but those things have been promoted and insinuated by Bush and his cronies, it's not being done by some hack author creating conspiracy theories for the book of the month club. 20% of Americans probably still believe we never landed on the moon though, who cares.
i don't think i ever heard anyone from the administration or otherwise say anything about german oil contracts, timing. i heard of french and russian contracts..but not german.
I'm not surprised. I remember there as a best selling book in France that put out a similar theory. On the one hand, it's normal for people to be fearful and skeptical of one nation that is so powerful. On the other, it also means that the "international community" is not always right and often has questionable motives.
My wife lived in Germany for 8 years. A good friend of ours, as well as my uncle also lived there for extended periods of time. According to all three, this is not BS at all. Perhaps it was a city ordinance or something and this might not be the case everywhere in Germany.
Glass houses, fellas. At least their government's not TELLING them to believe this stuff. How many Americans think there were Iraqis on the planes?
SPROCKETS. WE DANCE. ...and Germany has a stellar history of making excellent foreign policy decisions... What a joke. This is perhaps the country that has changed the most in terms of political mindset over the past 100 years. They went from being aggressive, free thinkers who were world thought leaders to being Nazis, to now being a neutered group of environmentalist peaceniks. Quite a confused people.
but wait...this is my whole point. my point is that i keep hearing how americans are so stupid. that we're looked down upon by our neighbors across the pond. my point is, stupidity knows no nationality. there is not something so magical about france, russia, or germany that implies any more wisdom on foreign affairs than we have in our country. that's my point...not to say, "uh..look uncle earl...them there germans is some stupid folks." not that at all.
