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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Monday, March 16, 2026

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly changed his mind about supporting Trump's Iran war: "Germany is not a party to this war, and we do not want to become one," Merz declared. "And in that regard, all our efforts are focused on ending the war."

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Only last week German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was "on the same page" as U.S. President Donald Trump over the goals of the Iran war ... he's now publicly airing his fears that Trump has no exit strategy to end fighting.

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-- POLITICO Europe (@politico.eu) Mar 13, 2026 at 2:51 PM

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently condemned the bellicose Trumpf junta's decision to ease oil sanctions on Russia in an effort to bring down global oil prices, fearing the move will only serve to refill the Kremlin's war chest and sustain Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The leader of Europe's largest economy called the move "wrong."

"We want to ensure that Russia does not exploit the war in Iran to weaken Ukraine," Merz added.

~snip~

Germany is one of the largest donors of military and economic aid to Israel behind the US and needs their Arrow-3 interceptors to deal with a potential Russian threat. Germany also recently bought a naval drone from Israel called the Blue Whale. But Germany's economy will be hit hard by rising energy costs and Berlin does not want to deal with another migration problem caused by instability in the Middle East. Germany, in its incarnation as the Third Reich, laid waste to Europe during the Second World War, now watches Israel and the US do the same all over the Middle East.

Dummkopf Trumpf Russian Asset

#1 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-16 04:38 AM | Reply

They sure do watch those weathervanes.

If the war was going well they would Support it.

Fair Weather Friends.

I'm glad they are not Supporting this Obscenity.

Whatever the reason.

But still....

#2 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2026-03-16 08:25 AM | Reply

Only last week German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was "on the same page" as U.S. President Donald Trump over the goals of the Iran war ... he's now publicly airing his fears that Trump has no exit strategy to end fighting.

I think it was apparent from go there was no exit strategy. He expected Iran to roll over like Iraq. There are massive differences.

#3 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2026-03-16 11:32 AM | Reply

The US had no good justification to start this conflict. Every sane country in the world knows this. In fact, the only winner in this war is Putin.

#4 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2026-03-16 12:38 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"In fact, the only winner in this war is Putin"

I'd add Xi to that list. No doubt he's the OTHER guy Trump is jrrking off when he dances.

#5 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-03-16 12:43 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

The US had no good justification to start this conflict. Every sane country in the world knows this. In fact, the only winner in this war is Putin.

#4 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2026-03-16 12:38 PM | Reply | Flag:
(Choose)

Yet when Hillary said if she won office she would attack Iran you and your other hypocrite Liberals stood up and cheered.

#6 | Posted by fishpaw at 2026-03-16 12:47 PM | Reply

"Hillary said if she won office she would attack Iran"

LOL

If she said that, you would have voted for her.

#7 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-03-16 12:52 PM | Reply

Yet when Hillary said if she won office she would attack Iran

#6 | POSTED BY FISHPAW

1) Well, Hillary never did attack Iran. Did she, Bubba?

2) The man who did start the war is tasked with winning it.

3) As of today, he is blaming the military for the fact the Strait of Hormuz closed. Despite being warned ad infinitum that that Strait would close.

4) Don't you ever get sick of Donald's interminable whining when he screws up?

#8 | Posted by Zed at 2026-03-16 12:55 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

Yet when Hillary said if ...
#6 | POSTED BY FISHPAWN

Holy shht, ------.

Hillary really scares the shht out of you fragile white men.

She hasn't been relevant for ten years and you're still waking up in the middle of the night screaming her name.

Trump is a pedophile.

You are garbage.

#9 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-03-16 01:11 PM | Reply

Don't you ever get sick of Donald's interminable whining when he screws up?
#8 | POSTED BY ZED

FishPawn would gladly change Trump's diapers and bury the bodies of the children he raped to death.

#10 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-03-16 01:12 PM | Reply

*** IDF High Command: War Against People of Iran Will Last into April; Regime Won't Collapse ***

Benjamin Netanyahu and Dummkopf Trumpf intend on bankrupting an already bankrupt country while Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin enjoy our sh*tshow.

Meanwhile, Americans are foregoing meals to pay for health insurance while Israelis enjoy world class universal healthcare.

No medical bankruptcies in Israel, unlike the US.

And how soon before gas reaches $5 per gallon in the US?

Well, for many Americans that won't matter.

Auto repossession rates are increasing throughout the US.

So much "winning!"

Sources:

American Wealth Disappearing While People and Environment Are Being Destroyed

Cost to American Taxpayers for Defending Wealthy Israel

The next generation of Americans will pay for this idiotic war and the BBB

#11 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-16 01:27 PM | Reply

Don't you ever get sick of Donald's interminable whining when he screws up?

Posted by Zed at 2026-03-16 12:55 PM | Reply | Fl

He will answer as soon as he is done giving stinky his daily tongue bath.

#12 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-03-16 03:41 PM | Reply

Germany Now Against US-Israeli War Against People of Iran

As more and more European countries come out against not supporting Trump's war and providing naval assets to protect shipping through the Gulf of Hormuz, Trump has reportedly stated something to the effect that their reluctance will have an impact on NATO! LOL. Trump has been distancing himself from NATO for sometime; enough so that many NATO members don't believe that they can count on help from the US. So, this current "threat" is meaningless!

Also, why should they risk their blood and treasure when they probably weren't even consulted prior to the war or if they were, their advice was ignored?

#13 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2026-03-16 06:05 PM | Reply

Iran posed only a military threat to Israel by counterattacking on behalf of the genocided Palestinians and vulnerable Lebanese in the south of their country-- their fellow co-religionists who founded Lebanese Hezbollah after the 1982 IDF invasion.

Shia Iran poses an ideological threat to the non-democratic Sunni Arab fat cat emirates and is a petro-competitor to them.

The EU and NATO realize that Iran is not a real threat: KGB veteran Vladimir Putin is the real threat to world peace and EU security, as seen by his "Special Military Operation" killing Ukrainian civilians and destroying the environment.

Who else is killing civilians and despoiling nature?

The US and Israel.



#14 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-16 06:26 PM | Reply

For my father's generation it would have been unimaginable to view Germany as purveyors of peace and America as out-of-control warmongers. And yet, here we are.

#15 | Posted by moder8 at 2026-03-16 07:14 PM | Reply

Germany is an Opportunistic play it safe kind of country.

They would have Been all Too Happy to Steal Iranian resources if the war went to plan.

France and Italy as well.

Spain is the only truly Principled European Opponent of the American Israeli War on Iran.

NATO is a bunch of Imperialist Hypocrites.

They're Cowards, Not Humanitarians.

Look what they did to Libya and Serbia.

Disgusting.

All Prettied Up as "Concern" for Human Rights.

#16 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2026-03-16 07:31 PM | Reply

Don't write a check that your ass can't cash

- European Nations

#17 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2026-03-17 06:47 AM | Reply

Imagine if the rule of law still existed in international matters...Israel and America attacking Iran and killing many of its leaders would have been seen immediately as a war crime, and warrants would have gone out for Netanyahu and Trump. But since America was persuaded to ally with Israel, and the world cannot hold America to the rule of law, Iran is being turned into GAZA.

#18 | Posted by Hughmass at 2026-03-17 06:55 AM | Reply

WWII ended in '45.

Why doesn't Europe just ask the US to leave and take their men a day toys home.

Europe can take care of Europe, especially Eastern Europe.

Europe can easily fund their own defenses. They may have to cut some programs...

#19 | Posted by Petrous at 2026-03-17 01:00 PM | Reply

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