CHRISTOPHER CALDWELL IS BEARISH ON GERMANY:

It is possible that Germany is undergoing a deep cultural change, and also beginning a slow economic spiral down to a standard of living below that of its neighbors. One can also wonder about its role in the world. The anti-American messages with which Schroeder wooed his newly Central European country may subside, and there may be a period of calm ahead for the German-American alliance. But why assume that Schroeder’s distrust of America–and the West?–is a temporary rather than a heartfelt thing? Perhaps it is–but even if it is, something has changed. Should Germany’s economic problems prove insoluble, should relations sour with its European neighbors, the United States has now been established as Germany’s scapegoat of first resort.

Yeah, and people are going to remember it.