Germans are certainly going their own way amid all the sound and fury.
Perhaps Berlin is smarter than Washington D.C. regarding Russia.
Or not. Who knows?
From Deutsche-Welle, February 4:
Germany's former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to join Gazprom boardGerhard Schröder, a former German chancellor with close ties to Russia, has been tapped to join the Gazprom supervisory board. Schröder has come under fire in Germany for working in the Russian energy sector.
Gerhard Schröder was nominated to join the supervisory board of Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom, the company announced on Friday.
Schröder, who was the head of the Social Democrat-led German government from 1998 to 2005, has attracted controversy since leaving office due to his close ties to Russia, including a personal friendship with President Vladimir Putin.
Schröder was widely criticized for calling the Russian president a "flawless democrat."
The announcement of his new potential position has not been well-received among some of Germany's politicians.
"Gerhard Schröder's behavior is damaging Germany," said Christian Social Union lawmaker Stefan Müller. He said all German parties need to discuss cutting the former chancellor off from public funds. "Those who allow themselves to be paid by autocrats do not need money from German taxpayers."
Board admission expected in JuneThe ex-chancellor is set to be admitted to the board when it holds its annual meeting on June 30 in St.Petersburg. Schröder already holds several posts related to the Russian energy sector....
...As the kids say: Find someone to look at you the way Putin looks at Gerhard Schröder.
Herr Schröder was Germany's Chancellor before Mutti came in.
Gazprom has paid him a lot of money. A lot.
