Thread: Trump Mexico wall will destroy lives, Berlin mayor warns

Trump Mexico wall will destroy lives, Berlin mayor warns

5 hours ago
From the section US & Canada

Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller has urged US President Donald Trump "not to go down the road of isolation" with his planned border wall with Mexico.

Mr Mueller warned such divides cause "slavery and pain" and would "destroy the lives of millions".

The German city was divided by the Berlin Wall from 1961 to 1989.

Mr Mueller's statement came as Mr Trump and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto agreed to "work out their differences" over the issue.

The planned wall was one of Mr Trump's key election campaign pledges, but it has cast a shadow over the US's relationship with its neighbour.

Mr Pena Nieto has repeatedly stated that Mexico will not pay for the wall and has condemned a US suggestion that it may impose a 20% tax on his country's imports to finance the structure.

"We Berliners know best how much suffering was caused by the division of an entire continent," Mr Mueller said in a statement, referring to Europe's "Iron Curtain".

He said the city could not "silently look on as a country sets about building a new wall".

"We cannot let our historical experience get trashed by the very people to whom we owe much of our freedom: the Americans.

"I call on the president not to go down the road of isolation," the statement reads (in German). "Mr President, don't build this wall."

A strategic relationship

At a joint news conference on Friday at the White House with the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, Mr Trump said he had had a "very good call" with Mr Pena Nieto.

The White House later released a statement describing the telephone conversation as "productive and constructive", adding that both presidents recognised the "differences of positions" on the issue of the proposed wall.

"Both presidents have instructed their teams to continue the dialogue to strengthen this important strategic and economic relationship," the statement said.

He did not reveal the subject of the conversation with Mr Nieto when questioned at the White House, but said the US was "no longer going to be the country that doesn't know what it's doing".

Welcome to a brave new world of international diplomacy, Donald Trump style.

The new president seems determined to run foreign policy the way he handled his business empire and public interactions - vying for dominance and exploiting weakness.

Recalcitrant clients were either denied payment or sued. Personal adversaries were mocked. Political foes were demeaned.

On the international stage, we see these attitudes playing out in Mr Trump's goading, belligerent remarks directed at Mexico and its president. With a gross domestic product that's a fraction of the US's, Mexico is the Rosie O'Donnell or "Little Marco" Rubio on Mr Trump's world stage.

Contrast that with the president's deferential treatment of Russia's Vladimir Putin or British PM Theresa May during her recent White House visit.

When it comes to foreign relations, Mr Trump respects strength and tradition. His admiration for Winston Churchill is not so different from past praise of General George Patton or actor John Wayne - strong men from a different era.

Mr Trump was elected because voters - particularly blue-collar workers - believed he would fight for them and economic benefits would follow. His critics warned his temperament would disrupt global order.

We'll eventually find out who was right.

Mexico's increasing nervousness over its northern neighbour appears to have prompted Mexico's richest man to step in.

In a rare news conference, Carlos Slim said Mr Trump - who he spoke out against during the campaign, but has since had dinner with - is a good negotiator, but "he is not Terminator".

Mr Slim, who has offered to help his government negotiate with Mr Trump, added that he believed "the circumstances in the United States are very favourable for Mexico", and policies aimed at boosting the US economy would also help Mexico.

He also said he expected Trump's "hyperactivity" to cool down with time.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38777514

LOL...has this person NO IDEA how many American Lives Mexico has DESTROYED.

Slavery and Pain...surely you jest? Maybe you should voice YOUR concerns to the Presidents of Mexico and Central America.

Have YOU not heard of the human trafficking Mexico and Central America PROFITS from day after day, year after year? The EXTORTION money they beg for from the USA? The drug money they STUFF in their pockets? The rape, the murder of their own citizens?

Their corrupt Churches who facilitate their Human Trafficking by feeding and sheltering them and coaching them on what to say to ILLEGALLY CRIMINALLY TRESPASS into our Country?

The sole goal to come to the USA to drop their babies on our soil to take advantage of the freebies...which need to be immediately cut off?

Good grief...have these people no brains in their heads that write these articles?

Go cry yourself a river somewhere else.

Mr Mueller warned such divides cause "slavery and pain" and would "destroy the lives of millions".

Oh my dear Berliner, this wall will not cause "slavery and pain". This wall will end them.

This wall will not "destroy the lives of millions", it will save the lives and well-being of hundreds of millions of desperate Americans being ravaged by drug cartel controlled illegal immigration from and through Mexico.

"We cannot let our historical experience get trashed by the very people to whom we owe much of our freedom: the Americans."

Americans are $20 trillion in debt with 94 million working age persons out of the work force. We are in deep and serious trouble. We are the people who saved Europe and Asia, and yes gave Germans and many others their freedom. We are the same good people today that we were then, but our country has been invaded by people and forces who are not, and if we don't fix this problem, we will be a failed nation.

Then who will protect your freedom for you?

Europe and Asia trusted us then, you must trust us again.

"We are the Americans,
And this is the United States.
We not only decide what happens here,
We control what happens here." --Judy

Mr Mueller warned such divides cause "slavery and pain" and would "destroy the lives of millions".

The German city was divided by the Berlin Wall from 1961 to 1989.

I believe the primary objective of the Berlin Wall was to keep people from leaving, not entering. Nobody wanted to enter communist controlled East Berlin in those days, but most folks certainly wanted to leave for the Us/French/British controlled sections in West Berlin. Our wall, on the other hand, is being constructed to keep illegals, potential terrorist, and drugs out.