User:RobSmith/Transcript of Sahra Wagenknecht speech in Berlin, Feb 26, 2023
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Dear friends Love Peace friends:
I am so glad that you all here today have come and I knows that many thousands of our Rally at the various Follow livestreams. I think today you can see how many we are, and from now on we will have our voice Loudly raise that they no longer can be ignored. who dear friends we Are not only many we catch now also to organize to us because Germany finally needs a really strong peace movement.
You've all been following what happens as Alice Schwarzer at the age of 69 and I Sign together our Manifesto for Peace have published. there is in parts of the political and media Public opinion in Germany Downright hysteria erupted. What have we not been accused of? What have we not been accused of? And thus vicariously, of course, also to the more than 600,000 signatories of our manifesto. 'We are cynically unscrupulous to the moral henchman Putin, may even be paid by Putin.' And yet people have undeterred signed our Manifesto every day. There are more who sign the manifesto. And I have to say again, that's great, of all of you. Thank you very much. [Applause]
I mean the campaign against us, it culminated in an attempt [of accusing us of] Getting close to the extreme right. You can see how sick the discussion in Germany has become. In the meantime, since when is the call for peace, the call for diplomacy and negotiations on the right and a war frenzy probably on the left? Some of them seem to have completely lost their political compass. [Applause]
And I say, yes again, in all clarity, just to deter anyone who wants to spread everywhere, again, because it's actually happening, it goes without saying, but I'll say it again anyway: neo-Nazis and citizens of the Reich who live in the tradition of regimes that are responsible for the worst World Wars in Human History have no place at our Peace rally. That goes without saying, I thought. [Applause]
But that's exactly what I say to everyone who honest heart who want to demonstrate with us for peace and negotiations, is welcome here. And we shouldn't make such a stupid debate out of it, it annoys me at what level in Germany is now under discussion. It's really unspeakable. [Applause]
And I think that, too, I would like to say yes again if we already talk about legal openness [transparency]. That's a Concept that has often been used in the Pre-rally. if we are already Talk about openness [transparency] to the law, then the kriegstrom murderers should damn well hold their own noses. People who have no shame to ally with others, the very real Nazis, for their not thinking there, e.g. of the former rude ambassador and foreign minister hopeful of Ukraine Melnik [ Andriy Melnyk ] is not a hero. Melnik and other greats of his country make no secret of the fact that they are, for example, make a national hero out of the Nazi collaborator Stefan Bandera. I would remind that the anti-Semite is jointly responsible for the murder of thousands of Jews, Poles, and Russians. And this man is admired by Melnik and others, and our war drummers join forces with them and tell us something about cross-friendship and legal openness [transparency]. What kind of mendacious debate? I would like to say that again. [Applause]
But the hysterical roar, that is, animal roaring in parts of politics, and of course the media, also shows they are really afraid of us, are afraid of a new Peace movement. and I think they also have reason for it, namely Fear that they will no longer pursue their policies can easily continue in this way, and I tell you that is exactly why we are. I would like to ask the Commissioner whether he is aware of the fact that the Commission has not yet So please be able to continue if they are afraid that's a compliment for all of us [Applause]
There is a lot at stake. There is a lot at stake. On the one hand, it is about that terrible suffering and dying in of Ukraine is about Russia simply offer of action to Instead of an endless War of attrition with ever new weapons To ammunition I mean you have to that let's imagine the White House like this Weiden has Armaments companies for many years Contracts concluded for many years contracts concluded with the supply Ukraine with weapons for: For many years, the war machine ammunition is used so that you do not have the Running out of weapons. What kind of weapons is this? Insane and cynical politics. And then also stand there and say, 'this is solidarity with the Ukraine'. What is this lie? [This] is not solidarity, this is the exact opposite of this [Applause]
I am in solidarity, that is quite clear. Solidarity would be everything to do to Ending dying, means solidarity Saving lives, not destroying lives. Solidarity means for peace, to engage, and not for war. and you don't need tanks for that. you need diplomacy, negotiations, and Willingness to compromise on both sides. That's what you need for that is in solidarity. And yes, of course I say that too. Of course, this appeal also to the President of Russia. Of course, Putin must also be prepared to Negotiations and compromises. Ukraine must not have a Russian protectorate. However, according to all the reports we have on the peace negotiations, in the And at that time the then Prime Minister of Israel Bennet and also the Turkish Government, according to all reports on the Negotiations at that time, it must be said that are obviously not at the time at the Russian side failed. and also I think that's part of the truth [Applause]
it is therefore a question of dying in the Ending Ukraine. but it's also about More. This is already mentioned here. It is also about the risk an extension of this war to the whole of Europe, possibly all over the world. to avert this risk and it is damn big this risk. we have all seen the impact of a Ukrainian missile in Poland. at that time the yes initially as a Russian missile. This is the case. in the case of the that the first crazy people actually have already demanded the alliance case must enter now. and we all Know but it can actually times a Russian missile even accidentally beyond Ukraine. and what happens then we have the In the case of alliance? we then have the world war that is, with each day on which this War is changed and with each deadly weapon that we continue to use, additionally deliver to this powder keg, the danger of a major war is growing throughout Europe and possibly in the And that too, we must absolutely stop. also stand against it. We are here today because this is a irresponsible development, must stop. [Applause]
Or are we told that's the Putin propaganda. no dear people too [Is] the UN Secretary-General Is Well Bossy, recently warned very clearly that the world is just about to work with sighted Eyes, with eyes wide open, in a Going into a big war is good, also a Putin propagandist? my God the you can only close your eyes like you can only be drunk on war that one does not see this danger. that is madness to be responsible for this and [Applause]
or do some think maybe, 'oh this Danger we have to accept heroically because we fight for the good and on the right side of the History'. and the I would like to say clearly, no. who is in danger of a nuclear inferno does not stand on the right side of the story, and who does not do everything in his power the risk of such an escalation To banish the also does not fight for the Good but he is irresponsible [Applause]
The Atomic War Clock The nuclear war clock currently stands at 90 Seconds before 12 the scientists they have recently taken care of this watch Brought forward once again the Federal Government is interested in this Not at all never even in the Cold War the world was so close to the threshold of a nuclear inferno and therefore Are we here today because this must not this atomic clock must continue again back damn it she has to go on away from 12 o'clock and not always closer Get your turn [Applause] I can still remember my childhood and youth remember that was the 80s Years of the 20th century that was the Time where about Missile stationing in Germany was discussed and discussed worldwide about Star War Programs I am grew up with the fear of a great war with the fear of a Mushroom cloud over Berlin and I can still remember how grateful I was when then with Michael Gorbachev a new era began a Time for disarmament talks, and Disarmament treaties and that was a time where you had the feeling yes now begins a new age an age of Disarmament of cooperation and cooperation common security I admit I had in the years then almost forgotten how it was feels when you're afraid of war Today I know again today, 30 years after Gorbachev, Putin with the START agreement just the last disarmament treaty still in force put on ice, he did that after The United States had previously signed the ABM Treaty. INF Treaty and the Open Sky Agreement had quit today nobody talks more of disarmament today upgraded as much as possible and the Nuclear arsenals are being modernized today politicians of our country want Gorbachev his reunification owes Russia ruin today Russian should German battle tanks Shooting at Russian soldiers again and at least Melnik is sure that fighter jets will soon be delivered become dear friends We must stop this madness That is why we are here today [Applause]
Dear friends: we live yes in an Orwellian world. What We are actually told for Stories, Tanks create peace. what if save People live and the Ukrainian Oligarchs capitalism [are just as] Corrupt [as] the Russian are allegedly fighting for our Freedom and our Democracy. George Orwell already knew when everyone believed the spread lie, then the lie went down in history and became the truth. and therefore Let's say clearly we believe yours Don't lie anymore we know the weapons kill and tanks are there for war lead
[Applause] and we also know we also know that our freedom is not defended in Ukraine Just as little as before at Hinterkusch And it doesn't work and it is not about army values in This war is about NATO and the Extent of the American sphere of influence And that is why we are here to ensure that this senseless dying stops and we are also because we are aware of the German Government not represented feel [Applause] We do not feel represented by a Green Foreign Minister [Applause] [Music] a Green Foreign Minister like an elephant in a china shop over The international parquet tramples and their public statements so little in the Handle has that she just accidentally Russia declares war no by woman Bärwalk we do not feel represented [Applause] And we don't feel represented by Panzer Toni and all the Greens Waffenarren that give the impression You would like to go with loaded pipe in the leopard go Russia What kind of debate is this Petra Kelly would turn away from this party with frizzy You have to say that clearly [Applause] oh dear friends and friends we feel We are also not represented by a Armaments lobbyist Strack Zimmermann of the The business error [Applause] Rheinmetall's balance sheet and Co obviously more at heart is the fate of the people in Ukraine or even world peace no from this woman and from an FDP where the penalty carpenters set the tone we do not feel represented [Applause] But we also don't feel represented by a chancellor who, although initially always hesitates and for thoughtfulness and But caution advertises anyway regularly in front of the warriors in of his coalition and a red Crossing line after next no Mr. Scholz also feel from them We do not represent each other because that is a fatal policy [Applause] We don't want to We don't want that with Germans. Tanks on the great-grandchildren of those Russian Women and men are shot their Great-grandparents actually from the more Power in a bestial way millions of them were murdered do not want that on their great-grandchildren Again shooting is done with Germans Weapons also because we are here because This is really completely They have forgotten history no longer in the head at all German history once was [Applause] Sorry here is a Rescue operation please make room that who gets through that is very important I would just like to say in between and we love friends and friends we want That's not why we're here that Germany is becoming more and more let this war drag on for so long until the war is possibly here We don't want that at all In the case of the case, and against this, we would be in favour of That's why we are so numerous here no an end to the war again [Applause] We keep it We keep it with the big pacifist writer Bertha by Suttner who once wrote no reasonable person will occur Ink stains with ink Wash away oil stains with oil to wherellen only blood that should be repeated again and again with blood Be washed out no Love Friends we want not let us shed the blood stop we stand up for peace and against the war we are here and we will not disappear anymore let us Today marks the start of a new strong peace movement in Germany thank you very much [Applause]