(From the diaries -- kos)
By now, most have read of the possibility that Obama would give an address before the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on July 24th. Arguably, alongside Normandy Beach, no other location in the world still holds the same symbolism for America's historical commitment to freedom and democracy.
An address there would be a historic opportunity not only to announce a new direction in foreign policy, but to demonstrate Obama's unique ability to restore America's reputation abroad.
(Obama currently leads McCain in German opinion polls by a staggering 72% to 11% --- leading with an even more staggering 86% among adults with at least a high school diploma.)
Instead, the event risks being trivialized by a domestic German political squabble, as the German government responds to political pressure from the Bush administration.
What happened?
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