Stardate 20030419.1042

(On Screen): Chancellor Schröder apologizes:

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Saturday he deeply regretted "exaggerated remarks" critical of U.S. moves against Iraq that soured his relations with President Bush.

In a further attempt to repair U.S.-German relations strained by his outspoken criticism, Schroeder said he was confident the dispute over Iraq would not cause long-term problems between the two countries.

"I deeply regret there were exaggerated comments -- also from cabinet members of my previous government," Schroeder told Der Spiegel magazine when asked if there were "grounds for self-criticism" for damage he caused to U.S.-German relations.

The only problem with this is that he already did this once. He based his political campaign going into the August elections on public anti-Americanism, and after the election he then tried to suck up, in a fashion uncannily like what he's saying here.

And as soon as he faced more electoral difficulties in December, he put on his hate-America hat again. Why should we believe that he's any more sincere this time than he was the last time? Fool me twice?