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Skybird · 12-07-22, 06:16 PM

The Neue Zürcher Zeitung comments:
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The Putsch That Would Never Have Happened

Did Germany's security authorities really thwart the great Reichsbürger conspiracy, or were they possibly shooting at sparrows with cannons? The historic large-scale operation and the accompanying media coverage raise questions.

Even though there is great excitement about the alleged "Reichsbürger" conspiracy that German security authorities have uncovered and foiled, an upheaval or civil war is truly not imminent in Germany. The delusions of a few sectarian die-hards are in no way comprehensible to the overwhelming majority of Germans.

Constitutional protectors estimate that the entire "Reichsbürger" scene comprises around 21,000 people, or 0.025 percent of the population. In this specific case, 52 people have been arrested or accused. Good work by the authorities, one might say.

Nevertheless, there are points to be concerned about and questions to be asked. Point one concerns the danger posed by radicalized members or cells of extremist movements: Terror is always possible. An open society, a democratic-accessible government quarter, the transportation and energy infrastructure for 83 million people cannot be protected one hundred percent.

Violent overthrow by military means?

In this context, the record of German police authorities and intelligence services is to be commended: Neither right-wing extremist nor Islamist terror has hit the Federal Republic as hard as, for example, the United States, France, Belgium or Great Britain. Hopefully, this will continue - without excesses in surveillance legislation.

What is disturbing, however, and this is point two, is the involvement of active and former soldiers and police officers in plans for a "violent coup with possibly military means," as the Attorney General puts it. Again, the overwhelming majority of German police officers, soldiers and reservists are loyal to the constitution and are likely to be appalled by the confusion of their (former) comrades. But apparently the milieu of the security forces also always attracts some authoritarian anti-democrats.

Such people have no place in the civil service. The sooner they are identified and gotten rid of, the better. At the same time, the defense minister, the interior minister and their state colleagues have a duty to put themselves before all the others, the upright guardians of the state's monopoly on the use of force. The general suspicion that some media are always quick to formulate against the police and the Bundeswehr must be resolutely rejected by the leaders of the executive branch.

The confused logic of the conspiracy theorists

The self-declared Reichsbürger advocate ludicrous positions, such as that the German state does not exist at all, or that Germany is a "limited liability company" (GmbH) that regards its citizens as "personnel" - which, according to the logic of madness, can already be recognized by the name "identity card."

The third question that must be asked accordingly is: How do adult, apparently not even uneducated citizens come up with such ideas? And how can the emergence of such conspiracy-theory-based world views be prevented?

A look at the U.S., where former President Donald Trump is supported by the supporters of the QAnon group, shows that these can be politically dangerous. They are trying to abolish representative democracy, and to do so, they make use of ludicrous tales about "satanic elites" and politicians who allegedly drink the blood of children.

Radicalized educated citizens

What to do? In Germany, one knee-jerk reaction to right-wing extremism is to call for more political education. But would a Frankfurt financial advisor, a judge, a doctor of law, and a doctor (all of whom were probably slated for the "cabinet" of the new coup government) have been reached by this?

We are dealing with an extremism that, to all appearances, exists in the middle of society without causing any offense in everyday life. The alleged ringleader, Henry XIII Prince Reuss, is 71 years old. Possibly it is also about violent fantasies of pensioners who feel powerless - think of the 75-year-old woman who was unmasked in October as the head of a gang that had planned the kidnapping of the health minister.

Without wishing to offend any of the 20 million over-65s in Germany: Perhaps political moods that lead to conspiracy extremism today also have something to do with demographics? If so, it would be a matter of not remaining silent about aberrant opinions because it is so exhausting to argue with those who hold them: All democrats would be called upon to take that effort upon themselves.

A lot of press for police action

Finally, a fourth point is disturbing: there had been talk in political Berlin for days that there was "a big deal in the bush." Some media outlets obviously knew about the impending raids and arrests, because many editorial offices published extensive reports almost simultaneously - as if after a blackout period - on what was actually quite new breaking news.

A moderator of the parliamentary channel Phoenix used the peculiar formulation "We are quite glad that we have not heard anything about it beforehand, then the news afterwards is all the more stormy". This sounded almost as if someone felt obliged to reject the suspicion of broad advance information.

Why would organized media coverage of the operations be a problem? Because it could have meant either an incalculable risk for the success of the whole action. Or because it would indicate that the matter was not yet so dangerous. In the latter case, the impression could arise that this was primarily - or also - a political public relations exercise. That would then be water on the conspiracy theory mills, which must be fought.
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12-07-22, 06:16 PM	#1793
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,524 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	The Neue Zürcher Zeitung comments: ------------------------------------------ *The Putsch That Would Never Have Happened* Did Germany's security authorities really thwart the great Reichsbürger conspiracy, or were they possibly shooting at sparrows with cannons? The historic large-scale operation and the accompanying media coverage raise questions. Even though there is great excitement about the alleged "Reichsbürger" conspiracy that German security authorities have uncovered and foiled, an upheaval or civil war is truly not imminent in Germany. The delusions of a few sectarian die-hards are in no way comprehensible to the overwhelming majority of Germans. Constitutional protectors estimate that the entire "Reichsbürger" scene comprises around 21,000 people, or 0.025 percent of the population. In this specific case, 52 people have been arrested or accused. Good work by the authorities, one might say. Nevertheless, there are points to be concerned about and questions to be asked. Point one concerns the danger posed by radicalized members or cells of extremist movements: Terror is always possible. An open society, a democratic-accessible government quarter, the transportation and energy infrastructure for 83 million people cannot be protected one hundred percent. Violent overthrow by military means? In this context, the record of German police authorities and intelligence services is to be commended: Neither right-wing extremist nor Islamist terror has hit the Federal Republic as hard as, for example, the United States, France, Belgium or Great Britain. Hopefully, this will continue - without excesses in surveillance legislation. What is disturbing, however, and this is point two, is the involvement of active and former soldiers and police officers in plans for a "violent coup with possibly military means," as the Attorney General puts it. Again, the overwhelming majority of German police officers, soldiers and reservists are loyal to the constitution and are likely to be appalled by the confusion of their (former) comrades. But apparently the milieu of the security forces also always attracts some authoritarian anti-democrats. Such people have no place in the civil service. The sooner they are identified and gotten rid of, the better. At the same time, the defense minister, the interior minister and their state colleagues have a duty to put themselves before all the others, the upright guardians of the state's monopoly on the use of force. The general suspicion that some media are always quick to formulate against the police and the Bundeswehr must be resolutely rejected by the leaders of the executive branch. The confused logic of the conspiracy theorists The self-declared Reichsbürger advocate ludicrous positions, such as that the German state does not exist at all, or that Germany is a "limited liability company" (GmbH) that regards its citizens as "personnel" - which, according to the logic of madness, can already be recognized by the name "identity card." The third question that must be asked accordingly is: How do adult, apparently not even uneducated citizens come up with such ideas? And how can the emergence of such conspiracy-theory-based world views be prevented? A look at the U.S., where former President Donald Trump is supported by the supporters of the QAnon group, shows that these can be politically dangerous. They are trying to abolish representative democracy, and to do so, they make use of ludicrous tales about "satanic elites" and politicians who allegedly drink the blood of children. Radicalized educated citizens What to do? In Germany, one knee-jerk reaction to right-wing extremism is to call for more political education. But would a Frankfurt financial advisor, a judge, a doctor of law, and a doctor (all of whom were probably slated for the "cabinet" of the new coup government) have been reached by this? We are dealing with an extremism that, to all appearances, exists in the middle of society without causing any offense in everyday life. The alleged ringleader, Henry XIII Prince Reuss, is 71 years old. Possibly it is also about violent fantasies of pensioners who feel powerless - think of the 75-year-old woman who was unmasked in October as the head of a gang that had planned the kidnapping of the health minister. Without wishing to offend any of the 20 million over-65s in Germany: Perhaps political moods that lead to conspiracy extremism today also have something to do with demographics? If so, it would be a matter of not remaining silent about aberrant opinions because it is so exhausting to argue with those who hold them: All democrats would be called upon to take that effort upon themselves. A lot of press for police action Finally, a fourth point is disturbing: there had been talk in political Berlin for days that there was "a big deal in the bush." Some media outlets obviously knew about the impending raids and arrests, because many editorial offices published extensive reports almost simultaneously - as if after a blackout period - on what was actually quite new breaking news. A moderator of the parliamentary channel Phoenix used the peculiar formulation "We are quite glad that we have not heard anything about it beforehand, then the news afterwards is all the more stormy". This sounded almost as if someone felt obliged to reject the suspicion of broad advance information. Why would organized media coverage of the operations be a problem? Because it could have meant either an incalculable risk for the success of the whole action. Or because it would indicate that the matter was not yet so dangerous. In the latter case, the impression could arise that this was primarily - or also - a political public relations exercise. That would then be water on the conspiracy theory mills, which must be fought. ------------------------------------ __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.