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Greetings from the land of ruins

Fourteen years after the end of the Balkan wars, former Yugoslavia is still a poster child for anti-war tourism – By Ruediger Rossig

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle (FDP) made a three-day trip to the Balkans in late August. The European region is struggling with the political and physical legacy of conflict.

New ‘partyotism’

Germany was again a mass of black-red-gold during the South African World Cup – By Christian Semler

The German experience of nationalism in the past century was a fairly miserable one. As a result, showing the national colors became something of a taboo. But soccer has helped to dispel reservations over the German flag.

Time to break the deadlock

Kosovo needs a clear perspective – By Wolfgang Ischinger and Oliver Rolofs

After the recent advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the number of countries who believe that the Republic of Kosovo is, and will remain, an independent state, is likely to grow further. The question is whether the time is now right for a modus vivendi arrangement between Belgrade and Pristina.

Hamburg shuts down 9/11 mosque

The prayer house was a magnet for extremists – By Paul Hockenos

In the planning and execution of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, Germany played a small but critical role: It was in the northern port city of Hamburg that the attacks’ mastermind, the Egyptian-born university student Mohamed Atta became radicalized and committed to jihad.

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Big Brother’s not watching

The voyeurs’ revolt against Google’s Street View is vastly overdone – By Peter H. Koepf

Get off my property!

I don’t want Google to intrude in my private life – By Rafael Seligmann

Fit to serve?

Germany may soon suspend compulsory military service – By Kevin Lynch

Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg needs to make spending cuts worth $10 billion. He has proposed getting rid of the draft. But critics say conscription is a vital link between the military and society.

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