A MESSAGE FROM GERMANY (New York Times – February 16, 2003) MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO, America and its allies liberated Germany. The United States helped Germany overcome its total moral and material collapse and rejoin the community of Western democracies. DURING THE COLD WAR the shadow of totalitarianism descended upon East Germany and Eastern Europe. The United States stood firmly on Germany‘s side. In 1989, American support enabled the peaceful unification of our divided country. THE PARTNERSHIP between Germany and the United States forms the backbone of modern Germany. A democratic, united Germany within a unifying Europe at peace with itself and its neighbors embodies that partnership. ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, as terrorists attacked New York and Washington, the German people and government stood side by side with the United States. Millions of Germans demonstrated their sense of outrage and offered their support. German soldiers helped defeat the Taliban and play a lead role in rebuilding Afghanistan. Germany is aware that international terrorism threatens not only the United States, but all countries for whom democracy and freedom of expression are founding principles. TODAY, as the world faces new challenges, from the ever present scourge of international terrorism to the spread of weapons of mass destruction, we reaffirm the bond between the United States and Germany. The last five decades have brought Americans and Germans closer together. The stereotypes of the past have been replaced with common understanding and friendship. The German-American partnership is more than politics and business, important as they are. It reflects a community of values. The willingness to defend these values unites America and Germany. THREE GENERATIONS of Americans and Germans have joined hands to ensure that our countries may live in peace, freedom, prosperity and security. For the overwhelming majority of Germans, the relationship with the United States remains of vital importance. Current differences of opinion between governments over the question of Iraq must not be allowed to sever that bond. We, the members and friends of Atlantik-Brücke, the oldest German-American friendship organization representing many present and future leaders of Germany, will do our utmost to preserve that bond for future generations. A Message to the People of the United States of America A Message from Germany			A Message from Germany