| Bush hitler comparison outrageous { September 19 2002 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://www.wjla.com/news/showstory.hrb?f=n&s=57080&f1=natWhite House Calls Bush Comparison to Hitler 'Outrageous' Posted - September 19, 2002 7:11pm http://www.wjla.com/news/showstory.hrb?f=n&s=57080&f1=nat
Washington (AP) - As tensions rise between the United States and Germany over differences on Iraq policy, the White House on Thursday called a German government minister's comparison of President Bush to Adolf Hitler "outrageous and inexplicable."
Justice Minister Herta Daeubler-Gmelin told a small group of labor union members on Wednesday that Bush was going after Iraq to divert attention from domestic problems. "That's a popular method. Even Hitler did that," the German newspaper, Schwaebisches Tagblatt, quoted her as saying.
The minister called the report misleading but did not deny the remarks. Opposition conservatives vying to defeat Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats in Sunday's parliamentary elections called for her resignation.
With the balloting approaching, Schroeder has offered repeated and outspoken opposition to Bush's drive for action against Iraq's Saddam Hussein, creating discord between the two allies.
Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer sought to downplay the impact on the relationship between the countries, but reacted strongly to the minister's remarks.
"The United States and Germany have a very long and valuable relationship, and relations between the people of the United States and Germany are very important to Americans," Fleischer said. "But this statement by the justice minister is outrageous and inexplicable."
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