Following yesterday’s terror attack in Berlin, in which a person drove a truck into a Christmas market in a public square (ending my suspicion this was perpetrated by a radical Christian terrorist), murdering at least 12 people, the White House was quick to issue this condemnation of the attack.
The United States condemns in the strongest terms what appears to have been a terrorist attack on a Christmas Market in Berlin, Germany, which has killed and wounded dozens. We send our thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of those killed, just as we wish a speedy recovery to all of those wounded. We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the people and Government of Germany. We have been in touch with German officials, and we stand ready to provide assistance as they recover from and investigate this horrific incident. Germany is one of our closest partners and strongest allies, and we stand together with Berlin in the fight against all those who target our way of life and threaten our societies.
Let’s break it down.
Condemnation in strongest terms, thoughts and prayers to the victims and loved ones, condolences to entire German people, offer to provide assistance, followed by a statement as to closeness of ties with Germany and resolve to stand together with them and fight terror.
I thought I would compare to the typical US response after a terror attack in Israel.
Here is one from an attack on the Har Nof synagogue two years ago:
Statement by the President on Attack in Jerusalem
I strongly condemn today’s terrorist attack on worshipers at a synagogue in Jerusalem, which killed four innocent people, including U.S. citizens Aryeh Kupinsky, Cary William Levine, and Mosheh Twersky, and injured several more. There is and can be no justification for such attacks against innocent civilians. The thoughts and prayers of the American people are with the victims and families of all those who were killed and injured in this horrific attack and in other recent violence. At this sensitive moment in Jerusalem, it is all the more important for Israeli and Palestinian leaders and ordinary citizens to work cooperatively together to lower tensions, reject violence, and seek a path forward towards peace.
Let’s break this one down too.
Again, we have strong condemnation, followed by thoughts and prayers to the victims and loved ones. But no offer to provide assistance, statement as to closeness of ties with Israel nor resolve to stand together with us and fight terror. In fact, it ends with a plea for Israeli leaders to work with palestinian leaders to lower tensions, as if this a part of a “cycle of violence” and not a scourge that needs to be fought.
The hypocrisy and double standards have never been so evident.
Here’s hoping the new US administration puts an end to this.
