Olaf Scholz’s dithering is damaging Germany’s international image

“The war raises many questions. Can violence be fought with violence? Can [true] peace only be established if force is not employed?” This pronouncement by Olaf Scholz raised a fair few eyebrows when tweeted, in a cryptic translation from the original German, by Germany’s delegation to nato. The delegation failed to explain that the chancellor had been speaking at a convention of German Catholics. It was a gathering of pacifists (who, as it happened, spent most of their powwow discussing whether Jesus was transgender). So perhaps Mr Scholz was questioning pacifism, rather than endorsing it? It was just one of countless examples of the German leader’s inept communication over the war in Ukraine.