What kind of ally is Germany?

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere refuses to warn Germans about the new risks.

In an article entitled "Germany downplays terror threats announced in US, British travel alerts"  Deutche Welle, the German state broadcaster,  reports on the reckless behavior of certain German officials:

The US media have extensively covered the US State Departments' travel alert for Europe, even naming specific targets in Berlin and Paris. But Germany says the threat of a terror attack is no higher than usual.

US television broadcaster Fox News, citing intelligence sources, reported that the Brandenburg Gate, the notable television tower at Alexanderplatz, and the central train station were specific targets of potential terror attacks in Berlin.

...despite specific targets being mentioned, the interior ministry in Berlin sees no reason to increase Germany's terror threat level and has said it will continue its current state of vigilance.

In a statement to reporters on Monday afternoon, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said that although there continues to be a general "high abstract threat" of terrorism in Germany and other European countries, he warned against overreacting to the travel advisory and media reports.

"There are currently no indications of any immediate threat of attacks planned against Germany," said de Maiziere. "There is no reason whatsoever to be alarmist at the moment."

This story by the German broadcaster neglected to mention that the present terror threat emanates from Hamburg:

A group of eleven or so jihadists from the German city of Hamburg are alleged to be at the center of the recent al Qaeda plot to launch co-ordinated terrorist attacks against European cities, according to a new report by CNN.

The German government has no business downplaying the severity of the threat.  That's why, during an emergency cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday tonight, Fear Sec. Malcolm P. Stag III is likely to urge President Obama to recall the American Ambassador to Germany.  

Of course, that's unlikely to help the situation.   This is not a case of a few bad apples in the Reichstag.  The truth of the matter is that today Germany is a mere shadow of its former self.