Killer App
CIA drones are killing terrorists -- and civilians -- in Pakistan almost every day. The unmanned aircraft are becoming the weapon of choice in the fight against al-Qaida and its allies. But the political, military and moral consequences are incalculable. SPIEGEL ONLINE has investigated Barack Obama's remote-controlled campaign against terrorism. By SPIEGEL ONLINE Staff more...
Germany's Catholic Private School Abuse Scandal
Accusations of abuse have been reported in 20 of 27 German Catholic dioceses. Has abuse of children become systematic? In a SPIEGEL ONLINE interview, Johannes Siebner, director of the College St. Blasien, discusses failures of the Church in dealing with the victims. more...
Reconstruction of a Mass Hysteria
Swine flu kept the world in suspense for almost a year. A massive vaccination campaign was mounted to put a stop to the anticipated pandemic. But, as it turned out, it was a relatively harmless strain of the flu virus. How, and why, did the world overreact? A reconstruction. By SPIEGEL staff. more... [ Forum ]
Interview with a Drone Pilot
US Major Bryan Callahan is a pilot. But while he sits in front of a monitor in America, his plane is flying over Afghanistan. In an interview with SPIEGEL ONLINE, he speaks about what flying drones is like, the difficulties of waging war in shifts and the daily stresses of his job. more...
Sarkozy's Crisis
He's unpopular, he's isolated and he has made enemies within his own party. President Nicolas Sarkozy is having trouble finding any success. Regional elections across the country threaten to turn into a debacle for the French leader's conservative UMP party. By Stefan Simons in Paris more...
The World From Berlin
Another general strike in Greece shut the financially beleaguered nation down on Thursday. But German commentators see a glimmer of hope, and now nobody -- including Germany's finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble -- believes there is any danger to the euro's long-term survival. more...
Taking on the Internet Giants
The German government has discovered the Internet and data privacy as a political issue. The new debate over who should control the online world reveals a clash of two cultures, with the American ideal of freedom contrasting with the European desire for privacy. By SPIEGEL staff.
more... [ Forum ]
Interview with Defense Expert P.W. Singer
US defense expert P.W. Singer from the Brookings Institution talks to SPIEGEL ONLINE about the stresses that drone pilots are subjected to and the risk of emotional exhaustion and burnout. The whole experience of war is being changed by the new technology, he argues. more...
The Eichmann Files
Fifty years after Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann's arrest by the Israeli Mossad in Argentina, basic details about his 15 years as a fugitive remain a government secret. The files kept by Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the BND, remain classified today -- allegedly for reasons of national security. A German journalist is now suing in a federal court for the release of the files. By Leon Dische Becker more...
Hands Off our Shackles, Please
Two decades after reunification, the German decision to call in a NATO air strike on fuel trucks in the Kunduz province of Afghanistan is a test of Germany's maturity. But even the handling of this incident has already turned a harsh spotlight on the shortcomings of Berlins security policy. By Constanze Stelzenmüller more...
Homage to Hasselhoff
A new book by SPIEGEL ONLINE writer Philipp Kohlhöfer explores facets of German culture both at home and abroad. In Los Angeles, he finds, there's no accounting for taste -- even Americans like David Hasselhoff. By Philipp Kohlhöfer more...
Waiting for the Rain
Only weeks after the country was hit by an earthquake, Haiti is threatened by the next potential calamity. The upcoming rainy season could turn overcrowded refugee camps into hotbeds of disease. And there has been criticism of the local government for not doing more to provide emergency accommodation. By Björn Hengst in Port-au-Prince more...
Countdown on the Baltic Sea
Preparations are fast taking shape for the construction of the controversial Nord Stream natural gas pipeline between Russia and Germany this spring. But it still faces a legal challenge in Germany from environmentalists, and critics say the project could disrupt the spring spawning of the herring found in the western Baltic Sea. By Christoph Seidler in Rostock more...
The World from Berlin
US Vice President Joe Biden praised planned low-level peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians this week as "a moment of real opportunity" -- just as a member of the Israeli government seemed to ruin the party by announcing a new batch of settlements on Israeli-occupied land. German commentators express unanimous disappointment. more...
Letter From Berlin
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle faces accusations of blurring the lines between his office, party politics and his private life. He has taken his partner Michael Mronz, an entrepreneur, on an official trip to South America this week along with several former donors to his pro-business FDP party. By SPIEGEL Staff more...
World War II Compensation
Germany approved the requisite legislation back in 2002, but many of those who worked in Jewish ghettos during World War II are still waiting for their pensions. Indeed, up to 90 percent of applicants have been rejected. Now, though, a new reading of the law could break the logjam, and cost Berlin up to 2 billion euros. By Christoph Schult more...
Better Late than Never
While the rest of the world has been pursuing business opportunities in South America, Berlin has been sitting on its hands. Now, with Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle looking for a signature issue, that may change. By Jens Glüsing and Ralf Neukirch more... [ Forum ]
World Trade
German exports surprisingly fell by 6.3 percent in January while Germany's biggest rival in world trade, China, enjoyed a 45.7 percent surge in February. It's worrying news for Germany which is relying on its export strength to drive its recovery. Analysts expect exports to grow this year, aided by a weak euro. more...
Czech Headache
German auto giant Volkswagen is having trouble with its subsidiary Skoda. Not only are profits down at the Czech-based automaker, but its cars are now competing directly with VW models -- and in some cases are beating them in road tests. By Dietmar Hawranek more...
Nuclear Disarmament
The US and Russia are currently negotiating a successor to the START nuclear disarmament treaty. But continued American plans for a missile shield in Europe have proven to be a major stumbling block. President Obama's vision of a nuclear-free world is in danger. By Christian Neef more...
The Hunt for Moderate Voters
Geert Wilders is known for his provocative positions on Islam and immigration. But the Dutch right-wing populist may moderate his rhetoric in the run-up to national elections in June, where his party is expected to do well. His rise, however, may ultimately end up benefiting left-wing parties. By Mirjam Hecking more...
The World from Berlin
EADS and its American partner Northrop Grumman have abandoned their joint bid for a $35 billion contract to build tanker jets for the US military, citing unfair competition as their reason for withdrawing. German commentators on Wednesday sense more than a whiff of hypocrisy from European governments. more...
Built on a Lie
The euro is under attack like never before, as the promises on which it was based turn out to be lies. Hedge funds are speculating against Greek debt, while euro-zone politicians work behind the scenes to cobble together rescue packages. But fundamental flaws in the monetary union need to be fixed if Europe's common currency is to survive. By SPIEGEL staff.
more... [ Forum ]
Interview with Iraq Expert Brian Katulis
High turnout in the recent Iraqi election is fueling hope that stability in the war-torn country may not be far off. But the challenges Iraq faces are still considerable. In a SPIEGEL ONLINE interview, Iraq expert Brian Katulis warns that the country must act decisively to ensure its own future before the United States finishes its planned withdrawal in 2011. more...
An Economic Fire Department for Brussels
A handful of European leaders want to move swiftly to create their own European take on the International Monetary Fund. The idea is to be able to independently address financial crises like that being experienced in Greece without the embarassment of turning to the IMF. But the move would be highly risky for everyone involved and could even paralyze the European Union. By Hans-Jürgen Schlamp in Brussels more...
