Readers Comment on Lantos, World Bank and Dresden's Bridge

The following comments reflect the views of DW-WORLD.DE readers. Not all reader comments have been published. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

Provocative comments from a US congressman

It's too bad that Lantos can comment on international affairs and is so quiet about the anti-government activity of San Francisco. It looks like he is more concerned about European politics. He sounds like a bag of wind. I've never heard of him here. -- Joseph F. Grimley, US

I hope the chancellor isn't upset over Lantos' remarks, although I understand why some kind of formal response needs to be issued. Lantos proves that in a democracy, anybody may be elected. He's a self-parody who makes outrageous remarks to get news coverage. Lantos and Zsa Zsa Gabor are on the same intellectual level, except she's marginally more attractive. -- Denis Arvay, US

Tom Lantos and seemingly more and more US congressmen consider the world in a "good and evil" dichotomy: Islamic "fascism," and Russia and Schröder representing the "evil." Regardless of Schröder's flaws, he did understand that the Russians demanded respect and would be ready to take European concerns seriously in a closer economical relationship. Hence, the Baltic pipeline project is a geo-strategic necessity for improving Russo-German relations. Today, the extreme measures by the US in building a missile defense system to further antagonize Russia is an illustration of the US intention to destabilize relations within Europe. -- Atilla Amir Iftikhar, Pakistan

Robert Zoellick is the US nominee to head the World Bank

Choosing a leader for the World Bank

Most management positions are based on qualifications and heading the World Bank should be based on competence and honesty. -- G. Gosau, Canada

I view the trust that governments and non-US citizens place in the World Bank and International Monetary Fund as being, at a minimum, misplaced. Why would a member of a government dedicated to the destruction of any opposition by force of arms choose to run an organization that allegedly promotes peaceful development worldwide? I would prefer that the World Bank and International Monetary Fund be limited only to advisory opinions, thereby rendering them uninteresting to the likes of Wolfowitz. -- Thomas Clark, US

Dresden bridge plans

Plan "B" for Dresden's bridge over the Elbe River

I looked at the article's illustrations of the bridge plans and couldn't see how the newer version would be more acceptable than the original. If the problem is that the original design is too modern, then its potential replacement, while simpler, is still very modern. If the problem is that the original had too lofty of a profile, then the new version might be seen as an improvement. Frankly I prefer the first design -- it's very graceful. The altered design looks truncated and lacks the artistic, flowing lines of its parent design. But if the main objection is that the bridge design doesn't mesh with a "cultural heritage" designation, perhaps the solution is to redesign the bridge entirely and give it the appearance of having been constructed centuries ago. -- Katherine Crank, US

For crying out loud, can't Dresden build a bridge in the "classic sense" to enhance the amenities of the Elbe and what the world would like to think of as a world class city? On the other hand, all the fuss over a bridge is a little ironic considering the history. -- Ed Mueller, US