Germany’s Choice: Will It Be America or Russia?

Germany’s Choice: Will It Be America or Russia?

John Emerson never stops smiling. On the evening of Friday, July 4 — Independence Day — the United States ambassador shook hands on the red carpet at a reception given by his embassy at Berlin’s former Tempelhof Airport, which has since been transformed into a park. Emerson greeted his guests with a diplomat’s practiced joviality. He faced an endless line of businesspeople, German government officials and celebrities, and although he could be seen sweating, his smile remained unbroken, as if to convey the message that all was still well in the world.