Peter K (Fionn): I have to concede that critisizing Israel is a problem for Germany/Germans, but has been done before - even by celebrities like author Martin Walser (same generation as Grass).

It is the fact that he gets things totally wrong that makes his statement worthless. Iran has threatened to destroy Israel, not vice versa. Had herefrained himself to critisize Israels politics toward the palistinians, he wouldn`t have got the shitstorm that he is getting right now.

I also agree with you that Gras`s joining the SS (voluntarily or not) can be explained with him being a misguided youth (even if I don`t get the part of the eastern front losing his significance: on the contrary saving the people from the russian troops was a strong motive then). What he has to be critiszed for are his double standards, that he executed for 60 years: he was always very critic of people involved in the third Reich trying to hide or belittle it, but he himself hid his membership in the SS and claimed to have been just a Flakhelfer (anti aircraft gun ammunition carrier). Quod licet Jovi....?

What about the pope, Greg F.?