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Quiz: Match these 11 insults with the world leader they targeted Quiz: Match these 11 insults with the world leader they targeted
(2 months later)
A German book with the title “Legacy – the Kohl Transcripts” has made headlines before even being unveiled on Wednesday.A German book with the title “Legacy – the Kohl Transcripts” has made headlines before even being unveiled on Wednesday.
The book, consisting of interviews with former chancellor Helmut Kohl, will enrich the world’s collection of political insults. It alleges that Kohl took a shot at one of his successors, Angela Merkel, accusing her of being unable to “eat with a knife and fork" – an apparent reference to her more humble East German upbringing.The book, consisting of interviews with former chancellor Helmut Kohl, will enrich the world’s collection of political insults. It alleges that Kohl took a shot at one of his successors, Angela Merkel, accusing her of being unable to “eat with a knife and fork" – an apparent reference to her more humble East German upbringing.
Merkel wasn't the only German leader apparently targeted. "He is a big liar," Kohl reportedly said of former president Christian Wulff. "And he is also a dead duck with lots of bad luck.”Merkel wasn't the only German leader apparently targeted. "He is a big liar," Kohl reportedly said of former president Christian Wulff. "And he is also a dead duck with lots of bad luck.”
The interview tapes have been subject to a legal struggle for years, and, according to some interpretations of a 2013 court verdict, the publication of the book is illegal. However, excerpts were already printed in this week’s edition of Der Spiegel.The interview tapes have been subject to a legal struggle for years, and, according to some interpretations of a 2013 court verdict, the publication of the book is illegal. However, excerpts were already printed in this week’s edition of Der Spiegel.
While Kohl’s remarks were probably never meant to be published, other political insults made in the past certainly meant to find an international echo. Insulting other politicians might not even necessarily be a bad idea, according to a 2008 op-ed by Joseph Tartakovsky:While Kohl’s remarks were probably never meant to be published, other political insults made in the past certainly meant to find an international echo. Insulting other politicians might not even necessarily be a bad idea, according to a 2008 op-ed by Joseph Tartakovsky:
The well-turned insult is a necessary and salutary force in politics, a spicy seasoning in an old, force-fed dish. It's a check on pomposity, proof of democratic vitality, a relief from endless electioneering, and a show of intelligence and moderation. The dull and the bigoted are rarely witty.The well-turned insult is a necessary and salutary force in politics, a spicy seasoning in an old, force-fed dish. It's a check on pomposity, proof of democratic vitality, a relief from endless electioneering, and a show of intelligence and moderation. The dull and the bigoted are rarely witty.
The well-turned insult is a necessary and salutary force in politics, a spicy seasoning in an old, force-fed dish. It's a check on pomposity, proof of democratic vitality, a relief from endless electioneering, and a show of intelligence and moderation. The dull and the bigoted are rarely witty.The well-turned insult is a necessary and salutary force in politics, a spicy seasoning in an old, force-fed dish. It's a check on pomposity, proof of democratic vitality, a relief from endless electioneering, and a show of intelligence and moderation. The dull and the bigoted are rarely witty.
Proof of democratic vitality? Well, not always. Here are 11 political insults hurled by world leaders and politicians.Proof of democratic vitality? Well, not always. Here are 11 political insults hurled by world leaders and politicians.
Last year, Australian opposition politician Mark Latham accused this former Australian Prime Minister of having been  "quite truthfully, ... a bastard" and went on to call him/ her a ''once-in-a-century egomaniac."Last year, Australian opposition politician Mark Latham accused this former Australian Prime Minister of having been  "quite truthfully, ... a bastard" and went on to call him/ her a ''once-in-a-century egomaniac."
(AFP PHOTO / MOHD RASFAN)(AFP PHOTO / MOHD RASFAN)
(AFP PHOTO/STEPHEN CHERNIN)(AFP PHOTO/STEPHEN CHERNIN)
(Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Concordia Summit)(Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Concordia Summit)
After the Italian parliamentary elections in 2013, Germany’s former finance minister and then-candidate for the Chancellor’s office Peer Steinbrueck, compared this Italian politician to a clown.After the Italian parliamentary elections in 2013, Germany’s former finance minister and then-candidate for the Chancellor’s office Peer Steinbrueck, compared this Italian politician to a clown.
In 2011, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy called this international leader “a liar” while speaking to Barack Obama.In 2011, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy called this international leader “a liar” while speaking to Barack Obama.
In June, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Deshchytsia used a slang word that roughly translate as "d---head" to refer to this world leader.In June, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Deshchytsia used a slang word that roughly translate as "d---head" to refer to this world leader.
(AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Government Press Service)(AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Government Press Service)
(ALEXEY DRUZHININ/AFP/Getty Images)(ALEXEY DRUZHININ/AFP/Getty Images)
(GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)(GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)
In 2005, British Prime Minister David Cameron targeted this person by saying that "[he/she] was the future once.”In 2005, British Prime Minister David Cameron targeted this person by saying that "[he/she] was the future once.”
Samantha Power – who currently serves as the United States Ambassador to the U.N. – called another famous American politician a “monster” in 2008. “You just look at [him/ her] and think, ‘Ergh,’” she said. Whom did she refer to?Samantha Power – who currently serves as the United States Ambassador to the U.N. – called another famous American politician a “monster” in 2008. “You just look at [him/ her] and think, ‘Ergh,’” she said. Whom did she refer to?
(Photo by Jeff Daly/Invision/AP)(Photo by Jeff Daly/Invision/AP)
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
In 2009, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy allegedly described this European leader as “perhaps not very intelligent.”In 2009, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy allegedly described this European leader as “perhaps not very intelligent.”
In 1975, former British Member of Parliament Jonathan Aitken had to apologize for having criticized this politician with the sentence: “[He/ She] probably thinks Sinai is the plural of sinus.”In 1975, former British Member of Parliament Jonathan Aitken had to apologize for having criticized this politician with the sentence: “[He/ She] probably thinks Sinai is the plural of sinus.”
In 2013, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro called this politician the “grand chief of devils.”In 2013, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro called this politician the “grand chief of devils.”
(REUTERS/KCNA)(REUTERS/KCNA)
(AP Photo/SANA, File)(AP Photo/SANA, File)
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
In August, an unidentified policy department spokesman at the North Korean defense commission called this politician a “wolf donning the mask of sheep.”In August, an unidentified policy department spokesman at the North Korean defense commission called this politician a “wolf donning the mask of sheep.”
Former French President Charles de Gaulle once said: "When I am right, I get angry. He gets angry when he is wrong. We are angry at each other much of the time."Former French President Charles de Gaulle once said: "When I am right, I get angry. He gets angry when he is wrong. We are angry at each other much of the time."
(AP Photo/Staff/Putnam)(AP Photo/Staff/Putnam)
(AP Photo/File)(AP Photo/File)
(AP Photo)(AP Photo)
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