That Germany’s Minister of Defense Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg abdicated today was foreseeable, and inevitable. His doctoral thesis was plagiarism which is considered as grave scientific misconduct. That Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, who holds a PhD in science and is married to a German Professor in science, was allegedly short-taken by zu Guttenberg’s resignation today has to come as a surprise. One should assume that she had known the rules. A betraying Defense Minister is not acceptable.

It’s interesting to note that Germany’s weekly DER SPIEGEL once again won a battle with Germany’s no. 1 tabloid BILD which had favored gutsy zu Guttenberg until his bitter end.  The former’s reporters downed zu Guttenberg today as they fired off former Federal President Horst Köhler in May 2010. Well done.

Last modified March 2, 2011.