The Speech We Should Have Heard at the G-20 (Der Spiegel, GERMANY)

At the financial summit in Washington, the international community was unduly respectful of the United States, neglecting to probe more deeply into the reasons for the crisis. Only one attendee was unruly -- German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück. Here's the message he didn't deliver to Bush.

First, the true part of the story: US President George W. Bush had invited the leaders of the world's 20 most important countries to a dinner at the White House last Friday evening. Because the financial crisis was the topic of discussion, each leader had the option of bringing along his or her finance minister. The first course, smoked quail, was to be served at 7:20 p.m.

Everyone was on time, except one man.

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