« Previous | Main | Next »  Berlin's message to Athens: Be very,
very afraid  Post categories:  Robin Lustig | 10:04 UK time,
Friday, 18 May 2012  I don't know about you, but I'm beginning
to feel as if I'm watching the highest-stakes game of poker ever
played.  On one side of the table, sweating nervously, Greek
voters. On the other side, gimlet-eyed, poker-faced (sorry), the
German chancellor Angela Merkel.  And there, in the middle of
the table, where the pile of chips should be, the future of the
European economy. Which means, to you and me, our jobs, our
savings, our mortgages and our pensions.  Greek voters know
they're holding a lousy hand. And they know that Chancellor
Merkel knows. What they don't know is whether she's prepared to
risk everything on the possibility that they will keep upping
the stakes, even with no hope of winning.  After all, if they're
bust, they're bust -- so it doesn't matter how much they lose,
because they won't be able to pay. So maybe Frau Merkel will
fold first. Offer a lif