the new defense minister, thomas de maiziere, comes from a military family. his father was commander in chief of the german armed forces from 1966 to 1972. he served as interior minister to afghanistan several times, where german police have been training afghan officers. he is familiar with the chalnges that will face him in the defense ministry. he is also a very loyal merkle man. his nickname in parliament is "merkle's universal weapon." he has always acquitted himself very well. the cusu could have nominated a successor to gutteberg, but chose instead to take the interior minister. merkle is glad to have this reshuffle behind her as quickly as possible. >> we have incredibly high oil prices. gaddafi's forces are battling for control of the oil port brega. analysts are already beginning to doubt whether saudi arabia could fill the gap. crude oil traded in london at $115 this wednesday. these prices will choke off the economic upswing in europe if they persist. >> the oil facility is a prized both gaddafi loyalists and his opponents want to win. it is one o

the new defense minister, thomas de maiziere, comes from a military family. his father was commander in chief of the german armed forces from 1966 to 1972. as inr to afghanistan several times, where german police have been training afghan officers. he is familiar with the challenges that will face him in the defense ministry. he is also a very loyal merkle man. his nickname in parliament is "merkle's universal weapon." he has always acquitted himself very well. the cusu could have nominated a successor to gutteberg, but chose instead to take the interior minister. merkle is glad to have this reshuffle behind her as quickly as possible. >> we have incredibly high oil prices. gaddafi's forces are battling for control of the oil port brega. analysts are already beginning to doubt whether saudi arabia could fill the gap. crude oil traded in london at $115 this wednesday. these prices will choke off the economic upswing in europe if they persist. >> the oil facility is a prized both gaddafi loyalists and his opponents want to win. it is one of the key oil refineri