Germany classifies AfD as "extemist", and USA declares a diplomatic row

Germany's BfV domestic intelligence (spy) agency has officially labelled the country's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party as an "extremist" organization, publishing as evidence a 1,100-page report on the party's racist, anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim profile, its activities in deliberately stirring up "irrational fears and hostility" towards individuals and groups, and its incitement to undermine democratic institutions.

This might not seem like a big deal, but the designation legally allows BfV to officially and unofficially monitor the organization, to recruit informants, and to intercept party communications. It open up the way to closer surveillance of the organization, even clandestine spying. Other political organizations classified as "extremist" in Germany include the far-right National Democratic Party, Islamic State and the Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany.

Given that AfD is now one of Germany's major political parties, coming in second to the conservative coalition of Friedrich Merz in last February's elections, and even topping some current nationwide polls, the new "extremist" designation puts an unwelcome spotlight on the party and its machinations.

The AfD is predictably apoplectic at the announcement, calling it politically motivated and defamatory and "a blow against democracy". It has promised legal action, although it has already lost a court case in which it tried to challenge the BfV. 

Almost as predictably, that other right-wing extremist organization, the Trump administration in the USA, has condemned the move, setting off a major diplomatic row between the two countries. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the BfV's announcement "tyranny in disguise", and Vice President JD Vance called it the rebuilding of the Berlin Wall by the German establishment.

*Sigh* When America feels obliged to publicly support such illiberal, anti-democratic organizations as AfD as a knee-jerk reaction, how far down that road has it already travelled itself? Is there any way back?