America To Pull Its Tank Units Out Of Germany

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 1-10-2004 | David Rennie

[Michael81Dus]

Yeah, I know. Knowing that and the friendly posts I can read so often is what makes stays here on FR so pleasant, despite all the (natural) anger. :-)

[Michael81Dus]

Yes, it was a narrow victory for English. Rumors state that it was one-vote majority, and just because a German-speaking delegate was late because of the bad weather.

Re: bashing
Those people still thinking of the "either with us..." should keep in mind that Iraq is not all - and think of the support in the other parts of the war on terrorism.

[Prodigal Son]

It's about time!!...should have been started on a small scale years ago..we'd be out of there now

LOL, actually it was started on a massive scale in 1991 by President Bush. Over a period of years we basically reduced our presence in Germany by 2/3. For guys like me who wanted to stay in Germany, it was quite difficult to make that happen sometimes. You'd wind up taking a lot of odd assignments (like guarding the port in Antwerp, Belgium) in order to stay past your PCS or in exchange for orders to the right place in Germany. (LOL, it wouldn't do to go to all that trouble to stay and then wind up non-deployable in Hohenfels. Some stations were definitely better than others.)

This is the logical outcome of the end of the Cold War and the Draw Down.

[RightWhale]

Ironic, isn't it? The coming decade could bring Europe closer to a conflict

I am just watching out of curiosity to see how this marriage will unravel. Of course when it does we will all be sucked into the whirlpool. As usual.

[americanbychoice]

I am actually in agreement with Schroeder and Chiraq. They should have a Franco-German-Belgien Defense force. It is time the US comes out of Germany and Belgium since our mission is no longer prevalent.
It would also save a lot of money and the troops could be used more effectively.
Of course, there may be the argument: "But we don't have the money to do this". Well, do what you do best, invent a new tax, called defense taxes?

[VeniVidiVici]

Actually, I don´t think that anyone would bother if we´d chose to build up nukes on our own (or buy some American-made). There´s a trust in Germany that we pose no threat to anyone...

I'm sure many nations do feel that way, Michael. But I'm also pretty sure that Poland and, especially, Russia, would not like a nuclear Germany.

I like Germany and the German people. I lived in Augsburg for three years and Berlin for four. The Bavarians and the Berliners, as a whole, were very appreciative of the American presence.

The SPD and the Watermelons can go pound sand, but they were the only bad thing :-)

[Michael81Dus]

The SPD and the Watermelons can go pound sand, but they were the only bad thing :-)

LOL!

I think Russia has no saying regarding nuclear weapons for Germany. Granted, it´s speculation, but Poland and Germany have good relations, even since we actively supported the admission to NATO and EU. And I can imagine a buildup of nukes in a European defense strategy (as part of the NATO-strategy), so that everyone knows we would not threaten our neighbours. After all, this is very unlikely, because I cannot think of a situation that D.C. revokes its security guarantee - and of a country that would launch NBC-weapons against a member of NATO.

But now that I think about it: it was Kohl why we have excellent relations with our neighbours. Schröder actually only deteriorates it all.

Thanks for having contributed to my security!

Michael

[americanbychoice]

Nukes would never work in Germany.
The populous (peacenicks) would be up in arms. They are going to shut down their nuclear energy reactors because of the greens. They protest when material is moved through the country. You would see demonstrations that would make the ones in the eighties look like gatherings.
By the way,Energy will become very expensive in Germany.
I always say let the demonstrators tke the nuke waste home and store it under their bed, they may like glowing during their favorite pasttime? It doesn't evn make any sense at all. I saw it in the '80s, I was there.

[Michael81Dus]

I´m sure that protests would happen, but I´m also sure that the politicians here would agree to build up nukes in case of a revoke of the US sec. guarantee. Well, it´s all speculation, but the CDU/CSU/FDP would never allow us to exist without nuclear deterrence.