Posted on 10/05/2004 6:37:20 AM PDT by Rutles4Ever
Israeli jet fighters have forced an incoming Lufthansa airliner to land in Cyprus after a bomb alert that German officials had not considered serious. "We wanted to fly to Tel Aviv but the Israeli authorities forced us to land in Larnaca," said a Lufthansa official.
The flight from Frankfurt landed safely and security staff are searching it.
Three passenger jets - two from Greece to New York and one British Airways flight from Berlin - have been diverted after bomb hoaxes in the last 10 days.
"We came to the conclusion with the German authorities that this alert was not serious," a spokeswoman told the AFP news agency.
The threat was transmitted by telephone call to the Lufthansa office in Frankfurt.
There were 331 passengers and 18 crew on board the Boeing 747-400 jet, the spokeswoman said.
Perhaps you didn't get enough sleep and should go back to bed, it sounds like you've got the grumpies,
Has Germany ever had a terrorist fly planes into a skyscraper or it's chief defense building?
After that happens in Germany, come back and ask us that quesrion again.
We have 25k military in your country. You don't feel effected by that?
I am advocating this, but we have a record deficit in our budget, and a record debt - socialism sucks, don´t you know? Please consider, that it was the US having loved to play the big Brother for little Germany in the Cold war and even after it, saying we don´t need no stinkin´ nukes, saying we can rely on our big Brother. And so we did... we hope you keep your promise! However, the majority here understands that you withdraw many soldiers.
Note, I said "military spending". Increase it or not, the number of troops will be kept or not. We can live both ways.
Ah; very well then. Thanks for clarification.
And for one, I'm pretty sure that Kerry WOULD give both the UN and the EU essentialy "veto power" over America's defensive issues, unless perhaps we are attacked directly.
Even then I think that the EU would have considerable say as to our extracontinental retaliation options.
Giving other Nations this much power over ours could well be America's undoing - not a bad idea, in the minds of many both at home and abroad. And a few of us here at FR are pretty sure that Kerry is one of 'em, even though he won't come right out and admit it.
His actions of the 1970s era speak clearly enough about his attitude towards America - at least as a global "superpower", and I don't think that core attitude has significantly changed over the years.
I don't wonder that Germans are favoring Kerry; with him in office the money will probably keep flowing, regardless of how much the Deutch Government backstabs America or it's People loathe Americans.
With Bush, however (especially in a second term where he may not feel quite so obliged to play patsy with the "undecided / moderate voters"); - keep it up and you might see that Airbase lying cold and abandoned before long.
It might not be a bad idea to blow it all to hell prior to departure, for that matter.
Wouldn't want that sort of tactical assett being turned against us, now would we?
And don't bother crying to America for Forign Aid when your economy collapses, either.
I'm sure we'll have all we can do floating ours, given the way Bush likes to throw our money around.
By the way; the next time Deutchhland tries this "Riech" crap or to take over the Planet and exterminate the Jews again, I would expect to see someone (and it well may be Israel, who are not taking that kind of treatment again from anybody) take up on Berlin and Stuttgart where Truman left off in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
We don't want to EVER see that happen, now, do we?
So having our Troops in your Country keeping an eye on things is probably tacticly moot at this point.
They apparently will be more appreciated elsewhere - and besides; if Germany can't handle Freedom and Democracy after nearly 60 years of American occupation, then it probably never will.
Nothing against Deutchland personally - I even have a couple of Friends over there and would like to visit some day.
But it would not break my heart in the least to see ALL US Bases closed over there, and the only US Forces remaining in Deutchland being the Marine Guard at the US Embassy.
Thanks, Caro. I copied this message from another thread, because today I was fed up with this campaign. Now I feel better.
If the USA withdraws *all* troops from Germany, that'd be quite the economic blow, wouldn't it? Again, Germany should 'up' its own military and defend themselves.
If you're fed up with the USA Presidential Election then perhaps FR isn't the best place for you to spout off. Pity sake.
Then you might be in for a surprise. Even though the media might try to portray this administration as such, it is not clueless.
Actually the Germans are (finally) ramping up their military ,albeit at a relaxed pace.
1.They are building a new class of airdefence frigates,which offers pretty much most of the capabilities of 'Aegis' equipped ships(barring land attack).
2.They are building a new class of Diesel electric subs which use air independent propulsion for far greater endurance .
3.Their Eurofighters will reach optimum operational capability when it recieves the Meteor BVRAAM & the 'Taurus' Stand off cruise missile & are trying to export the aircraft along with the Brits to Australia,Singapore,India(which has a requirement for over 120 jets).
4.They are building up rapid reaction brigades in the German army for quicker reaction to 'Global trouble spots'.
5. For the nuclear part,there is always the French(!!!!) ,besides most of Germany's recent moves are aimed at building a pan European defence initiative.
"Kerry has lived in Berlin, and he says he wants more dialogue with his partners."
Michael, I'm disappointed! There you go again, taking Kerry at his word. As long as you do that there is no point for me to debate you further.
Face it. Your leaders have sold you out and have strained our countries ties. We're fighting to make sure the same doesn't happen over here to us. So if, as usual, you don't want to help - at least get out of the way.
I wish you and your country well, I really do. And I wish you all luck, because I believe you're going to need it. Have a nice day! :)
Amen! We need to keep Kerry out of the WH and you guys need to get rid of Schroder. Both of our nations would be better off.
Nah, come on. I know fellow reservists who reported to duty on 09/12/2001 - I won´t accept that you disregard the will to defend the NATO area. Every attack against any NATO partner will be responded adequately, and I don´t doubt the support of any member nation. After all, that´s what NATO´s good for.
Then, Germans don´t hate America or Americans. It´s ´just´ that a very large majority opposes your President, and I´m only among 15% who´d vote for Bush. They despise the "America first" attitude and forget that this is what he´s paid for.
Regarding Ramstein or whatever AB you´re talking about, I realize that you´re dreaming a nightmare.
We don't want to EVER see that happen, now, do we?
Never ever. And I´m surprised that you´re suspicious about Germanys intentions. Recently, my government has approved to sell the best non-nuclear subs in the world to Israel which could transport nuclear weapons. We are a friend of Israel, I don´t want this to be questioned.
Maybe you can experience our democratic society one day on your own. Make sure that you visit Berlin - a beautiful city between history and presence, and of course Munich, you will love the Bavarian cordial kindness,
Michael
So if, as usual, you don't want to help - at least get out of the way.
Well, I thought we did on Iraq, but obviously we did not, because the media allday covered the vocal opposition. Please keep in mind that we are on your side in Afghanistan and elsewhere (e.g. the Horn of Africa).
Thanks for wishing me luck, I may wish you the same, we need it!
So if, as usual, you don't want to help - at least get out of the way.
Well, I thought we did on Iraq, but obviously we did not, because the media allday covered the vocal opposition. Please keep in mind that we are on your side in Afghanistan and elsewhere (e.g. the Horn of Africa).
Thanks for wishing me luck, I may wish you the same, we need it!
You are well informed; one thing: we do NOT rely on the French on nuclear weapons. For us, the United States are our most important partner for the defense with nuclear weapons. I know that there are still nukes on German soil, and even a high-ranking military official has confirmed that we continue to cooperate with the US on that.
Can you name a few alternatives? I´d really like to know, because this is definitely as important (if not more) as the WMD-question in Iraq.
Well that's what some French official said a few months back-probably to soothe his ego!!!!!
ROFL, now that explains it all! :-)
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