Posted on 05/29/2010 2:17:52 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Köhler under fire for 'economic war' remarks
Published: 27 May 10 16:34 CET
German President Horst Köhler sparked a political storm on Thursday by suggesting Germany’s military involvement in Afghanistan was partly motivated by its economic interests rather than solely to guarantee its security.
In an interview he gave during his recent visit to the strife-torn country, Köhler appeared to say that the public debate about the war in Afghanistan was gradually facing up to the fact that protecting foreign trade was a legitimate reason for military action.
The remarks from Saturday to broadcaster Deutschlandradio, which have just now been seized on by opposition politicians, have prompted a furious debate about Germany’s military deployment – and whether Köhler has damaged the image of the NATO mission in Afghanistan.
Köhler began by saying that Germany was in the country, alongside its allies, to ensure its security and that it was good and proper for these issues to be openly and robustly discussed.
He then added: “But my estimation is that, on the whole, we are on the way to understanding, even broadly in society, that a country of our size, with this orientation toward foreign trade and therefore also dependence on foreign trade, has to be aware that when in doubt in case of an emergency, military deployment is also necessary to protect our interests.
For example, free trade routes, for example to prevent instability in a whole region, which certainly have an negative impact on our opportunities via trade, jobs and income. All of that ought to be discussed and I believe that we are not doing too badly.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thelocal.de ...
Kohler? Everyone knows that Price Pfister is best!
How does driving around in Afganistan and getting shot at help world trade?
Opium perhaps?
But actually, it’s kind of an indirect thing because if Al Qaida has a safe haven is able to grow its following, free trade and safety of non-muslims will be at risk everywhere.
What kind of safe haven is a cave in the middle of nowhere? Is Al Qaeda even in Taliban strongholds or are they in Pakistan, which we’re not (officially) at war with?
Under fire? Everybody loves the bold look of Kohler.
He said the truth, where’s the controversy? Why are we in ME or in the China Sea?
In the mind of the 'ever-virtuous and offensively self-righteous' German left.
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