Bundeswehr to say Bye to the Balkans

The German Defence Minister has announced that the number of German soldiers stationed in the Balkans will be reduced this year, just as the Parliament has extended the German peacekeeping mission in Macedonia.

Germany's Defence Minister Rudolf Scharping is well known for putting his foot in his mouth and landing in diplomatic muddles.

True to his style, his latest announcement that German troops in the Balkans will be slashed drastically this year comes close on the heels of the Parliament's decision that German soldiers will continue to participate in the Nato peace mission "Amber Fox" in Macedonia for another three months.

In an interview with the newspaper, "Die Welt", Scharping (photo) said the German troop deployment in the Balkans must be consolidated. German soldiers must be especially eased of their civil duties such as those in the field of policing. The German commitment in the Balkans must be substantially reduced, he said.

"Clear perspectives to reduce the commitment in Kosovo and Bosnia must be developed", he said.

Recent media reports suggest that the German army or Bundeswehr has been suffering from low morale and is overstretched by participating in a number of peace keeping missions outside Germany.

The latest blow to the army is the casualties suffered in Afghanistan. Just recently the Bundeswehr kicked off an information tour to attract more youngsters to its ranks.

The army suffers from a lack of fresh blood. About 25,000 officers have to be trained every year, but there simply aren't enough applications.

Meanwhile on Friday the German Parliament voted that German soldiers continue with their leading role in the successful Nato peace mission "Amber Fox" in Macedonia. The extension of the Macedonia mandate is expected to involve an additional 13,4 million euro.

Scharping said, "over the next months we must strengthen the gradually growing mutual trust between the various ethnic groups in order to avoid endangering the fragile reconciliation process". German soldiers would contribute towards bringing about a lasting peace in the region, he said.

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer emphasised that there was no alternative to the extension of the mandate.

The peace mission in Kosovo is a "successful example of conflict prevention" he said. A whole country has been saved the trauma of civil war. But Fischer warned against too much early optimism.

At present 4647 German soldiers are stationed in Kosovo as part of the Kfor mandate, in neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegowina another 1710 soldiers within the Sfor mandate.

The peacekeeping troops were initially meant to carry out their duties in the region till March 26. But in February, the Macedonian government requested the NATO to extend the peace mission to prevent a recurrence of the bloody conflict in Macedonia.

The peace mission in Kosovo is a "successful example of conflict prevention" he said. A whole country has been saved the trauma of civil war. But Fischer warned against too much early optimism.

I don't believe he said that.

“I don't believe he said that.”

Fischer and Scharping, quoted in this article, are 2/3 of the “Infernal Trio” mentioned back in April 1999:
PLOTTING THE WAR AGAINST SERBIA: AN INSIDER'S STORY, a confession to a priest, which I believe is real.

Both the entire NATO propaganda staff as well as the Infernal Trio, Schroeder, Scharping and Fischer, here in Germany are unabashedly lying to the public with nearly every "fact" they present about the Balkans War, while a willing media pack is keenly spreading these lies, unverified, as gospel truth.

The peace mission in Kosovo is a "successful example of conflict prevention" he said. A whole country has been saved the trauma of civil war. But Fischer warned against too much early optimism.

I don't believe he said that.

Yes, Great Dane it is true! Also according to the Washington Post editorial Progress in Kosovo< /sarcasm >

For the august Foreign Minister Fischer, the peace mission in Kosovo is a successful example of conflict prevention. Yes, this is a lie--as he better than many knows. Such comments are only for public consumption, serving to reinforce past lies, while preparing the public for a possible shift in policy.

A whole country has been saved the trauma of civil war.

Is he referring to Kosovo as a country? Perhaps, he could address the trauma of life in Kosovo under the successful peace mission? But that cannot be! An honest journalist, rather than merely reporting in wide-eyed wonder, would have asked Mr Fischer about the authenticity of the alleged Serb plan of ethnic cleansing, code-named Horseshoe that he revealed, thus providing impetus for the illegal attack on Yugoslavia. The document was a forgery. Mr Fischer has no doubt avoided commenting on the devastating success of that fabrication. Of course, that is all evidence which will be brought forth during the Big Hague Trial.

The honest Mr Fischer cautions us against having too much early optimism-- here, while sounding merely ridiculous, he stumbles into a truthful statement: Yes, optimism plays no part in a catastrophe.

You forgot the famous story when one of those three recounted how the Serbs would turn on the gas taps in an albanian house and leave a burning candle in the attic so that the house would be blown apart. It was pointed out that gas is heavier than air....

VRN

Yes, a perfect example of a lie as serpent, uncoiling and striking itself! When lies are faithfully reported and endlessly repeated, they undergo a transformation which allows them to live even after their falsehood has been exposed. Serb demonization has something of the textbook about it: For the demonizers the truth was never enough, thus, the need to resort to lies and distortions. And then even if the truth comes out, shuffle it aside, and repeat the mantra of lies--until enough time passes by: so goes the contempt for the average reader or watcher of world affairs. Thanks for the perfect example of a lie faithfully reported.

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