Germany Will Not Aid US Soldiers In Chemical, Biological Attack

CNSNews.com ^ | 3/07/03 | R. Raghavendra

[kattracks]

Berlin (CNSNews.com) - Adding another sticking point to strained relations with the United States, Germany says its troops will not come to the rescue of American soldiers if they invade Iraq and face a chemical or biological attack there.

German defense minister Peter Struck said Friday that his forces will only defend and assist American soldiers and civilians based in Kuwait, where some German troops are currently stationed.

German soldiers in Kuwait possess equipment to detect contamination by biological and chemical weapons. But if the attack takes place in Iraq, German troops will not go forward to assist U.S. soldiers or their allies.

"Our soldiers will remain in Kuwait because the defense agreement applies to the citizens and American troops stationed in that country," Struck said in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung. "The protection of American soldiers advancing in Iraqi territory must be taken on by the Americans themselves."

Germany has stood firm in its view that there should be no war. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder reiterated this stance Thursday when he said that the United Nations and the international community should discuss ways to achieve a peaceful solution. On Friday, Germany's foreign minister told the U.N. Security Council that there are "efficienct alternatives to war in Iraq."

After a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the German Chancellor said that Germany, France and Russia agreed that there was no need for a second resolution.

"The cooperation of Iraq has got better, but it still needs further improvement," Schroeder said. "Germany's basic position will remain intact, and it is a very, very firm position."

The German government has also announced that it would not help finance the rebuilding of Iraq if America invades. In 1991, Germany did not play an active military role in the first Gulf War, but it shared a large portion of the financial burden.

Last week, Berlin turned a request by NATO for additional Patriot air defense missiles for Turkey. The German government said that it had already fulfilled its obligation to NATO.

At the same time, however, Germany is prepared to increase the strength of its troops in Kuwait. The defense minister said that he would send additional troops to Iraq's neighbor to maintain security if the U.S. presence at Camp Doha is reduced because of war.

Last week, Germany said that it would send some 30 additional soldiers to join the elite troops operating the Fuchs - vehicles specially fitted with advanced equipment for detecting chemical, biological or nuclear contamination. The vehicles are stationed about 60 miles from the Iraqi border.

The German parliament has authorized the deployment of 800 elite troops in the region.

But the opposition Christian Democratic Union criticized the defense minister for his position on assistance to U.S. troops.

Friedbert Pflueger, the CDU foreign policy spokesman, described the move as "dangerous and unwise."

"I can't imagine that a German defense minister would deny emergency help for attacked American soldiers in Iraq only kilometers from where the Fuchs are stationed," Pflueger said.

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[vbmoneyspender]

What´s the difference between murder and murder??

Are you seriously asking what the difference was between our dropping the a-bomb and your compatriots gasssing 6 million people?

[americanbychoice]

Try all Eastern Block countries, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Australia, New zealand etc., etc.
Your correlation between gassing millions of jews vs Hiroshima saying "Murder is Murder" is pathetic. One was dropped to end the war saving countless lives, the other was gassing people because of their heritage without an act of war.
After your ranting these last few weeks, I can only summise that because of your repeated inconsistencies, that you are only a black painted Watemelon. Green on the outside, red inside. The black paint (CDU)is only a cover.

[b4its2late]

If they aren't interested in severing relations, I'm sorry, but they aren't doing a good job at proving it. They've been fighting us all the way, through the joke UN and even through NATO.

They stood behind us after September 11th, but like the rest of the leftists in the world, they have short memories. If the same thing happened in Germany on September 11, 2001, do you think we'd do the same thing to the Germans if they were seeking to oust Saddam in 2003? I don't think so.

I guess I have to blame the German people, because they voted for this guy for his stance against us. Hopefully, they'll see the error of their ways and vote the guy out.

We were stupid enough to have clinton in for 8 years too. And if we're lucky, our alliances will outlast this current German regime. And we here in America are going to have to pay, in more ways than one, for many years for allowing clinton to live in the White House.

[Kay Soze]

They should since they provided the materials for the WMD's in the first place.

We must bomb the industrial sites within Germany that supply these materials.

These matreials will be used used to kill kids from the US and we must be certain the enemy is not resupplied.

[Michael81Dus]

No, I was asking what the difference between murder and murder is. Everybody realizes and acknowledges the difference between some tens of thousands deads and more than 6 million victims.

[Michael81Dus]

I thought we had an agreement. NO RESPONSES ANYMORE. And especially not on the board.

I don´t care what you say. You´re insulting my nation all the time .... I don´t wanna listen to your words...

[Kev-Head]

If the Germans ever need our help I hope we tell them to stuff it. But I doubt we would, because we have a way of doing what is right.

[LaGrone]

It is so ungrateful for the Germans and French to act the way they both are. It is fine to disagree with us about war with Iraq. But they should say they will vote no to the resolutions considering military action.

They should not, however, blantly recruit other countries to oppose us, and hamper us at each turn. You might say they owe us to be a little better than that. And if it is true that Germany does not help Americans with detection of WMD, etc, then they can certainly go straight to HELL!!

Retribution for them after this war will be a pleasure to watch.

[vbmoneyspender]

You need a basic course in morality. The difference between our killing people at Hiroshima and your country's gassing 6 million jews is the difference between killing foreigners who attacked you and killing fellow citizens whose religion you found distasteful.

[Michael81Dus]

I agree, that we have this s#itty situation regarding Iraq is Clintons fault of 1998. Noone understands why he didn´t attack when Saddam threw out the inspectors.

Like most Europeans we don´t see a connection between 9-11 and Iraq. Media show interviews with former CIA-agents saying that there´s no connection.

Between the lines, I see hope. That´s good.

[EverOnward]

This site below lists german products that I will NOT purchase. If anyone else has information of german products, I'd appreciate it as well.

http://www.germandata.com/pages/companies.html

[b4its2late]

I think we are on the same page my friend. Keep the faith and so will I......

[Michael81Dus]

Well, there´s a bit more. I´m an opponent of bombing civilians. And Hiroshima caused majorly civilian targets. The reason for that was testing that new weapon and ending the Pacific war asap... it was killing with weapons of mass destruction which is defined as murder in our law.

[vbmoneyspender]

it was killing with weapons of mass destruction which is defined as murder in our law.

Well, all I can say to that is that I thank God everyday that our law and our society is different than yours in Germany and France. BTW, do you find it the slightest bit ironic that given your country's past history you deign to lecture Americans about mass-murder?

[Michael81Dus]

Of course the behaviour of France and Germany is contra-productive for the US- but this is the bad game of policy.
Germany and France try to challenge the US in that question... for whatever the reason may be. Nevertheless, they´re destroying the basics of the relations.

But I´m concerned by the terms used on this board too. You´re not better than F/G when punishing the nations for their opinions. Calling for the invasion of France and Germany is so silly and I just imagine how you would react if French called for the invasion of the US.

We should calm down and define our relations after the war on new basics.

[tomahawk]

The German government can go to Hell.

[Kay Soze]

We need to start counter demonstrations against the nations which have all along continued to supply the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein.

Directly violating UN resolutions they continue to sell and smuggle weapons into Iraq.

Weapons France and Germany have sold AFTER the 1991 Gulf War which will be used to kill my countrymen.

We must start publicly burning French and German flags.

[tomahawk]

I almost wish the Soviet Union would come back into existence, if only to roll over Germany and France, crushing them under Red Army tank treds. It is a fate those nations of perfidy deserve.

[Kay Soze]

I hate these children of the NAZIS

I hope there is an "accident" which enables the complete wiping out of every german stationed in germnany!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

[DC native]

Can you elaborate on this comment? I live one mile from Dulles and I have been curious for some time about the group of young Germans wearing combat fatigues who live near me.