Posted on 03/07/2003 9:53:35 AM PST by 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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The dying shrieks of Socialist are being herd from France, Germany and Belgium... High unemployment and now the loss of their most profitable trade partner (Iraq) is putting the squeeze on European Socialist governments. Bush is forcing a political-economical-military campaign against the Euro with a low dollar, which further hurts these Axis of Weasels.
HAHA! Funny you should mention that. My wife and I have been doing just so with French products and have been getting many people to put wines, cheese, water and other French or French-owned products back on the shelf. And in NYC, no less!
Let's all do the same to the German Nazis.
Interesting. So, if/when Iraq demonstrates that it has not disarmed by gassing the coalition troops, our "friends" the Germans, will not do anything to help us.
At least it is consistent with their position in the UN--the position of hiding their spike-helmeted heads in the sand.
No excuse. Britain is governed by socialists and we're in the front line.
Regards, Ivan
Funny! I've been doing this, but with French products.
1871 - Bismark founds modern Germany.
1890 - Bismark sacked, warmonger Wilhelm II takes direct control.
1914 - Germany starts World War I
1914-1918 - Germany kills millions upon millions of people.
1917 - Germany force peace loving Americans to enter war.
1918 - Germany loses World War I.
1920's - Germans try democracy.
1933 - Germans reject democracy, allow Hitler to take power.
1939 - Germany starts World War II.
1939-1945 - Germany kills millions upon millions of people.
1941 - Germany force peace loving Americans to enter war.
1945 - Germany loses World War II.
1946 - Germans whine about lack of food, America gives billions in food aid to feed them.
1947 - Germans whine about crappy economy, America gives billions in Marshall Plan aid to rebuild German economy.
1948-1949 - America puts ass on line and risk WW3 to save a few Berliners from Soviet hordes.
1949 - Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) established.
1950's - America spends billions to defend West Germany from Soviet hordes.
1950's - German 'economic miracle' occurs while America keeps watch on Soviet hordes.
1955 - NATO formed to protect West Germany from Soviet hordes.
1960's - America spends billions to defend West Germany from Soviet hordes.
1960's - German students protest war in Vietnam and American civil rights.
1963 - American President John Kennedy makes "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech.
1970's - America spends billions to defend West Germany from Soviet hordes.
1970's - Germans form the marxist terrorist group Red Army Faction (RAF).
1970's - Leftist German guerrillas burn, loot, and plunder much of West Germany.
1980's - America spends tens of billions to defend West Germany from Soviet hordes.
1980's - German leftists bitch about Pershing II missiles.
1987 - American President Ronald Reagan makes "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" speech.
1989 - Gorbachev tears down Berlin Wall.
1990 - German Reunification.
1990's - America spends tens of billions to defend Germany from Islamic hordes.
1990's - Germany stands by as ethnic cleansing occurs in Balkans.
1993 - Germany joins European Union.
1995 - Americans send troops to Bosnia as Germans watch from the sidelines.
1997 - Germans finally send troops to Bosnia.
1998 - Hard-line, left-of-left socialist come to power under Gerhard Schroeder.
1999 - American's lead air war to save Kosovo as Germans watch from the sidelines.
2001 - Schroeder offers solidarity to America after 9/11 attacks.
2002 - Schroeder bashes America to distract voters during election campaign.
2003 - Germany sees rise in anti-Americanism after several decades of poor treatment from America.
AND YOU THOUGHT THE FRENCH WERE UNGRATEFUL?
Oh well thank you, one day we will return the favor.
Yeah, expansion from Don't Mess With Texas to Don't Mess With The U.S.
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