Germany's Schroeder to offer Bush help in Iraq

AFP ^ | 09/18/03 | AFP

[Pikamax]

Germany's Schroeder to offer Bush help in Iraq 2 hours, 9 minutes ago Add Mideast - AFP to My Yahoo!

BERLIN (AFP) - Germany is prepared to help train Iraqi police and soldiers in a sign that its differences with the United States over the US-led war are over, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder revealed.

AFP/DDP/File Photo

Schroeder told Thursday's edition of the Handelsblatt business daily that the offer stood independent of any UN resolution on Iraq (news - web sites)'s post-war reconstruction.

Schroeder is expected to meet US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) next week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

It would be the first time they have held face-to-face talks in more than a year because of their acrimonious dispute over the invasion of Iraq.

A German government spokesman said talks, although not officially confirmed as yet, are "very likely" to go ahead.

Asked if he would make an offer to Bush at the meeting, Schroeder replied: "Yes, Germany is ready to help with the training of Iraqi police.

"Iraqi military could also be trained in our army colleges. And of course, we would also pay for this, as we do everywhere we are present."

Training could take place in Germany or elsewhere, he said, but it might be dangerous within Iraq.

"I have indicated that we are ready to help with training independent of a UN resolution."

[schaketo]

"Iraqi military could also be trained in our army colleges. And of course, we would also pay for this, as we do everywhere we are present."

Nazi indoctrination school? Who needs them? Are they going to train them to be cowards as they are?

[Prodigal Son]

Seems to dovetail in nicely with US/France trying to get back on the same sheet of music concerning Iraq.

[Prodigal Son]

What's this about nazis? I didn't see that in the article anywhere.

[Pikamax]

always said that france/germany would never hold out when it comes to getting some influence on Iraq and getting business deals. They can tout all they want about restoring the UN power, but what will drive any agreement is greed on their part.

[CasearianDaoist]

He is also feeling alot of heat at the ballot box. The SDP is not the monolithic power the liberal media would have us think it is. The "conservatives" (if that is what one wants to call them) are making real gains. Chirac and Schoeder clearing overreached themselves and they know it.

[Mon]

I know lots of people there who want him gone! Police and military there also felt totally different from him during the whole Iraq issue. The CDU/CSU really will have a shot at the next elections.

[geedee]

GREAT HOMEPAGE!

And CONGRATULATIONS on becoming a U.S. citizen.

If you had to guess, what would you think Schroeder's approval rating was in Germany?

I ask because I'm convinced him and ChIRAQ are nothing but devious little perverts who, with the EU Constitution and other similar nonsensical tactics, are determined to go nose-to-nose with the U.S. one day. I'm afraid far too many of my countrymen don't see this threat.

If Schroeder were replaced with a German "conservative" -- if there is such an animal -- ChIRAQ wouldn't have the gonads to take us on alone.

Again, congratulations. There is never too many GOOD Americans.

[Mon]

My sister said about 20 % approval rating, rofl!!!! Economy is not good, he is taxing everything and everybody......
I hope he will be gone soon and some better politician gets into his place! There are some good conservatives there, that want to crack down on internal issues and have better relations with us.
The French government, well, nothing new there huh? ROFL!!!!
Thank you so very much for liking my homepage and good wishes! I feel so at home here :)

[Mon]

I'm afraid far too many of my countrymen don't see this threat. I wanted to ping somebody but don't know how to do it. :)

[geedee]

I wanted to ping somebody but don't know how to do it. :)

LOL. Me either. I've only recently mastered the "Reply" option.

[RJL]

Germany's Schroeder to offer Bush help in Iraq

I’ll believe it when I see it. What’s in this for Germany?

France and Germany have failed to stand by their long time and generous ally and have taken a purely mercenary stand in Iraq.

France and Germany wouldn’t help the Iraqi people throw off a brutal murderous dictator. They haven’t seen their way clear to help Iraq in any way unless they are well paid with oil, rebuilding contracts or highest on their list, political power over Iraq and the US. They have refused to help at every turn.

I would prefer the US continue working with the Brits and the rest of the coalition of the willing, and tell Germany to keep kissing France’s…

[Mon]

ROFL!!! Maybe I can just freepmail him the link, there is an idea :)

[Mon]

Ping!

[Mon]

I wanted to ping somebody but don't know how to do it. :)
LOL. Me either. I've only recently mastered the "Reply" option.

I just was told to do the following: just reply to a post and put the person(s) that you want to ping in the "to" section, that's it! :)

[longjack]

Thanks for the ping, Mon.

The last I read the SPD was around 29% in opinion polls. The Union doesn't seem to be capitalizing on the sag, though.

Strong, trans-atlantic consrvatives like Schäuble have been marginalized. Stoiber and Merkel seem to have too different of personalities to pull the party together.

The SPD sag doesn't mean the Germans disagree with Schröder's anti-American position, AFAIK. It is more economy / unemployment related. I consider the the German media to be fiercely anti-Bush. Any meeting of the two will be played off as Bush giving in to Schröder. Any offer of help by Germany will be viewed as Germany bailing the U.S. out of a jam Germany told them would happen.

That's my opinion from scanning articles in "Spiegel", "Welt",etc., and watching the dpa wires. I think the German media is obnoxiously sanctimonious.

My 2 Cents.

longjack

[Mon]

Hi Longjack!
You are totally right! I am in touch with lots of people still in Germany, and half of them are supporting the US though. I can just talk about them of course :)
I read many articles especially in "Spiegel" and "Stern" and so much stuff was wrong (greencards and military, US military itself, some stuff they translated into German wrong etc.) made me mad. Of course the people then believe what they read.

[longjack]

My wife and I were going to move back to NordHessen in 2001. We kept my daughter in school over there that year (6th grade) so she could qualify for the university program.

Everything seemed to change after 9/11. We ended up bringing my daughter back, staying in the US, and choosing to move to Maine. I'm glad we did.

I'm really appalled at the way the German media portrays events.

I remember one incident in the recent war when two women, one pregnant, were forced to drive a car loaded with explosives into a a US checkpoint. All the German accounts I read left out the 'pregnant' when the describing the women, except, (of all things), CNN (Germany) / N-TV. That brutal detail, testifying to the bestiality of the Iraqi resistance, was withheld from many German readers.

It's not a Bush friendly media.

longjack

[Mon]

my sister is one that things

I meant "thinks"

[Mon]

my post didn't show up!