Posted on 12/17/2002 12:47:16 PM PST by RobFromGa
Iraqs declaration of its weapons programs contains explosive news for Germany, a Berlin paper has reported. The dossier is said to detail covert arms deals between German defense firms and Iraq. Just as the heated debates within the German government over the role of German troops and equipment in a possible war against Iraq seem to be cooling down, another potential bombshell threatens to reignite the fires. On Tuesday, the Berlin-based left-wing paper, Tageszeitung reported that aspects of the 12,000-page Iraqi report on Iraq's weapons programs, submitted to the U.N last week, could prove highly embarrassing for Germany. The newspaper - believed to be the first to have access to the top-secret dossier - has written that the Iraqi declaration contains the names of 80 German firms, research laboratories and people, who are said to have helped Iraq develop its weapons program. Germany, Iraqs number one arms supplier? The most contentious piece of news for Germany is that the report names it as the number one supplier of weapons supplies to Iraq. German firms are supposed to easily outnumber the firms from other countries who have been exporting to Iraq. They have delivered technical know-how, components, basic substances and even entire technical facilities for the development of atomic, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction to Iraq right since 1975. In some cases, conventional military and technical dealings between Germany and Iraq are said to date till 2001, ten years after the second Gulf war and a time when international sanctions against Saddam Hussein are still in place. The paper reports that the dossier contains several indications of cases, where German authorities right up to the Finance Ministry tolerated the illegal arms cooperation and also promoted to it to an extent. Wait and watch says German Finance Ministry The German Finance Ministry has said that it will react to the report only once it has studied the Iraqi declaration. "Well first wait till the report is in our hands," a spokesman from the ministry said on Tuesday. The spokesman however said that the German government of the time in 1990 had informed the parliament about such German supplies to Iraq. Ever since Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, there has been a strict embargo against the country. The spokesman said that there have been a few cases of violation of the embargo and the government has initiated investigations. German military exports to Iraq nothing new Explosive as the newspaper report may appear, its not the first of its kind. For months rumors have been circulating in the German media of murky deals between German arms companies and businessmen with Iraq despite the rigid embargoes in place. In October this year, a magazine of the German radio channel, Südwestrundfunk reported that electronics giant Siemens had delivered specialized technical equipment to Iraq for the treatment of kidney stones, but which could also under certain circumstances be used as a detonator for atom bombs. Siemens insisted that the device could not be misused because it had commissioned an Iraqi company to regularly monitor the equipment. In fact the delivery was even sanctioned by the sanctions council of the U.N. and the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA). The latest newspaper report also touches upon the gray zone between medicine and armaments and writes of so-called dual-use goods that can be used for developing weapons as well as for civilian purposes. The German government was apparently informed in 1999 of the delivery of such dual-use goods to Iraq, but is said to have turned a blind eye. German defense firms conduct roaring trade with Baghdad German arms companies in the meantime have been conducting booming business with Iraq in recent years. According to the German Federal Statistics Office, German military exports to Iraq have been steadily rising from year to year. From annual exports amounting to 21,7 million euro in 1997, the volume of exports for the following year shot to some 76,4 million euro. The trend continued in 2001 with exports to Iraq bringing German firms profits in the range of 336,5 million euro. German goods worth 226,2 million euro have already been shipped to Iraq in the first half of this year. Some of the official heavyweights in the export scene are the German electronics firm Siemens with medical equipment and energy distribution systems and carmaker DaimlerChrysler. Both are reported to rake in revenues worth double digit figures in the millions. Chancellor Schröder in precarious situation Though the German government has not officially reacted to the Iraqi declaration detailing its role in supplying Iraq with arms, there is little doubt that the issue is bound to stoke passions. Ever since Chancellor Gerhard Schröder refused to be part of any military action in Iraq before the German general elections in September, Berlins relation to Washington has been a strained one. With Schröder sticking to his pacifist line, but dithering over the level of cooperation with the U.S. in the case of a war against Iraq, the latest report is guaranteed to provide ammunition to the opposition who have strongly criticized Schröders policy towards America. Another real fear is that Schröders image as a staunch pacifist might now be sullied if it emerges that Germany has all along been helping the very leader who it has been unwilling to topple, to stockpile his weapons. The report could also provide the U.S. with an excuse to step up the pressure on Germany to give in to American military demands for deployment of German troops and use of German military equipment in the case of a military attack on Iraq. |
I don't think there have been any such demands. Nor do I think there will be regardless of the truth of this story.
There are some headaches we just don't need.
Hmmmm....now THERE'S an idea.
Yep. It's amazing how little the government of Germany has really changed over the years.
LOL....but SCHTUPIT! (for the Schröderites)
THAT'S for sure. We'll be fighting enough terrorists in Iraq and even Kuwaite...we don't need them at our troops' backs in Germany.
IMO, we'll take very little. No doubt if this report is proven via US intelligence gathering, the heat will be turned up on old Gerhardt just on account. Maybe we can even get him to stop listening to his knees knocking long enough to sign the shtupit order that allows German troops join in war on Iraq.
It won't be a political death sentence for him. It doesn't work that way in Leftville, Planet Earth. He'll make himself over into a new, tougher image, a la Joe LIEberman and will be relected when the time comes by a populace grateful for him putting aside his own fears in favor of the interests of his constituents.
German goods worth 226,2 million euro have already been shipped to Iraq in the first half of this year. Some of the official heavyweights in the export scene are the German electronics firm Siemens with medical equipment and energy distribution systems and carmaker DaimlerChrysler. Both are reported to rake in revenues worth double digit figures in the millions.
From military equipment sales talk it explains further that it is medical equipment and cars.
German exports are highly regulated. All this has gone through the UN administered program where the UN allows what equipment is to be imported in Iraq.
Anyway lets see what are the statistics for 1999 as we don't have any printed copies.
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.destatis.de%2Fpresse%2Fdeutsch%2Fpm2000%2Fp3920181.htm&langpair=de%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools
As the Federal Statistical Office communicates, 1999 war weapons (after demarcation of the law over control of war weapons) in the total value of 2 844 Mill became in the year. DM from Germany implemented. That were 0.3 % of entire German export in the year 1999. The export of ships (1 894 Mill. DM) made two thirds of the German war weapon exports out (combat aircraft, warships, combat vehicles, weapons and ammunition); as consequence of intensified supplies of warships these exports doubled themselves in relation to the previous year more than (+ 113 %).
The predominant part of the war weapons (1 570 Mill. DM) was already supplied with, like in the previous years, to NATO and to NATO states on an equal footing. Under these 1999 was Turkey (645 Mill. DM), the Netherlands (385 Mill. DM) and France (141 Mill. DM) the principal clients. With on an equal footing the war weapons (1 274 Mill. DM), exported to outside of NATO and you the states, concerned it 1999 almost completely warships and/or parts of it. This applies in particular to exports into those the NATO not belonging of customer countries Israel (940 Mill. DM), Brazil (212 Mill. DM) and South Korea (117 Mill. DM).
The development of the war weapon exports in the years 1993 to 1999 is shown by the following table.
WELL THAT IS THE OFFICIAL DATA.
What is more important is the implementation of President Bush's policy of IF YOU ARE NOT WITH US YOU ARE AGAINST US.
Basically we see a start of propaganda against states that do SUPPORT the war on terrorism but DO NOT SUPPORT Imperialistic wars for the sole benefit of United States.
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