Germany Seethes Over Rumsfeld Jibe, Protests Planned

Reuters | 2/07/03

[kattracks]

Feb. 7

— MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld faces a hostile reception on Friday from German politicians and peace activists over his remark that the country's anti-war stance put it on a par with Libya and Cuba.

Rumsfeld was due to address an annual security conference in the southern German city of Munich on Saturday and was expected to argue that allowing more time for weapons inspections in Iraq makes sense only if Iraq cooperates with the United Nations.

Mass protests are planned in Munich on Friday and at the weekend against the security conference, Rumsfeld's visit and the threat of war in the Gulf, with police warning of possible violence. Some 3,500 officers are on duty to try keep the peace.

Rumsfeld's comments on Wednesday putting Germany in the same category as Libya and Cuba as states that would not be helpful in any international effort to overthrow Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein have infuriated many, putting new pressure on already strained transatlantic ties.

"These comments of Rumsfeld should help bring more people out onto the street," said Raied Naieem, a member of the anti-globalization group Attac that is organizing the protests. Rumsfeld is due to fly onto Germany from Italy later on Friday.

Rumsfeld's comments, which came just weeks after he riled France and Germany by labeling them "Old Europe" for their reticence over military action, angered many politicians too.

Karsten Voigt, the German government's top adviser on U.S. relations, said Rumsfeld was forgetting that Germany was deeply engaged in peacekeeping missions in the Balkans and Afghanistan.

"Whoever fails to mention that publicly, is making a political mistake, I think," he told Bayerischen Rundfunk radio.

While Germany has ruled out involvement in any military strike on Iraq, it has pledged fly-over rights and freedom of movement for the some 70,000 U.S. forces based in the country and German troops are helping to guard U.S. bases.

TIES STRAINED

In a separate interview with DeutschlandRadio, Voigt said: "It is not wise to so frivolously endanger a partnership, which is of high significance for us and the Americans, through negligent comments."

Klaus Naumann, former chaiman of NATO's military committee, said however justified U.S. criticism might be of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's opposition to a war with Iraq, Rumsfeld's comments were no way to treat a loyal ally.

"Germany is and remains a reliable alliance partner," he told ZDF television. "That's not the way to treat partners.

Schroeder, whose anti-war stance is popular in a country still haunted by World War II and was credited with helping him win a second term last year, has come under increasing pressure to soften his position or risk isolation if Washington eventually wins over other skeptical allies like France.

Richard Perle, a senior adviser to the Defense Department, blamed his center-left government for the relationship between Berlin and Washington reaching such a low.

"After the way the current government has treated the United States, repairing the damage in the near future is unlikely," he told the Handelsblatt business daily. "With a new government that would certainly be possible."

Germany, which holds the presidency of the 15-member U.N. Security Council, along with veto-wielding members France, Russia and China want inspectors to have more time to find out whether Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction.

As he arrived in Rome for talks on Friday, Rumsfeld insisted there would be "no hard sell" directed at France or Germany.

"They are going to make up their own minds and they have. Germany certainly has. I would assume they would stick with it. I just don't know. I don't know what France will do," he said.

He said the number of U.S. troops in Germany could be reduced under a study of U.S. basing needs that has been underway for two years, but gave no hint decisions were close.

[Michael81Dus]

Finland, Belgium and many other countries said they won´t help anyway, too.

[Rummyfan]

Bump for Rummy!

[An.American.Expatriate]

Michael,

I really and trully believe that the Germans in general and in this case syou specifically are too thin skinned!

Rumsfeld was TESTIFYING before a congressional committee. He was asked a question about support. He responded that 3 or 4 countries didn't support in any way ... these were Cuba, Libya & Germany. This is a statement of fact.

My "re-write" of Naumann was not to disparage him, but to point out that the sword cuts both ways.....

[Guillermo]

Didn't one of their Ministers compare Bush to Hitler????

[Michael81Dus]

I won´t discuss that anyway. Rumsfeld insulted a nation of partners. Now, with his behaviour, he makes me thinking if we shouldn´t call for the withdrawal of all US soldiers out of Germany. Why not veto all decisions in NATO and build up nukes for our own?

I told you, Rumsfeld went on rampage, and I get angry over that. It is inacceptable what he said and I´m wondering why no US spokesman hasn´t apoligized for that. You had your apologies after the comparison by former Justice Minister Däubler-Gmelin, too.

[Michael81Dus]

FORMER minister. She wasn´t re-appointed after the elections, she became unbearable.

[ricpic]

"I love Rummy! ;-)"


I love Rummy too. But I wish he would stay home in the runup to the war. Too much chance of an assasination attempt overseas.

[BlueLancer]

"(We're Americans...Cowboys of the Free World.)"

WINGER (Bill Murray):We're Americans .. with a capital 'A', huh. You know what that means? Do ya'? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world.

WINGER:Something seriously wrong with us. We're soldiers, .. but, we're American soldiers, and we've been kicking ass for 200 years! We're ten and one!

Stripes

[Guillermo]

If that idiot knew a thing about history, she would know that Hitler really didn't care much about domestic policy as he did for foreign policy and lebensraum.

To suggest that Hitler attacked Poland, Russia et al to distract from domestic problemsflies in the face of the facts, and is an attempt to apologize for him.

[Jumper]

Karsten Voigt, the German government's top adviser on U.S. relations, said Rumsfeld was forgetting that Germany was deeply engaged in peacekeeping missions in the Balkans and Afghanistan.

As I remember it two years ago, someone shot at the germans' 400 man peace keeping force and they pulled 181-men out without notification, and only told the UN about the rest pulling out when the convoy wheels were rolling.

So it's news to me that Germany stayed at all; Is it not funny, the German's run like that but only after close association with the French:)

[jimt]

He said the number of U.S. troops in Germany could be reduced under a study of U.S. basing needs that has been underway for two years, but gave no hint decisions were close.

And since there's no Soviet Union or East Germany anymore, why can't ALL those troops be brought home NOW?

[BlueLancer]

"Finland, Belgium and many other countries said they won´t help anyway, too."

True, but they haven't taken to the airwaves, proudly proclaiming that fact to God and the world.

Also, I don't recall their leaders making and using such a public display of anti-Americanism as the basis for their election to office, indeed making it the primary focus of their campaign.

[diggerwillow]

If I was Rumsfeld I would threaten the closure of our bases over there and leave the checkbook home. I wonder what affect that will have on their economy?

[An.American.Expatriate]

Michael,

why should he appologize for telling the truth? Or has Shcröder changed his mind and is willing to support the efforts against Iraq?

I have also not heard ONE WORD of apology from Schröder & Co for the "Bush is dumb" etc... comments which have gone on SINCE BEFORE HE WAS ELECTED!

Your (mostly state-run!!) media also consistantly paints Bush and his administration in a Black Hat, Doofus, Cow-Boy role. I have not heard a word of regret from them either.

In both of these cases, what was said was NOT the truth.

Oh and BTW, he did NOT say you were LIKE Cuba or Libya, he said you were among the group of three or four which included them. Big difference!

Lastly, let's negotiate a cease-fire. We'll ask Rumsfeld to tone it down if you can convince Schröder & Co to do the same.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Rumsfeld's comments on Wednesday putting Germany in the same category as Libya and Cuba as states that would not be helpful in any international effort to overthrow Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein have infuriated many...

Truth hurts, huh?

OK, Germany, tell us just exactly how you are going to be more helpful than Libya and Cuba.

(Sound of crickets chirping.)

[shhrubbery!]

Is it true that the only kind of humor Germans understand is Schadenfreude?

[Michael81Dus]

So, for what Schröder and the media should apologize? For their views? They are against that war, his opinion.

It´s unbelievable that Rumsfeld says we´re standing in a row with Lybia and Cuba - many other countries said they won´t help anyway during and after the war, not only these three. But he chose these three. Along with enemies...

Schröder nor the media said that Bush is a criminal, but stating that Germany is comparable to Lybia and Cuba means nothing else than that Germany has low-level motives (offensive?).

[Diana Rose]

Thank you! Well said.

[geedee]

WAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Those mean Americans!

[Michael81Dus]

If you´d take a closer look on my profile and my bookmarks, you´ll see!