German Intelligence Had Knowledge of Iraq's Biological and Chemical Weapons Last Fall

Yahoo Germany / dpa ^ | 8 February, 2003 | dpa

[longjack]

Schroeder has some 'splaining' to do.

longjack

[Miss Marple]

Monsour Ijaz on Fox said this a couple of days ago. He must have good sources.

Now the big question: was this information kept from the US and other allies?

[wretchard]

Considering that German companies are said to have done a large part, if not most of the blockade running, it is not surprising that the Bundesnachrichtendienst got interesting answers to the question: 'what did you sell them?'

Chancellor Schroeder is understandably feels that any war in Iraq would be a lose-lose proposition. If the weapons are not used they will be discovered and their German provenance paraded for all the world to see. If they are used, as they probably will be against Israel, at least, then the paper shredders in Berlin had better go into overdrive.

[canuck_conservative]

The French are in there like a dirty shirt, too.

Kind of explains why those two countries are so hesitant about going to war against Saddam.

[Pontiac]

Kind of explains why those two countries are so hesitant about going to war against Saddam.

Both countries are also in a deep economic slump and would like to keep selling to Iraq.

His petrodollars are most welcome in these countries (no mater whose blood is on it).

[Michael81Dus]

No, it´s not new. In November, the BND gave a statement in a secret meeting of the German parliaments committee for foreign affairs, according to opposition parliament members and informed the members of their knowledge. It is also given to the US intelligences (partnership) and some of these evidences were shown by Powell on Wednesday, too, the media has reported about one week ago. The first to call the German government to release the informations to the public was a CDU-politician, Friedbert Pflügler, who´s in the committee. They call Schröder to say the truth now. Schröder himself will explain his Iraq policy on Thursday in the parliament (similar to the SOTU, but with discussions following his report).

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #4

This is a great opportunity to nail Franco-German leftists with filthy weapon's deals they made with Saddams.

Isn't it ironic that supposedly anti-war lefties will be undone by weapon's deals ? We have a sure winner here if this is true. We have to make sure that we can politically finish them.

[FreePaul]

...has detailed knowledge of...

This is just another way of saying that Germany along with France has supplied Iraq with the equipment and anything else they needed to continue the Iraqi biological and nuclear programs.

[evad]

"Kind of explains why those two countries are so hesitant about going to war against Saddam. "

That certainly is the main reason...and may be the only reason.

IMO

[Michael81Dus]

Completely wrong.
Show any evidences instead of lousy speculations.
Think! Schröders cabinet consists of so many peace-movement followers. In fact, his government reduced weapons exports.

[Miss Marple]

Thank you for the information. It is very difficult to distinguish what the German public knows from what we know, given the poor reporting on both sides of the Atlantic.

It seems to me that if the German people were given more accurate information they would be demanding Schroeder change his position (or at least a good many would).

[Michael81Dus]

Actually, the support for a US-led attack here grows. Now, only 53% (in Jan 59%) oppose any help, while 45% (Jan: 35%) want to povide at least logistical help to the US.

[longjack]

Michael: I posted this because it popped up on Yahoo after we talked about the release on the "Die Welt" site earlier today. It is easier for me to link to Yahoo

Is this the first time the news agencies in Germany have released this information to the public?

longjack

[magua]

chemicals=germans=no jews

[Miss Marple]

Thanks! I haven't seen that information.

While I am pretty sure that some Germamn companies have sold illegal items to Iraq, Americans shouldn't forget that we ourselves had the Loral sale to China. Illegal sales by certain companies and foolish statements by leftist officials should be seen as what they are, rather than inferring the attitude of the entire German people from those examples.

Mort Kondrake and Fred Barnes were on Fox News last night telling about how many German miltary and diplomats are privately upset about Schroeder's stance, and fear damage to German-American relations because of it. Since we went through eight years of Clinton, I understand your frustration at what is going on in Germany.

[Michael81Dus]

No, Die Welt news ticker informed us about Pfüglers statement in which he reproached the government with hiding BND evidences regarding Iraqi WMD last week.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I was planning on sending my parents to Ireland, Dublin and France...I'm seriously rethinking the France portion of the trip. I decided to boycott Germany several months ago when Schroeder used anti-Americanism as his campaign.

[Michael81Dus]

I´m frustated that 1. my government isolates my country
2. doesn´t help the US as it should be as a partner
3. you all think of us as if we all sell WMD to Iraq 4. the UNSC doesn´t want to vote for a new resolution
5. Schröder still is in power and so on... ;)

Well, till 1998 Kohl governed this nation. He is a real friend of the US (bearer of the Medal of Freedom) and of Bush sr. They visit each other regulary. Can you imagine he made deals with Iraq? I can´t, even because it is a crime here to sell weapons illegally (that´s why some businessmen are charged now) - and it´s illegal (UN sanctions). Schröder may be a lot, but not a criminal. His party and followers have no interests to support Saddam, but they have to say "we bring you peace!" It was hard for them to order our jets to combat against Serbia, now they get their chance to satisfy their pacifist followers.
He is selfish, but weapons were not delivered by the government.

[Michael81Dus]

Nonsense, two weeks ago, we shipped Patriot air defense batteries to Israel. We help Israel!

[Tripleplay]

I hope you are right about your government officials.

I am from the USA, consider myself a rational human being, and do not suffer from paranoia, yet I cannot understand why American politicians have supported Saudi Arabia for decades when they must know the Saudi's are the major source of funding for terrorist activities.

Conclusion? Saudi money has and is buying American foreign policy.