Austria blocks U.S. troop transport

msnbc ^ | Feb 13, 2003 | Reuters

[11th_VA]

Rumsfeld says military may need to go around neutral nation

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 — Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Thursday accused Austria of blocking the movement of U.S. troops from Germany by rail through that neutral country to Italy, apparently part of a buildup of American forces preparing for possible war against Iraq.

A spokesman at the Austrian Embassy in Washington confirmed that the movement of U.S. troops was being temporarily blocked by his country...

[PhiKapMom]

You are so right -- Austria is no longer neutral!

[F.J. Mitchell]

Wasn't Adolph Hitler born in Austria? I rest my case.

[montag813]

A spokesman at the Austrian Embassy in Washington confirmed that the movement of U.S. troops was being temporarily blocked by his country...

This is no laughing matter.

I urge ALL FREEPERS to immediately contct their representative to sponsor a bill halting all imports of Austrian goods until and unless they relent.

It is time for the U.S. to play hardball with traitors who oppose us and therefore aid the terrorists. Any country which has its exports stopped at U.S. borders will be CRUSHED economically. It is about time we demonstrated this effect in reality. Austria may be just such an example to set (much as I like "Red Bull").

[F.J. Mitchell]

More like the rectum of Germany.

[bobi]

After the World War II in 1945 the Soviets agreed to pull out from Vienna (captured by them from the Germans) as long as Austria does not become part of any future allience like NATO. Therefore Austria was never part of NATO.

It is not an Act of War.

[UncleSamUSA]

You are exactly correct, but the only problem is that the only things I can think of that Austria produces are Nazi dictators, skiers and bobsledders.

Its like Belgium.. pipsqueak maggots that have no role in world affairs except to gum up the works for us.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Isn't this an Act of War ??

While I do not agree with Austria, please explain to me how it is an act of war for a country to refuse to let foreign troops cross into it's territory.

[F.J. Mitchell]

"When the terrorist attack them, we also will be neutral."

No we won't,and those Assturia holes know it.

[Jorge]

These cowards are either afraid of being targeted by terrorists....or they actually love Saddam the murdering dictator, more so than the leader of the free world.

[Ciexyz]

I remember taking a train from Munich thru Austria, Yugoslavia and then down thru Greece to the port of Athens. To get to the Mediterranean by train, it's easiest to go thru Austria.

So pull our bases out of Germany and station our troops closer to the Mideast hotspots. They're bottled up in Germany.

[Spiritus Gladius]

It also produced Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Which is a shame, because I kinda liked "True Lies."

[Spiritus Gladius]

Well, if you speak German, the name of the country is properly pronounced "Ost Reich." The literal translation is "East Reich," reich being equivalent to empire or kingdom. I don't know why this development surprises anyone.

[Hoverbug]

"You are either with us, or you are with the terrorists."
GW Bush

[caltrop]

Our obligation to NATO can be satisfied by our Air Force elements stationed in Europe. Our ground forces in Germany, about 75,000 GIs with dependents have no real mission, are difficult to deploy and cost a fortune to maintain. Our ground forces should be brought home to occupy some of the bases we're (foolishly) thinking about closing. The only ground force unit that should remain in Europe is the 173rd Airborne. They're in Italy and, since they deploy by air, there's some advantage to having them forward based. Some of our Air Force elements can be repositioned to Central Europe to join our forces already there (at Taszar, Hungary) to financial and strategic advantage.

[F.J. Mitchell]

"Ost-Reich"

Interesting how similiar that must sound to ostrich-those other birds who bury their heads in the sand.

[Husker24]

No, it their country after all. Its just a sh*tty thing to do.

[org.whodat]

The only ground force unit that should remain in Europe is the 173rd Airborne.

I think you don't know a whole lot about where troops are station over there. We have three bases in Spain. Two airforce and one navy. Also had several communication sites. Both air bases have runways large enough for BUFF's. And one is the emergency landing spot for the shuttle. Are is Spain not in europe.

[Husker24]

When did we build bases in Spain? I didnt know we even had them there.

[rintense]

Germany and Austria... one in the same.