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Austria blocks U.S. troop transport
msnbc ^
| Feb 13, 2003
| Reuters
Posted on 02/13/2003 7:27:36 PM PST by 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...
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.com ...
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
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To: org.whodat
I guess you don't know how to read. I said the only ground force unit that should remain is the 173rd. The 173rd Airborne is a US Army paratroop unit. Air Force and Naval bases don't count as ground force units. If you reread my post you'll see that I mentioned I thought we should leave our Air Force elements in Europe to satisfy our NATO obligation.
41
posted on
02/13/2003 8:46:18 PM PST
by
caltrop
To: Husker24
I was at one of our airfields in Spain over thirty years ago.
42
posted on
02/13/2003 8:49:00 PM PST
by
caltrop
To: 11th_VA
Consider that they did invent the
croissant, so that you can munch on the crescent moon, the symbol of Islam, preferably with a little jam on it. This was after repulsing the Turkish Sultan's armies from Vienna.
They've been fighting Muslims for several centuries, while this country was happily promoting Islamic causes, except in the vicinity of Israel, up until 18 months ago.
The "East Reich" was founded to guard the Danube river approach into Europe from the Islamic invaders.
To: Spiritus Gladius
It also produced Arnold Schwarzeneggar. Yeah and he couldn't wait to get out.
44
posted on
02/13/2003 8:51:52 PM PST
by
Ciexyz
To: 11th_VA
France, Germany, Belgium, Austria.
These aren't a few of my favorite things.
To: Diddle E. Squat
France, Germany, Belgium, Austria. These aren't a few of my favorite things.
Good one!
46
posted on
02/13/2003 9:07:30 PM PST
by
The Toad
Comment #47 Removed by Moderator
To: Happy2BMe
True, we could regarrison in former Soviet satellites, but it would doom the future of NATO, which the U.S. will likely never do. Time for a new U.S. led organization. CET-Central European Treaty Organization.
Members: US, Poland, The Baltics, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Beloruss, Hungary, Turkey, etc.
Not to be invited: France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Russia.
48
posted on
02/13/2003 9:43:43 PM PST
by
PsyOp
To: 11th_VA
We should tell the Austrian Ambassador that his govt. has 12 hrs. to get those trains moving or were cutting diplomatic relations with them and banning the sale of Austrian made arms in the United States.
49
posted on
02/13/2003 9:47:34 PM PST
by
PsyOp
Comment #50 Removed by Moderator
To: 11th_VA
I'm gonna boycott Strauss waltzes and Levi Strauss jeans!
Leni
51
posted on
02/13/2003 10:03:13 PM PST
by
MinuteGal
(Escape to FReeper Island on "FReeps Ahoy" cruise. Register today or weep later!)
To: F.J. Mitchell
Austria-Hungary, not Germany was mainly responsible for WW I.
52
posted on
02/13/2003 10:04:32 PM PST
by
dfwgator
To: Centurion2000
It might not technically be an act of war because of their insignificant standing in international affairs, being neutral, but what a nice "Me too" don't ya think?
Remember when the frogs wouldn't let our bombers fly over(during the Reagan years) to get Mohamar? We should have informed them then that we would be flying over and just TRY to shoot us down, please!
I love Ronnie, but that was one opportunity I wish he had not passed up.
53
posted on
02/13/2003 10:07:52 PM PST
by
Blue Collar Christian
(Okie by proxy, raised by Yankees, temporarily Californian)
To: Centurion2000; PhiKapMom; dennisw
Isn't this an Act of War ?
You're an idiot.
As of now they are no longer neutral.
Austria is no longer neutral!
Not allowing foreign troops to march through your territory is the very definition of neutral.
Look, nobody likes to see the United States strut around like a badass more than me, but people please, this is absurd.
54
posted on
02/13/2003 10:08:04 PM PST
by
znix
To: 11th_VA
Hey Austria, you are either with us, or AGAINST US !!!!
55
posted on
02/13/2003 10:11:58 PM PST
by
stumpy
To: All
56
posted on
02/13/2003 10:13:47 PM PST
by
Terp
To: 11th_VA
Well, no matter how much the cowards of continental Europe try and thwart our efforts, we will wage war on Saddam. Once the Iraqi people are freed from their murderous dictator and the horror stories come out of what they had to endure, the cowards of Europe should bow their heads in shame. Damn them all.
57
posted on
02/13/2003 10:14:36 PM PST
by
dougherty
(Borders, Language, Culture)
To: 11th_VA
I thought Austria was run by a facist? Well, maybe that explains it.
58
posted on
02/13/2003 10:14:41 PM PST
by
Torie
To: 11th_VA
Lesson in world relations:
Fact 1: Austria is in a legal position comparable to Switzerland. You wouldn't expect Switzerland to let any foreign troops move over its territory, would you?
The Austrian Neutrality Treaty of 1955, which was signed by Austria, the USA, the UK, France and the USSR, explicitly forbids any kind of Austrian involvement in or support for another nation's war efforts. This includes the clause that no other nation's weapons may pass through, or fly over Austrian territory.
Fact 2: Hence the Austrian government has to severly bend the legal situation to let any NATO troops move through at all. They've been pretending troops were UN troops on their way to Afghanistan, risking a serious rift over that in parliament.
When it was too obvious US planes were on their way to Kuwait, not Afghanistan, or US Stealth bombers tried to secretly sneak over in the radar shadow of an American tank aircraft those planes were incercepted and sent back. Such was the common procedure over the last years, followed by Austrian diplomatic protests because of US violations of Austria's neutrality. The USA is the only nation that has ever violated the 1955 treaty.
Fact 3: Austria has VERY bad relations with Germany, France and Belgium at the moment. Those were exactly the countries behind the diplomatic isolation of Austria 3 years ago.
Fact 4: Austrian Conservatives question neutrality, want into the WEU, possibly NATO - a move opposed by all other parties, and by the majority of Austrians we might say. Neutrality is a sensitive, emotional issue in Austria, comparable to the status of US Amendments.
Fact 5: Rumsfeld's decision to dramatize that complicated matter NOW that Chancellor Schuessel is in negotiations to form a coalition government shows that he lacks basic diplomatic skills and knowledge. It certainly doesn't make things easier for Austrian Conservatives.
59
posted on
02/13/2003 10:25:26 PM PST
by
fru
To: Blue Collar Christian
Remember when the frogs wouldn't let our bombers fly over(during the Reagan years) to get Mohamar? We should have informed them then that we would be flying over and just TRY to shoot us down, please!
I love Ronnie, but that was one opportunity I wish he had not passed up. If you'll recall we "accidentily" dropped a bomb on thier embassy in Libya. I think we made our point.
60
posted on
02/13/2003 10:34:09 PM PST
by
znix
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