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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.

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.

Wonder why?

Could the Hammer and Sickle on the Austrian State Flag possibly be a clue?