German Politician Concerned For Europe's Safety After US Troop Reduction

"Spiegel-Online" ^ | August 17, 2004 | "Spiegel-Online"

[longjack]

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 17. August 2004, 9:14
URL: http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,313617,00.html

US-Troop Withdrawal
 
Union Politico concerned about Europe's Security

After the restructuring of the armed forces announced by George Bush, the USA's allies are having thoughts about the consequences. While the Japanese and Russians are pleased with the troop withdrawal, criticism is getting loud in Germany. The Union [CDU - opposition political party, longjack] fears a "danger for the security of Europe"..

DDP

US-Soldiers at US-Airbase Spangdahlem / Eifel

Tokyo/Berlin - The reorganization of the U.S. armed forces is better suited to the global security situation, and contributes more to stability and peace, stated an explanation by the Japanese State Department. However, Washington's measures will have presumably only a small effect on Japan, where 50,000 U.S. soldiers are stationed.

The plans of the American president primarily have consequences for Europe, particularly Germany. Thereby, two army divisions shall be removed from Wiesbaden and Würzburg, as officials of Defense Department in Washington have confirmed. Almost half of all U.S. military bases shall be closing Europe-wide.

The Union defense politico, Christian Schmidt, sees the security of Europe in danger by the move, as he has said to the " Nordwest-Zeitung ". The USA is distancing itself from Nato, Schmidt warned and demanded a German-British initiative to re-align the military alliance. He sees "still considerable need for adjustments" relative to the large withdrawal of troops. Under no circumstances can Minister of Defense, Peter Struck (SPD), "be permitted to announce the shutdown of 100 Bundeswehr [German armed forces - longjack] bases without taking the U.S. plans into account".

Presently, plans for compensation for the affected regions in and cities in Germany are not in place. "This is just like Hartz IV [New, and controversial, German welfare / unemployment reform package - longjack]has gone into effect", the CSU politician said. Moreover, he hopes that the troop reduction of the U.S. armed forces doesn't have an negative effect on the politics in Europe. The conflict in Kosovo a few years ago has shown that, so far, Europe cannot cope with such tasks.

In the opinion of the coordinator for German American cooperation in the foreign ministry, Karsten Voigt, on the other hand, the withdrawal of troops doesn't mean a deterioration of the security situation in Europe. The Federal Republic still remains the largest US stationing area in Europe, the SPD {German political party currently in power - longjack]politician said today in Deutschlandfunk. With the reorganization, The USA wanted to have more mobile units at its disposal in Europe for the changing threats worldwide. Furthermore, the planned reduction expresses that the cold war had been overcome, and that the split up of Europe had been avoided.

Russia also sees no threat in the planned shift of U.S. troops into the states of the former Warsaw Pact, according to the words of Minister of Defense, Sergej Iwanow. "I see nothing dangerous in these plans", Iwanow said today to journalists in the city of Jekaterinburg in the Ural. U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, had informed him about the planned shifts of U.S. troops into countries like Poland or Bulgaria during conversations over the weekend.

The USA wants to set up smaller military bases closer to flash points, Iwanow said. The same applies for Russia, who is building an air force base in Kirgisien. Iwanow had explained, after the meeting with Rumsfeld in St. Petersburg, for Russia the USA is "certainly not an opponent any more, but still not an ally".
 

---

© SPIEGEL ONLINE 2004
Alle Rechte vorbehalten
Vervielfältigung nur mit Genehmigung der SPIEGELnet GmbH

---

Zum Thema:

Zum Thema in SPIEGEL ONLINE:

·	New Military strategie: Bush pulls two divisions out of Germany(16.08.2004) http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,313551,00.html

---

"Spiegel-Online"....Unionspolitiker bangt um Europas Sicherheit

Tranlated by longjack

[longjack]

Interesting views.

Hartz IV, the new welfare/unemployment reform package is driving a lot of German politics now. I think that's why the detractor mentioned it.

Currently, Germans, especially former east germans, are holding "Monday Demonstrations" to protest the reform. "Monday Demonstrations" was also the name of the protests of the East Germans just before the wall fell.

The statement concerning Europe's inability to come to grips with problems such as Kosovo is also very telling, IMHO.

longjack

[camle]

wah!wah!wah! where were his crocodile tears when we asked his country's help in Iraq?

Germany didn't like us then, now they won't have to deal with us. we know when we ain't wanted.

[longjack]

German Ping.

longjack

[Numbers Guy]

Maybe the Germans can start taking responsibility for their own defense now, instead of bleeding the US taxpayer dry.

[rrrod]

Germany as well as most of the euroscum are falling apart...pass the popcorn!

[nofatum]

"...you don't know what you had until it is gone."

For Germany: To bad, so sad.

For US: lol, Bush got the last laugh.

[Diogenesis]

Germany refused to help America when it counted.
Screw them and France. Meanwhile, they can always have Paris.

[rrrod]

Freepers will recall Germany, France and Russia wanted a new military alliance AGAINST us. Russia backed off big time as I recall. More popcorn please.

[JustaCowgirl]

Maybe your friends, the French, can help keep you safe.

Bwahahahaha!!

[NonValueAdded]

Hey Germany, schieben Sie es (as TehRAYza would say).

[Glenn]

plans for compensation for the affected regions in and cities in Germany are not in place

There it is. They want welfare payments.

[Bahbah]

"Presently, plans for compensation for the affected regions in and cities in Germany are not in place. "

Compensation from whom?

[Ron in Acreage]

What is the "union" afraid of? They said there was no threat. Bush made it all up. What do we need to protect them from? Their little muslim friends? The religion of peace? They're harmless aren't they? What a bunch of sissies.

[wideawake]

Let's see.

Even though they have imported something like ten million Algerians and Turks to reduce labor costs and they have shirked defense spending for 60 years, Germany and France are unable to pay their looming pension liabilities.

Here's a fun fact: between the two of them, France and Germany do not have one operational carrier (France's is in the shop).

They missed their one chance to achieve military parity with Russia - with Russia's economy improving by leaps and bounds they will soon be left in the dust.

Look for an Islamist coup in a major European nation sometime in the next 20 years.

[OpusatFR]

Fly in the ointment of their plans. The EU, i.e., Germany and France intend to create their own answer to America's power by aligning themselves with China and the ME, but need time to develop their own armed forces.

Time's up. The only question I have is since a lot of weaponary is developed jointly with the EU and the US, and of course, the EU does sell China these developments, what happens to the joint ventures?

I'm glad W has put a putative end to our bases there, but will we continue to create weapons jointly which the French and Germans blithely sell to China?

The EU sees us as the threat, not China and the ME. I think that is very short sighted.

[prion]

Thanks for the insights as well as the article. Are you German and/or in Germany?

It's amazing that it took so long to dawn on us that the entity we were protecting Europe from didn't exist any more. I didn't realize it until I had my nose rubbed in it.

[Casloy]

Why don't you Euro types go the UN and ask them to defend you. Better yet, ask the French. I'm sure they'll be more than anxious to help out. NOT.

[Viet-Boat-Rider]

Germany can kiss my big fat you know what. I hope that we stop sendig them "Aid" too.

[Mr. Jeeves]

What is the "union" afraid of?

Pay attention. The "union" is the Christian Democratic Union, the conservatives. The good guys. They are quite rightly worried about the current socialist government squandering what little goodwill Germany has left with America, after the socialists' miserable performance on the world stage over the last few years.

Your post is analogous to a European blaming all Americans for Bill Clinton's behavior.

[Diogenesis]

" France and Germany do not have one operational carrier (France's is in the shop)."

Holy Variola. France, however, DOES keep active SMALLPOX.
For what reason? To attack the West
and murder Americans, for its Moslem hordes.

[syriacus]

The conflict in Kosovo a few years ago has shown that, so far, Europe cannot cope with such tasks.

Sehr interessant.

Thanks for posting this article.

Selected stories on the German leadership in the past few years

• German MP Apologizes for Anti-Jewish Remarks
• Germany apologizes for colonial-era genocide
• German President Apologizes for Holocaust

[saveliberty]

Germans have been bashing the US for at least 40 years without any benefit of the doubt. Been there. Heard it all. If we are so imperialistic and abusive, isn't it a bonus for us to leave?

No good deed goes unpunished. Esp relative to Germany, France and the Netherlands.

[wvromania]

LET THE FRENCH TAKE UP THEIR SLACK......LOLOLOL, BETTER YET HOW ABOUT SADDAM'S REPUBLICAN GUARD....THEY CHOSE TO BE ON THEIR SIDE!!!!!!!!!

[rrrod]

Ok...one more time...Germany is not an allie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wideawake]

What is the "union" afraid of?

The Christian Democratic Union is one of the few parties left in Europe that understands Europe's true situation.

The CDU has been pretty consistent in calling for good relations with the US - except for their brief flirtation with criticizing the Iraq intervention.

[Ron in Acreage]

Is it about our money being spent there? Is there a foreign threat? I don't get what they are afraid of. They opposed us in Iraq. Don't the muslims love them now?

[saveliberty]

LOL! I hope so!

(extra butter, please)

[pabianice]

In the absense of an international coalition urging the US to keep troops in Germany, why should we?

[Pharmboy]

As someone else said on a thread yesterday: "Finally, an exit strategy for WWII."

[G.Mason]

Note to Germany:

Bathe regularly, hold a white flag over your head regularly, and your enemies won't even know you are there!

Bye bye!

[Ron in Acreage]

Won't the UN and Koffi Annan protect them if need be?

[Diogenesis]

They have done MORE than just oppose America in Iraq.
Germany and the EU have paid Arafat and his terrorist ilk to murder Americans.

America deserves and demands COMPENSATION from Germany NOW.

[nina0113]

Look for an Islamist coup in a major European nation sometime in the next 20 years.

Let's get a pool going - I'll take France within five years.

[murdocj]

I am a jelly doughnut!

[bert]

Oh ye of little faith. The question of Eurostability and protection has been resolved. The bureaucrats in Belgium and the Judges in the Hague have proven that there will be no more war, in Europe or elsewhere.

Belgium absolutely not stand for nor permit a war in Europe.

[Ron in Acreage]

An entire circle of property around Paris is already owned by muslims. They are closing the noose around the entire city. I think you'll win that wager.

[olde north church]

Did anyone catch Putin's promise of last week regarding a 40% increase in Russian defense budget?
There are no coincidences. Perhaps there are still a few moles left in DoD as well as State?

[old and tired]

Am I the only one on this forum who's a little concerned about the Germans building up their military again?

I'm not disagreeing with Bush's action. I think it's the right thing to do, however, I think we need to keep a keen eye on those Germans.

Mark my words, they will build an impressive military in fairly short order. Sorry France.

[albee]

" Maybe your friends, the French, can help keep you safe. Bwahahahaha!"

Hey Fritz.....put some ice on it!"

[Alia]

Germany has spent numerous years living high off the hog -- using O4Food "benefits" and the US military bases creating jobs and an economy for Germany. Germany has also spent numerous years blasting America. In sum, Germany bit the very hand that has fed them. What goes around, comes around.

[Renegade]

My dad was in the European theater during WW II. One of his most remembered quotes was " We should have left the Germans in France for two years after the war . They would have cleaned it up ! "

[HenryLeeII]

Despite the large percentage of German genes in my DNA, I've really come to loathe that country politically. Large numbers of them did nothing but moan and complain when Ronald Reagan placed medium-range missiles there as part of the strategy for defeating the Soviets; the U.S. taxpayer has provided untold billions of dollars to protect them from the Soviets and to liberate them from their own monstrous creations; and they abandoned us during the lead-up to the Iraq War in hopes of retaining their contracts to provide Hussein with more equipment and technology for his weapons programs.

And now, some socialist pig politician thinks we're abandoning them and threatening the security of Europe? Just who does he think is going to invade or concquer them? The Poles? The Polish genes in my DNA would love to see that! The Germans would be wise to do what Pete Townshend, guitarist for the British rock band The Who, advised in the early-1980s: Just shut up and appreciate what the Americans have done for you and continue to do!

[Alia]

Germany has nothing to offer, in this regard. France, OTOH, has plenty. I'd keep my eye on France.

[Sprite518]

What a worthless Continent! The surrender monkeys have no shame in admitting they can not defend their selves. This from the know it alls(LOL!), sophisticated Europeans(NOT!), who are so united(only when it brings the USA down).

[Savage Beast]

"While the Japanese and Russians are pleased with the troop withdrawal, criticism is getting loud in Germany"

The Russians are pleased?

The Germans are alarmed?

No kidding?

"History is not just cruel. It is witty."
~Charles Krauthammer~

[rrrod]

"I'm not disagreeing with Bush's action. I think it's the right thing to do, however, I think we need to keep a keen eye on those Germans."

I agree with you...but the german economy is fast collapsing and the mood isnt "militarism" there...yet.
Still, as you say, its best to keep an eye on them based upon history.

[MEGoody]

If Germany wanted our 'protection,' they should have shown themselves to be more of an ally in the U.N.

[McGavin999]

Well, look at it this way, it's an opportunity to lower their unemployment figures. They can just take all the unemployed and draft them into the army. They might want to be a little careful about inducting their muslim friends though. No sense in training them to be even more militant.

[Savage Beast]

"The USA is distancing itself from Nato, Schmidt warned"

Uh...last time I looked NATO was distancing itself from the USA...and President Bush was urging them not to.

[old and tired]

You think the Muslims in France will start trying to take over Europe? I guess that's possible too. But I guess I still think if France starts becoming even slightly aggressive, there is enough German blood still in Germany to stamp out any Muslim advance.