Nato at war

timesonline.com ^ | Feb.10, 2003 | Unknown

[conservativecorner]

An inexcusable attempt to deny Turkey protection

Nato, it was quipped, was founded to keep “the Americans in, the Russians out and the Germans down”. It appears from some of the positions taken this weekend that it exists today to freeze the Americans out, keep the Turks down and leave President Saddam Hussein satisfied. The threat issued by Belgium, backed by France and Germany, to block the relocation of Nato assets in support of Turkey is extraordinary and “inexcusable”, as Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary, and Colin Powell, the Secretary of State, both contended. If confirmed this morning then it will do significant and lasting damage not only to transatlantic ties but political relations within Europe. The three governments concerned must reconsider their stance, even at the last hour. The measures that have been proposed are modest. They involve the transfer of Patriot air defence missiles, Nato early-warning planes and anti-chemical and biological warfare units to Turkey. This is a matter of contingency planning in the event of any military clash in the Iraqi theatre. It does not constitute a Nato endorsement of possible US-led action. It is a recognition, which should be obvious, that war is a possibility and were it to take place then Turkey would be entitled to collective protection.

This should not be a controversial issue. It has instead been seized upon in certain quarters for purely political purposes. It has been claimed that shifting this equipment to Iraq would be to pander to American “unilateralism” and undermine diplomatic efforts to reach a peaceful settlement to this crisis. In truth, however, Brussels, Paris and Berlin are engaged in pyrrhic posturing. If Nato as a whole does not assist Turkey then its major components, notably the United States and Britain, will certainly do so. The dispute would force Washington to act, against its own wishes, in a “unilateral” fashion and undermine the shared authority of Nato.

The notion that providing Ankara with defensive material would undercut diplomatic activity is ludicrous. The only reason that Iraq ever agreed to readmit UN weapons inspectors after a four-year break and is showing the slightest interest in the demands of Hans Blix and Mohamed Elbaradei is because the US Army is breathing down Saddam’s neck. Whenever Baghdad senses that a military onslaught against it is a realistic option, it at least contemplates making concessions. The perception that Nato is in disarray eases the pressure on the Iraqi leadership. This impasse will not encourage Saddam to open up his arsenal.

The same might be said about the rather ambiguous Franco-German “plan” for more “intrusive” inspections. As General Powell pointed out in his response, this initiative addresses the “wrong issue” and could only serve as a “diversion”. The onus should not be on the UN to provide itself with a larger magnifying glass but on Iraq to produce an absolutely accurate account of its weapons of mass destruction and then assist in their elimination.

This will not occur if Saddam believes that Resolution 1441 is far from his “final chance” to avoid war but the basis for another round of negotiations. This belated blueprint for peace will render international unity, not a military conflict, less probable.

As Mr Rumsfeld said in his interview conducted with The Times and a number of other leading European newspapers, Nato will doubtless “survive” an internal dispute over Turkey. But as he also asserted, any clash on this question would be “such a surprising and breathtaking event that I suspect it would reverberate for a while”. It is not often that the feisty Defence Secretary can be accused of understatement. In this instance, presumably to induce the rebels to retreat, he has been uncharacteristically diplomatic. Nato might indeed just about “survive” this affair — but it will hardly prosper from it.

[conservativecorner]

The damage the Frogs-Germans are doing is disgusting!!

[Michael81Dus]

Schröder is not only because of his failed economy policy in trouble, but now because of his senseless Iraq policy. He´s damaging what was build up in decades of German foreign policy.

[.45MAN]

I think it's time to stop buying german goods. We stopped buying French goods (oxi-moron) a long time ago..And I think we need to drop both from our list of countrys tht will benefit from removing Sadam...

[prairiebreeze]

And the extremists and fascists and communists are just LOVIN' this division in NATO too.

Bomb the French next!

[Dog Gone]

Depending on what happens at the NATO meeting which Turkey has called pursuant to Article 4 of the Treaty, I think the USA should be prepared to recall our ambassadors to France, Germany, and Belgium for "consultations."

Such a move would send an unmistakable sign that the alliance is in grave danger. In the case of Germany, it might even cause a collapse of the Schroeder government, which barely holds a coalition majority.

It is truly inexcusable for our allies to do what they did, and there will be consequences.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Fourth Reich bump!

[Michael81Dus]

Officially, Germany did not use its veto and keeps its promise to ship the air defense missiles to Turkey next week. Nevertheless, Schröder is under heavy pressure not only because of failing economy policy and lowest poll results ever, but arguments with Fischer are reported and the governments contradicts itself with its new plans regarding Iraq.

[jerod]

It's time to kick Germany and France out of NATO. They are not defending Turkey and their actions are not acceptable. Nato will remain as stronger alliance without their help.

As for the UN, it's about as useful as the League of Nations was in stopping Hitler from overrunning Europe. They should elimante it all together and develope a new orginization to deal with the worlds troubles. A new security council consisting of the more important nations should be formed.

The US, China, India and Russia are the only powers who should be allowed to employe a veto over resolutions. There could also be 4 more representives, a nation from Africa, a nation from South America, and a Nation from the Middle east, and a nation from Europe. They could sit on the council and vote, but with no veto power.

The French would be irrelevant. Which is something they've already been for the last 200 years.

[prairiebreeze]

There's also a good point in this article about the weasles actions actually "forcing" the US to act unilaterally (although we have 40+ countries with us).

Is that an objective do you think? Trying to get us to LOOK unilateral in the eyes of world opinion??

[Dog Gone]

Officially, Germany did not use its veto and keeps its promise to ship the air defense missiles to Turkey next week.

I've seen conflicting news stories today regarding that. Some say that Germany made a formal objection, and some mention only France and Belgium.

If Germany did not object, then that is a hopeful sign. We still need the German AWACS crew in Turkey, and I saw that Germany was not sending troops with the Patriot missile batteries.

[CedarDave]

No caption necessary...

(front page, 02/10/03)

[Jumper]

Repeat after President Bush, Spain, Spring 2000, "I support and encourage the formation of a 60,000 man European Defense Force... Each nation has their own self interests...."

As self interests go, the European Union may be getting itself split between East and West, Old and New Members:)

[Michael81Dus]

Correct, they just ship the missiles and systems, the Dutch use it - as a compromise, even accepted by the US.

[latrans]

Nato members who turn against other NATO members should be
isolated. Charles Krauthammer reminded us that Belgium is not actually a country, It's more of a CHOCOLATE!

[gumboyaya]

matter of fact I canceled an order for a Audi last week. we are now looking at Nissan

[ZULU]

Is there ANYWAY we can organize a boycott of ALL German and Frnech products in the U.S.?

The Frenchies sell us wines, cheeses and take our tourist dollars. The Germans sell us cars, beer, and technical products (lenses, optical equipment, etc.)

Can somebody post a petition somewhere to help freeze these vicious, self-serving, myopic ingrates out of any American dollars?????

[arm958]

matter of fact I canceled an order for a Audi last week. we are now looking at Nissan

Ford or GM will get you where you need to go, and keep your dollars right here.