US to punish German 'treachery'

The Observer (U.K.) ^ | 02/16/03 | Peter Beaumont, David Rose and Paul Beaver

[Pokey78]

America is to punish Germany for leading international opposition to a war against Iraq. The US will withdraw all its troops and bases from there and end military and industrial co-operation between the two countries - moves that could cost the Germans billions of euros.

The plan - discussed by Pentagon officials and military chiefs last week on the orders of Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld - is designed 'to harm' the German economy to make an example of the country for what US hawks see as Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's 'treachery'.

The hawks believe that making an example of Germany will force other countries heavily dependent on US trade to think twice about standing up to America in future.

This follows weeks of increasingly angry exchanges between Rumsfeld and Germany, in which at one point he taunted Germany and France for being an irrelevant part of 'old Europe'.

Now Rumsfeld has decided to go further by unilaterally imposing the Pentagon's sanctions on a country already in the throes of economic problems.

'We are doing this for one reason only: to harm the German economy,' one source told The Observer last week.

'Our troops contribute many millions of dollars. Why should we continue to support a country which has treated Nato and the protection we provided for decades with such incredible contempt?'

Another Pentagon source said: 'The aim is to hit German trade and commerce. It is not just about taking out the troops and equipment; it is also about cancelling commercial contracts and defence-related arrangements.'

The Pentagon plan - and the language expressed by officials close to Rumsfeld - has horrified State Department officials, who believe that bullying other countries to follow the US line will further exacerbate anti-Americanism and alienate those European countries that might support a United Nations resolution authorising a war.

German industry earns billions of euros every year from supporting the US Army Europe which, although reduced from its Cold War heights, still totals 42,000 troops and 785 tanks - almost three times as many as the British Army owns. Many of these soldiers and their fighting equipment, including Apache helicopters, have already been sent to the Gulf.

German industry is heavily involved in supporting the US presence. Among the defence companies which stand to lose out are missile-maker Diehl, aerospace and defence giant EADS Deutschland, armaments maker Rheinmetall and vehicle maker Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.

There is also a US Air Force contingent of about 15,000 service people with bases at Bitburg, Frankfurt-am-Main and neighbouring Ramstein, where the commander doubles as part of the Nato command. This force includes nearly 60 F-16 fighter-bombers and a squadron of A-10 tank-buster aircraft.

Rumsfeld and his staff have made no attempt to hide their fury at Schröder's 'treachery and ineptitude' over Iraq. Last week Schröder leaked to reporters a Franco-German plan for avoiding war by increasing the number of UN weapons inspectors before informing his American counterparts.

'After this, Germany is finished as a serious power,' one of the sources added. 'This is simply not the way to conduct diplomacy at a moment of international crisis.' One diplomatic source said Rumsfeld was 'furious at Germany. He is a bruiser and it looks as though he means to do it'.

Under these plans, the US would move its troops in Europe eastwards to countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic and the Baltic states, all of which have strongly supported America's line against Saddam Hussein. It is likely that the overall size of the deployment would be reduced, as the US military changes its priorities for a long-term and disparate engagement with international terrorism.

Although Rumsfeld had already been considering a redeployment of US troops around the world after a war in Iraq to save money and respond to new threats, the plans now under consideration go far beyond what had been discussed.

It is likely that future years will see a sharp increase in the proportion of special forces troops able to deploy rapidly across the globe.

Germany would suffer considerable financial loss if US forces were withdrawn from the country. The bases provide jobs for local people as everything from administrators to cleaners, and are huge customers for dairy products and bread.

[PAR35]

I had forgotten about that bit of history. Thanks for reminding me. Bulgaria has ports, but you would need to have the cooperation of the Turks.

[Dark Wing]

ping

[the_doc]

The U.S. government will never publicly, officially say that we are deliberately hurting Germany. But I'll bet we do make the redeployments which the article mentions.

If so, Germany will get the message in the ugliest possible way. They will realize that our move is "just business." (Our action will mirror their bad "business-oriented" attitude--only we will be a lot more polite as we take our defense business elsewhere.)

[Walkin Man]

Boy, this is great news! Let the huns run cryin to Sadam for some money to prop up their socialist paradise!

Oh, I forgot Sadam will be six foot under by then, too bad Fritz!

[jt8d]

"Does everyone just go along with what they are told to think?"

No. I do not "go along" with what someone tells me to think... I direct my response according to what my own "lying eyes" see. I "saw" Ground Zero. I did not need to have someone tell me "what to think"... anymore than I require now that someone should instruct me on what needs to be done. I am very certain--and clear--on the course of action that must be taken: KILL OUR ENEMIES--ALL OF THEM. And when I write "ALL," by that word, I intend to convey the concept of "without distinction." To be blunt: obliterate and wipe from the face of the earth not just the slimeball Islamo-facsist pigs who have picked this particular fight with America in general--and with me personally; but also to further target and anihilate every lousy bastard in every corner of the world that ever even "looked" at us the wrong way. NO MERCY, NO QUARTER, NO EXCEPTIONS. KILL THEM ALL. PERIOD.

Are we clear enough on the issue now, sir?

[Lessismore]

Yes, moving our troops east, to bases between the Russians and the Germans. What a clever move!

[Edmund Burke]

Austria is officially neutral. This is required as part of the final settlement of WWII. Allied, including Soviet, occupation of Austria was ended by this agreement in 1955.

[Dark Wing]

>I'd rather we went after the French.

It is hard to pull out of bases 30 years vacant or defense ties that do not exist.

Yet their time is coming. When we have Saddam's records and proof of French sanction busting with WMD parts and know how. Bush will ask the Congress to revoke France's Normal Trade Relations with the USA.

The aftermath of that will destroy th E.U.

And since this is based on non-trade related American WMD anti-proliferation laws, the WTO will have no jurisdiction either.

[Vigilanteman]

The 1955 agreement was between the United States, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union no longer exists.

[Arpege92]

"The Pentagon plan - and the language expressed by officials close to Rumsfeld - has horrorified State Department officials, who believe bullying other countries to follow the US line will further exacerbate anti-Americanism and alienate those European countries that might support a United Nations resolution authorizing war."


Oh I see....lets stay in Germany so the Germs can make money on us and lets stay in Germany where they accuse the United States of being war mongers. I don't see this as a bullying situation, I see this as a ally who turned its back on us so they could keep an evil man in Iraq who will continue to torture and murder. The French and Germs have proved they can't be counted on when the going gets tough and doing all of this in the name of oil!

You can't reward a ally who chooses Saddam over the United States. We can't afford to defend other nations just so they can turn on us....as far as I am concerned, the French and Germs can kiss my a$$!

[jt8d]

True... but while German government leaders may come and go, the people do not change much over time. I think it must be genetic--or maybe too much heavy water got spilled into German lakes back during WWII. Less you forget today's throbing horde of entranced Huns, who were practically zeig-heiling their approval to Der Fuher... er ah, I mean "Chancellor Schroder's" policies.

[americanbychoice]

Es steht zu befürchten, daß der Irak in einem solchen Falle mit den ihm zur Verfügung stehenden biologischen Kampfstoffen, also auch Pockenviren, reagiert.

This is an excerpt from the German paper from today. I'll translate: We are concerned that Iraq, in the event of a war will retaliate with Biological weapons they posses, such as smallpox.
That Lying Bastard Schroeder and his sidekick should be taken to their cherished International tribunal for causing potential harm to thousands of Germans and nationals from other nations. They are still saying "We are not convinced" even though their own CIA equivalent told them about that and food poisoning on the 9th of August 2002. They kept their mouths shut for politica expedience.

[alfons]

What do you call one hundred thousand French with their hands up? The French military.
One thing about France, they can show the Iraquis how to surrender.

[McGavin999]

America would never say this. We would do it, but we would never say it. I think this is Britains way of rubbing it in.

[alfons]

Why is ti that the French have tree lined streets? That way the Germans can march in the shade.

[JulieRNR21]

Interesting thought.....


Courtesy of Louis Ruykeyser:

"Only a nation as desperate to be loved as the United States would fret about, rather than chuckle over the Orwellian irony of being lectured to about arrogancy by the French and about militarism by the Germans."

[alfons]

Why is ti that the French have tree lined streets? That way the Germans can march in the shade.

[a_Turk]

>> I just read in the Frankfurt Allgemeine, (FAZ.DE) that the German Government had knowledge since the 9th of August 2002

Dude, wo ist Dein Link?

[americanbychoice]

FAZ.DE ( Sonntagszeitung)

[americanbychoice]

that is on the left side of the paper.