Posted on 02/16/2003 5:04:18 PM PST by longjack
Kommentar
Seven Months of Silence
By Berthold Kohler
Millions across the globe demonstrated on Saturday against a war they consider wrong and preventable. Many Germans also expressed this conviction, which, as is the nature of the beast, is based more on attitudes and belief than in factual understanding. They did it also in trust to their government, which ensured them at every opportunity, that no acute danger came from Iraq or its possible connection to trans-national terrorism, at least none that demanded an imminent military incursion or that couldn’t be controlled through an inspection regimen. This was, from the beginning, a supporting component of the thoroughly successful argument of the Chancellor and his Secretary of State against the war, in Parliament as well as in the UN Security Council. Is what they are claiming correct, however?
The Federal Government knows that Iraq possesses one of the worst biological weapons, smallpox pathogens, and that Germany is subject to the danger of being a victim of an attack with these viruses. That may be concluded from a document from the Ministry of Health that was published in this paper (FAZ /lj) today. Its content is alarming. There exists “documented knowledge” that smallpox pathogens are stored in Russia, Iraq and North Korea. It is feared that in the event of an American attack Iraq will retaliate with biological weapons, even these pathogens. Germany is an “especially attractive” target for such an attack.
The document, which originated on August 9 of last year, confirms what opposition politicians such as Pfluegler and Westerwelle have been claiming for some time: The Federal Government is leaving the public in the dark over the extent of the threats which emanate from Iraq, trans-national terrorism, and above all, a combination of both. Granted, it is not the mission of the government to create unrest. To create the impression, however, that Germany is an island of peace – because its Chancellor doesn’t wish to participate in a war with Iraq and is perceived by the entire world to seek out a confrontational course towards America-, while his Ministry of Health reckons with 25 million dead in a smallpox attack, is dishonest and irresponsible. What did the Chancellor scoff at just a few weeks ago? He would “dare to doubt” that Westerwelle had any knowledge about this matter. Schroeder’s had (knowledge of) it – even before Election Day, when he received the mandate with which he justified his “courage to make peace” before Parliament. Even in his Statement of Government (SOTU /lj), in which Schroeder spoke of the “rights of the citizens”, “to get straight answers from us”, the smallpox threat never came up.
Now the Government may claim, the apocalyptic danger described in the document will arise only on the day when the Americans drop bombs on Baghdad; even the document follows the government’s line that the problem always starts with the aggressor, that is, the Americans. How can Berlin be sure that Saddam Hussein buys into this strategy? And, that he has complete control over his stockpiles of horror? Fischer said in New York that the inspections have reduced the danger emanating from Iraq. The smallpox pathogens, of which the German service and ministries know about, have evidently not been found.
Questions, which raise doubt about Schroeder’s own special way, are ignored in Berlin, however. Even the handling of threat condition analysis shows that the Chancellor is not willing to change the theme with which he won the Parliamentary elections: There is indeed an imminent danger for peace, but it isn’t coming from Iraq. The domestic policy considerations of a increasingly lonely Chancellor, who suddenly realizes once again how warm it is amongst his citizens, has become the guide line for a foreign policy that suppresses unwelcome facts, only because they have to be suppressed.
Since Schroeder discovered his concern for a multi-polar world order threatened by a hegemony and developed a liking for forming alliances opposed to leading powers it is yet more difficult for him to return to proper threat audits and to the discussions how and with whom the dangers can be best defended against. Even Fischer, who considers maintaining the alliance against terror as his top priority, constantly forgets to mention who stands at the center of the alliance. The Red-Green government has also kept quiet about the fact that, the reason for which they chastise America – the disposition to start a war if necessary- is a pre-requisite of Berlin’s own containment strategy. If America pulled out its aircraft carriers and divisions, the inspectors would also be tossed out of Iraq in due course. Should Schroeder then threaten Hussein with a military strike? One mustn’t concern himself with speculation; they are often heard to say in Berlin. The smallpox pathogens in the Iraqi’s hand are a fact, however, that the Schroeder government has know about for seven months.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, 16.02.2003
FAZ..Kommentar..Sieben Monate schweigen
Translated by longjack
longjack
and a ping.
longjack
Unlike Berlin the US does not think that Iraq is contained, otherwise we would not be in such a hurry to take away his toys.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.