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Schroeder really talked himself into a corner. He gambled during the elections, rallying the support of the anti-war sentiment within Germany, hoping the crisis won't escalate. Now, he's screwed. The situation has escalated. He got reelected on this platform and is on shaky ground at best (possible election fraud since he promised the Germans EVERYTHING they wanted to hear). Now he is confronted with a crisis in the Gulf where he said Germany would NOT contribute nor support. Yet Germany has UN and NATO commitments which even (supercede him) he cannot just blow off. Every move he makes will tighten the noose he himself created. Germany as a whole, put itself in a loose-loose situation through his mouth. If the US attacks oil prices will soar. Germany is to a MUCH greater extent dependant on OPEC oil. This will suppress their already lagging economy even more. Futhermore, an attack and removal of the current regime will also put all national agreements with Saddam on the table. Countries as Germany, who even brag about the fact that they have almost exclusive rights to Iraqs economy currently (since they refuse to participate in a coalition and are rewarded with economic access by Saddam) will not benefit after the military intervention. It will not be German companies receiving the contracts for drilling etc. He made this into an issue to get reelected, and it may just become one of his largest nightmares, even though there is a large PR campaign currently underway, to create the image of the "Solid guy who stood up against the big imperialistic, capitalistic, war mongering US and kept peace on earth (the typical BS)". The Iraq crisis, which diverts attention from an economy with 11.25% unemployed (5.8% US), .2% economic growth (2% US, 10 times more), 4% increase in national debt (in one year, US 2%) will back fire in the long run since he has opted for a short term personal over a long term national gain. Besides weakening the UN and NATO, who they were quick to use against Serbia, in a PREEMTIVE strike (Germany was not threatened), when 250,000 refugees knocked on their (Germanys) door. Besides potentially loosing the large-scale defense contracts (The US will NOT make itself codependent on a unreliable source). Besides loosing potential contracts after Saddam is gone. Besides having 125,000 soldiers, DOD civilians and others (Not low income) leave their economy and relocate in a more receptive economy to the east (they loose rent, restaurant, disco, car, construction, etc sales). What did he do? I would not get to worried. He is loosing political ground rapidly, since the people are realizing that he and is party and coalition partner (the Greens) flat out lied. Germany is and will continue to support since they really don’t have an option. Where do you think the stuff going to Iraq is going through? Will Germany supply Patriots to Israel? Yes. Will Germany supply Patriots to Turkey? Yes. Will Germany vote against (UN/NATO) the US/GB and not contribute to a ground war? Yes. Will Germany be a BIG BIG economic looser after the deed is done? Yes. But you see, this has to happen at this point. He cannot come out and reverse his position anymore. He locked himself into a course of action before consulting his allies, before he had the facts. Now he will pay, since every time he sends Patriots anywhere, every plane that flies through there, makes him look a little more like the Bull Shit artist he really is. He must do what he is doing to stay in power. Don’t see this as anti-American, although there is much of that in Germany. Rather see it as a last straw of credibility, a diversion from other issues for his own political gain necessitated out of the fact that his economy is failing, his energy policies are failing, the recycling programs are failing (the most ambitious in the world but not financially viable), not even the Kyoto protocol (for which they bash us for not signing) are they themselves upholding, increases in taxes, decreases in social services. All this during is tenure, yet he got reelected. He has remarkable similarities to someone we just got over.

Red6