Germany Will Not Aid US Soldiers In Chemical, Biological Attack

CNSNews.com ^ | 3/07/03 | R. Raghavendra

[kattracks]

Berlin (CNSNews.com) - Adding another sticking point to strained relations with the United States, Germany says its troops will not come to the rescue of American soldiers if they invade Iraq and face a chemical or biological attack there.

German defense minister Peter Struck said Friday that his forces will only defend and assist American soldiers and civilians based in Kuwait, where some German troops are currently stationed.

German soldiers in Kuwait possess equipment to detect contamination by biological and chemical weapons. But if the attack takes place in Iraq, German troops will not go forward to assist U.S. soldiers or their allies.

"Our soldiers will remain in Kuwait because the defense agreement applies to the citizens and American troops stationed in that country," Struck said in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung. "The protection of American soldiers advancing in Iraqi territory must be taken on by the Americans themselves."

Germany has stood firm in its view that there should be no war. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder reiterated this stance Thursday when he said that the United Nations and the international community should discuss ways to achieve a peaceful solution. On Friday, Germany's foreign minister told the U.N. Security Council that there are "efficienct alternatives to war in Iraq."

After a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the German Chancellor said that Germany, France and Russia agreed that there was no need for a second resolution.

"The cooperation of Iraq has got better, but it still needs further improvement," Schroeder said. "Germany's basic position will remain intact, and it is a very, very firm position."

The German government has also announced that it would not help finance the rebuilding of Iraq if America invades. In 1991, Germany did not play an active military role in the first Gulf War, but it shared a large portion of the financial burden.

Last week, Berlin turned a request by NATO for additional Patriot air defense missiles for Turkey. The German government said that it had already fulfilled its obligation to NATO.

At the same time, however, Germany is prepared to increase the strength of its troops in Kuwait. The defense minister said that he would send additional troops to Iraq's neighbor to maintain security if the U.S. presence at Camp Doha is reduced because of war.

Last week, Germany said that it would send some 30 additional soldiers to join the elite troops operating the Fuchs - vehicles specially fitted with advanced equipment for detecting chemical, biological or nuclear contamination. The vehicles are stationed about 60 miles from the Iraqi border.

The German parliament has authorized the deployment of 800 elite troops in the region.

But the opposition Christian Democratic Union criticized the defense minister for his position on assistance to U.S. troops.

Friedbert Pflueger, the CDU foreign policy spokesman, described the move as "dangerous and unwise."

"I can't imagine that a German defense minister would deny emergency help for attacked American soldiers in Iraq only kilometers from where the Fuchs are stationed," Pflueger said.

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[Centurion2000]

"Are you claiming moral equivalence between the Holocaust and the bombing of Hiroshima?"

What´s the difference between murder and murder??

You got a lot of nerve to make that assertation ..... when was the last time the Jews flew kamikaze planes into your carriers, created a bioweapons unit 731 and pretty much murdered THOUSANDS of chinese or germans ????

Japan took us on with a cheap shot and paid the price for sticking it to the Americans. The Germans took a race of people and put the better part of that population into OVENS.

STFU and go back to krautland with that argument.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

Germany Will Not Aid US Soldiers In Chemical, Biological Attack

thats ok germany because you already said IRAQ DOESNT HAVE ANY CHEMICAL OR BIO WEAPONS!!!! I need a beer

[Calpernia]

His firm in based in Berlin. I know about him. He is a Polish national. Like I said, I don't mind Libeskind himself; but it is a German based company.

[americanbychoice]

Haven't you heard? The Germans consider themselves the Victims of the holocaust. I read that one in a German Paper a couple of weeks ago, claiming the untold suffering they had to endure because of what their ancestors did. They feel they shouldn't be accused of that anymore. LOL

[americanbychoice]

correct, he was a polish national. He immigrated to the U.S. at age 13. His Daughter still attended School in NY while he was in Berlin.

[Centurion2000]

The Germans consider themselves the Victims of the holocaust.

Too bad for those weaklings ... all the good Germans got out and moved to the US when the getting was good.

[Eric Cassano]

I say, boycott EVERYHING GERMAN.

I couldn't agree with you more.

The Boycott Germany List lives on in the Google cache!

Thank you Google!

[Calpernia]

Ok. Then maybe I'm not following your point. Where is his the location of his firm?

[americanbychoice]

It is in Berlin, yes, qhile he was building the Memorial. Now he is going to NY. I believe, however, that he will maintain the physical location in Berlin as well as NY. My main point was that he is a U.S. citizen. Sorry about the misunderstanding

[Calpernia]

Do you know if he is an independent? Or will his HQ be Berlin based? This is my issue. Enlight of the revealing information on Germany, I don't want them to have any part of the WTC or monies that come with it.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Adding another sticking point to strained relations with the United States, Germany says its troops will not come to the rescue of American soldiers if they invade Iraq and face a chemical or biological attack there.

Well.... Gee..... Why are they even bringing up chemical or biological attacks. They are so sure that Sadamn doesn't have these capabilities!!!

[ET(end tyranny)]

Withdraw all our troops from Germany, if we have some in France, pull them out too!

Place an immediate halt to all import/exports for Germany, France, Russia, and yes...CHINA!!!

Use tactical nukes to neutralize the threat from N. Korea, and Iraq...sooner, rather than later!!!

Hmmmmmm What might something like this do to our economy??

New factories going up all over the place????

[swampfox98]

I'd say Germany has put their cards on the table for all to see. They are traitors to freedom, as they always have been.

[americanbychoice]

Reading through the German papers, they take pride in him as a Berliner. I also read an interview in The Bild, where he said the things I told you. He is planning to continue his office in Berlin as well as the one in New York.

[americanbychoice]

I for one am proposing giving all American companies Tax breaks to move their production from France Germany and Belgium back to the U.S.

[Calpernia]

Thanks for the info. I never doubted a word that you said. I'm just angry how events went today at the UN. AND I really don't want Germany to benefit in any way shape or form from the WTC rebuild.

[doug from upland]

I don't think I am going to admit anymore that one of my grandfathers came from Germany. I'll just talk about the Irish one.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Why do your troops in Kuwait need to be able to dectect WMD, if your German leaders are so sure that Saddam/Iraq doesn't have ANY???????

[americanbychoice]

I don't either. You can see and feel through all their reporting that they still think they are the "Super Humans", the leaders in morality, Champions of the poor and opressed, intellectually superior to anyone. I don't mind saying that I am a Master Race reject, actually, I am proud of that. I rejected myself :)

[Calpernia]

Sorry, but I don't reject you :)