| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| German intelligence services finds smoking gun in Iraq |
| 2003-02-23 |
| German newspaper reports that Iraq has deployed missiles near its border with Kuwait to threaten British and U.S. troops massing in the Persian Gulf nation for a possible invasion of Iraq. The Frankfurter Allgemeine reports in Sunday editions that the missiles pose a grave threat to the allied troops and that they violate a 1994 United Nations resolution that forbids Iraq from threatening its neighbors. Btw a threat to the 59 German soldiers stationed in Kuwait. It gets personal now, right? The Ababil-100 missiles reportedly have a range of 200 kilometers, which would violate other U.N. resolutions banning Iraq from having missiles with a range of more than 150 kilometers. The newspaper said German intelligence agencies informed the Defense Ministry early this month about the deployment, and that the United Nations was notified 10 days ago. So that was when? 13th of February? Before Valentine's Day meeting? Did Powell know? And if so, why didn't he say a thing? |
| Posted by:True German Ally |
| #6 There's not going to be any yes-vote by Schroeder or Chirac,not even if Saddam nuked Jerusalem tomorrow.The Franco-German plan is to turn Europe into an effectively anti-American superpower,led by,you guessed it,France and Germany.To achieve that end,they feel USA must be opposed,regardless of merit of cause.The alliance is OVER. |
| Posted by: El Id 2003-02-23 16:47:49 |
| #5 They don't want to be caught between a rock and a hard place either. The French came to their rescue when they faced total isolation. If they now vote against France that would leave the French-German "mariage de raison" in tatters (and the EU in a bigger mess). I guess they favor German and French abstention. Schroeder wasn't THAT dumb. He never said that Germany would vote against the war, just that it wouldn't vote in favor. There is another thing that doesn't get much attention. The Germans covered 16% of the costs of Gulf War I (they could afford it then). With their economy dipping back into recession they just panic when somebody mentiones money. But whatever happens: The Germans may not back the war but they will certainly be on board when humanitarian aid is needed after the war. And the U.S. knows that. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-02-23 13:18:46 |
| #4 If the Germans were really smart, they would oppose the war effort by abstaining. Let France throw itself off the cliff if they want to, and have so far been very effective at doing it. The Germans could pick up whatever contracts France will leave behind. The French are effectively shutting themselves out of any involvement in post-Saddam Iraq. |
| Posted by: RW 2003-02-23 12:44:47 |
| #3 Well Powell has nicer words for the Germans lately. Another thing is that the Germans aren't that fond of Chirac either and didn't appreciate his Napoleonic behaviour towards the Eastern European countries. (The East is seen as German playground, not French). Also it seems that the Germans have enough of being bashed by the U.S. and are not too unhappy that Chirac gets hammered now. The Germans still want to be friends with everyone: The U.S., France, Russia, Israel, the Arab countries. Kohl managed to do that, Schroeder is as mediocre as Chirac but not a crook like the latter. His problem: He is deeply discredited in Germany for his dismal economic performance so his peacenik attitude is his last stand in Germany. But with his party at 28% right now it might not matter anymore. Wise strategy? Give Chirac a break, too, or his inflated ego will make him use a veto he probably prefers not to cast. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-02-23 12:24:18 |
| #2 my, my, my, isn't that timing convenient. So now Germany can spring a Yes vote at the UN with no loss of face and we can all hoist a Lowenbrau to good US/German relations. It's not all that surprising really, Germany has been truly helpful in the fight on terror and Schroeder only benefits by yapping at us, he never wanted to get bit. I think he'd love (make that needs) an opportunity to kiss and make up. I'd even think that ChIraq would get on board but considering his emotional meltdown, I wouldn't put money on it. I suspect he will either melt down further, or suddenly get on board (for Germany's sake, of course). I'd say we still are on for the New Moon. Heh heh. Clever :-) |
| Posted by: becky 2003-02-23 11:39:26 |
| #1 These sound like the missiles we blew up. Powell didn't have to say anything, because the confirmation of their location was already in the pipeline. |
| Posted by: Dishman 2003-02-23 10:10:54 |