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Europe
Germany Will Share the Burden in Iraq
2003-09-19
By GERHARD SCHR$B%h(BDER
Whoa. Definitely a change in tone. Has TGA been hired as a speech writer? I don$B!G(Bt suppose Chirac would write something like this, especially after he got called an "enemy" in the New York Times.

BERLIN $B!&(BTerrorism continues to be a very serious risk to security and stability in the world. With the fight against terrorism far from over, Germans and Americans stand united in the battle. Together, we will prevail. All true.

For many months now, German soldiers have been fighting side by side with American troops in Afghanistan, once a haven and a logistical base for international terrorism. I am firmly convinced that we have no choice but to continue on in this common struggle, given the threat that global terrorism and Al Qaeda pose to the international community.

I put my own political future on the line in 2001 when I asked the German Bundestag for a vote of confidence for sending troops to Afghanistan, a military commitment unprecedented for Germany. Ok, we wont mention the rhetoric in Germany$B!G(Bs last election campaign.

Until very recently, German troops played a leading role in the International Security Assistance Force, which has brought a measure of stability and order to Kabul and the surrounding areas. Though the force is now commanded by NATO, a German NATO general is in charge. Freeing Afghanistan from the bondage of the Taliban and Al Qaeda was an exceptional accomplishment. This needs to be repeated. Haven$B!G(Bt heard it so much lately.

Now, however, we must focus our efforts on helping a troubled country introduce democracy and rebuild itself under extremely difficult circumstances. Germany is therefore prepared to participate in extending the reconstruction program beyond Kabul and to assign military personnel to protect civilian aid workers and organizations.

It would be tragic, both for the Afghan people and the international community, if this country were to relapse into tyranny or once more become a breeding ground for terrorists. We have a joint responsibility to prevent this, for it is in our common interest and in keeping with our common values. True and notice it is not phrased as partisan paniced hand-wringing.

German-American cooperation is solid in some other areas as well. Our troops are working with American forces in the Balkans to ensure stability there. Our navy is helping to patrol the Horn of Africa, protecting international sea routes. And more than 8,000 German troops are participating in peacekeeping missions around the world.

In the fight against terrorism, German intelligence services and law enforcement are working closely with American and other international partners. And on the diplomatic front, Germany and its European partners are doing their utmost with Washington to bring forward the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. Our commitment to peace in the Middle East, based on the security of Israel and the right of the Palestinian people to form a state of their own and we don$B!G(Bt care if it$B!G(Bs run by corrupt terrorist-supporting thugs, is a pillar of our foreign policy.

It is true that Germany and the United States disagreed on how best to leave in place deal with Saddam Hussein$B!G(Bs regime. There is no point in continuing our stubborn refusal to support the overthrow of a viscious tyrant and enemy of the West this debate. This debate is gonna rage for a long time no matter what anyone says but it$B!G(Bs nice to see Shroeder seeming to accept the overthrow of Saddam. We should now look toward the future. We must work together to win the peace. The United Nations must get back in and control play a central role. The international community has a key interest in recovering our sweetheart oil contracts ensuring that stability and democracy are established as quickly as possible in Iraq. The international mission needs greater legitimacy in order to accelerate the process leading to a government acting on its own authority in Iraq. So long as the cooperating countries act constructively and realisitically - triangulating kept to a minimum.

In addition to its current military involvement in Afghanistan, the Balkans and elsewhere, Germany is willing to provide humanitarian aid, to assist in the civilian and economic reconstruction of Iraq and to train Iraqi security forces. Now, that$B!G(Bs the kind of declaration a real statesman might make.

When we gather in New York next week for the United Nations General Assembly, we will underline that Germany and the United States are linked by a profound friendship based on common experiences and values. For Germans, the 2003 general assembly is very special. It was exactly 30 years ago that Germany was admitted to the United Nations, a milestone in our postwar history. Back then, Germans were still forced to live in two states, divided by a wall and a dangerous border. Today, Germany is united.

We Germans will not forget how the United States helped and supported us in rebuilding and reuniting our country. That Germany is living today in a peaceful, prosperous and secure Europe is thanks in no small measure to America$B!G(Bs friendship, farsightedness and political determination. I can$B!G(Bt imagine that Chirac could$B!G(Bve brought himself to admit say that.

Beginning with President Harry S. Truman, all American presidents have supported and encouraged European integration. This remains a wise policy, for a strong and united Europe is also in the interest of the United States unless it$B!G(Bs defined as an Anti-American alliance, i.e. it$B!G(Bs lead by France. With the adoption of a European constitution and the enlargement of the European Union, Europe is opening an important new chapter in unity. Germany, as a civilian power in the heart of Europe, knows from its own history that cooperation and integration are conditions for security and prosperity.

Not until after the fall of the wall and unification did Germany fully regain its sovereignty. Today we are a full member in the international community $B!&(Bwith all the rights and obligations this entails. Germany$B!G(Bs role in the world has changed and so has our foreign policy. My country is willing to shoulder more responsibility. This may entail using military force as a last resort in resolving conflicts. Whoa. That$B!G(Bs a small but significant concession compared to what he has said before.

However, we must not forget that security in today$B!G(Bs world cannot be guaranteed by one country going it alone; it can be achieved only through international cooperation. Nor can security be limited to the activities of the police and the military. If we want to make our world freer and safer, we must fight the roots of insecurity, oppression, fanaticism and poverty $B!&(Band we must do it together. Agreed! By the way, what did he mean by "fight"? Can$B!G(Bt we all agree that Saddam was one big root of insecurity, oppression, fanaticism and poverty (yes, fanaticism too!)?

Gerhard Schr$B‹E(Ber is the chancellor of Germany. This was translated by the German Embassy from the German.

All sarcasm aside. There seem to be some concessions here toward the American side. The platitudes about multilateralism are there but it lacks the deVillepin-esque acrimony and determination to reject the Bush request for help and sabotage the new Iraq.
Posted by:Tokyo Taro

#15  OK TGA, I stand corrected--but Germany looks out for its national interests just as much as "phwrance" does--only they are excoriated for it by the Rantbourgeoisie
Posted by: Not Mike Moore   2003-9-20 2:02:25 AM  

#14  I seems that you verify your sources just the way the real Mike Moore does. Just don't let real facts stand in your way. And if you re-read my statement you'll find that I'm not excusing my country. You mentioned Osirak as German built and it was French. Sorry if that doesn't meet your requirements.
Posted by: True German Ally   2003-9-20 12:11:25 AM  

#13  Yes TGA, Ve knew nothing, nothing--it vuss those damn French
Posted by: Not Mike Moore   2003-9-19 11:31:33 PM  

#12  Osirak was a French reactor, that Jacques Chirac, then French Prime Minister, personally sold to Saddam in the late 70s. German companies did trade with Iraq in the 80s (like everybody else including the U.S.) and did sell quite a bit of "dual use" technology (machinery for the chemical industry). Also weapons of joint French/German production were sold, via France because Germany's regulations about exporting to no NATO countries were (and still are) very restrictive. Nobody covered himself with glory in the 80s. Remember Iraq was then see as a bulwark against fundamentalist Iran.

NMM, show me one country that does NOT act in its economic self-interest. I'm just saying that the Germans weren't nearly as much in bed with SAddam as France was. The trade Germany made with Iraq was mainly machinery and technology (water pumps, electricity plants, medical equipment etc) that still is in high demand for the reconstruction of Iraq. Actually I believe that going with the U.S. would have served Germany's economic interests much better while France couldn't expect to keep its very lucrative oil fields obtained under a most preferential treatment from Saddam.
Posted by: True German Ally   2003-9-19 11:13:07 PM  

#11  Sorry to rain on your parade TGA but wasn't Germany the country building Osirak that the Israelis destroyed--Germany acts as much in its economic self-interest as France does--so don't be dis-ingenuous on that point
Posted by: Not Mike Moore   2003-9-19 10:52:15 PM  

#10  Thanks for the flowers. I could have written some lines of this but certainly not all.

Anyway, this is no surprise. It's certainly true that the serious German press has pointed out the irresponsability of the French stance and the necessity for Germany to do something. German media has been quite blunt about the lofty European statements about Iraq as well. Europe has no Iraq plan, so it shouldn't go about demanding things which are not only impossible, but downright absurd. German media also don't believe that the U.N. can replace the U.S. in Iraq.
So the question just boils down to this: Can we just sit quietly and watch the U.S. or should we help. It's true that every help will come with a price tag but I think the U.S. knows best about the fact that there are no free rides. Poland, Denmark or Spain don't provide their help for free either. But it comes with the sense of a common responsibility. And that's something Chirac doesn't share.
As for the "sweetheart oil contracts": Germany (to my knowledge) didn't barely have any. Germany certainly was involved economically in Iraq but more on a point to point basis: contracts with Iraqi firms rather than with the Saddam government. ( No claim of innocence here, but selling a machine to a Iraqi company is not quite on the same level as getting oilfields from Saddam at bargain prices.)
When I said yesterday that Bush should put the last 12 months behind, it did refer to the wrong and stupid tunes that came from Germany, but which were sometimes matched by shrill replies from Washington. The Bush-Schröder meeting in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel still is very low in protocol (not Camp David, the White House or even the Ranch), but it's a starter. I think Schröder is ready for compromises he can sell, let's see what Bush can do.
Btw on Sunday Bavaria goes to the polls. The conservative CSU is poised to pull about 60% of the votes, the SPD a mere 20%, the Greens 8%.
Don't writer Stoiber off as the next chancellor just yet.
So the New York Times declares war on France and Schröder gets to write there a day later. Honi soit qui mal y pense...
Posted by: True German Ally   2003-9-19 9:22:01 PM  

#9   Reading this carefully,I get 2 impressions.
1)We want in on the rebuilding contracts in Iraq.We have done you a lot of favors so it's payback time.
2)Like it or not,Germany is committed to a United Europe.Since Germany's future is in a United Europe,we will have to do things the US might not like,but it's business,nothing personal.
Posted by: Stephen   2003-9-19 5:36:05 PM  

#8  Interesting opinion piece obviously meant to sway the American readers.

TGA, what are the German press saying about this?

It’s true that rhetoric does not always match deeds. For example, while Schroeder and Fischer were decrying the invasion of Iraq, the Wehrmacht was supporting the effort. Anti-chemical warfare teams called the Fuchs Panzers were stationed in Kuwait as part of Enduring Freedom (wink,wink). I believe in a least one case the Fuchs Panzers were deployed into Iraq to support our troops during an investigation, exploitation, of a suspicious chemical dump or factory.
Posted by: Gasse Katze   2003-9-19 2:56:28 PM  

#7  Ha! Take that Chirac! No sweeter sound than that of France being marginalized...
Posted by: mjh   2003-9-19 1:13:48 PM  

#6  Something weird is going on. When I saw "By GERHARD SCHR$B%h(BDER" I started laughing until I realized that there's no joke there. Using a different character set, yes? :)
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2003-9-19 12:52:55 PM  

#5  Aye, aye, Matey, burying the hatchet.

In phrawnce....
Posted by: Anonymous   2003-9-19 11:29:42 AM  

#4  Actions speak louder than words, but I do like the sound of these words. I'll be convinced when the first German deployment orders are issued.
Posted by: Dar   2003-9-19 11:11:41 AM  

#3  NO offense to TGA, of course: He, and many other sensible Germans, are the reasons why I WANT to bury the hatchet with Germany.
Posted by: Ptah   2003-9-19 10:04:55 AM  

#2  While I'm willing to bury the hatchet, I'm somewhat skeptical: Liberals and trolls have a habit of pre-buttering their outrageous demands with statements like this, giving themselves an out of "I tried to be statesmanlike and was rebuffed."

Deeds, not words.
Posted by: Ptah   2003-9-19 10:01:21 AM  

#1  I feeling pretty shocked at the moment..
Posted by: Dcreeper   2003-9-19 9:48:28 AM  

00:00