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| Wed, 10-13-2004 - 1:30am |
Germany in rethink on Iraq force deployment
By Hugh Williamson and Gerrit Wiesmann in Berlin
Published: October 12 2004 22:07 | Last updated: October 12 2004 22:07
Germany might deploy troops in Iraq if conditions there change, Peter Struck, the German defence minister, indicated on Tuesday in a gesture that appears to provide backing for John Kerry, the US Democratic presidential challenger.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Struck departed from his government’s resolve not to send troops to Iraq under any circumstances, saying: “At present I rule out the deployment of German troops in Iraq. In general, however, there is no one who can predict developments in Iraq in such a way that he could make a such a binding statement .â€
Mr Struck also welcomed Mr Kerry’s proposal that he would convene an international conference on Iraq including countries that opposed the war if he were to win next month's election.
Germany would certainly attend, Mr Struck said. “This is a very sensible proposal. The situation in Iraq can only be cleared up when all those involved sit together at one table. Germany has taken on responsibilities in Iraq, including financial ones; this would naturally justify our involvement in such a conference.â€
Berlin has refused to comment on the outcome of the US election, but Mr Struck's comments are significant as Mr Kerry has argued that he would be able to draw in countries to work in Iraq that opposed the war. Gerhard Schröder, the German chancellor, was a leading opponent of the US-led Iraq war and his re-election in 2002 was secured in part on support for this stance.
Mr Struck and other German officials said developments in Iraq meant the position over troops was under constant review, noting that Berlin was already providing financial assistance to Iraq and training Iraqi troops and police officers in the United Arab Emirates.
A senior official said: “When the situation in Iraq changes, when elections have been held, or there are other developments, then we will make decisions on this basis.†If a democratically-elected Iraqi government were to ask the UN for support, the international community, including Germany, must be in a position to respond, the official added.
Mr Struck said Germany's attendance at the conference proposed by Mr Kerry did not mean Berlin would immediately deploy troops. Analysts in Berlin argue that a Kerry victory would increase pressure on Germany to step up its involvement in Iraq, even though public opinion is still firmly against the US role in Iraq and against any heightened German engagement.
Mr Struck said he could envisage Germany making a larger “political contribution to stability in the regionâ€, building on mediation efforts in recent years by Joschka Fischer, foreign minister, regarding Israel and the Palestinians.
Germany announced last month a shipment of 20 armoured vehicles to the Iraqi military, as part of Berlin's increased involvement in Nato-led reconstruction efforts there.

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My husband is from Germany and we spend time there every year (this year in February) and believe me, every GERMAN I encountered wants Bush and his administration out of office. Same went for the people we spoke with in Italy and Spain.
My father-in-law is like a German Mr. Miagi (from Karate Kid), very wise and he speaks softly but with meaning.... he said to me on the phone just the other day, "Sarah, you know what to do on election day." Inferring "Vote Bush out."
Germany Rejects Speculation That Iraq Policy May Change
By RICHARD BERNSTEIN
Published: October 13, 2004
ERLIN, Oct. 13 - German officials today reaffirmed their policy of not contributing troops to the American-led coalition in Iraq and rejected speculation, prompted by a remark by the country's defense minister, that that policy might change in the foreseeable future.
"There will be no German soldiers in Iraq," a government spokeman, Thomas Steg, said, answering reporters' questions about a report in The Financial Times in which Defense Minister Peter Struck seemed to hold the door open for a possible change in Germany's policy.
"The position of the German government as far as Iraq is concerned is clear - it will not be changed,'' Mr. Steg said, The Associated Press reported. "It will remain in the future what it was in the past - there will be no German soldiers in Iraq."
In his interview with the Financial Times, published today, Mr. Struck said, "At present I rule out the deployment of German troops in Iraq." But then, in the part of his remark that provoked speculation about a possible change in German policy, Mr. Struck continued, "In general, however, there is no one who can predict developments in Iraq in such a way that he could make such a binding statement."
Germany, which, with France, led European opposition to the invasion of Iraq, has embarked on a program to train Iraqi police recruits outside of Iraq, but it has steadfastly refused to send any troops of its own. Given Germany's size and importance, any change in that policy would have a powerful impact on the coalition itself and on international attitudes toward the Iraqi war.
But while Mr. Struck spoke again today about the possibility that Germany could eventually send troops "in years to come," German officials were emphatic in rejecting speculation that any active thought was being given to altering the country's refusal to participate directly in the war.
"No one in the federal government, including the defense minister, is thinking about a change of position on Iraq," Chancellor Gerhard Schröder was quoted as telling cabinet members during a meeting today.
Asked why Mr. Struck made a statement that seemed bound to raise questions about the firmness of Germany's position, an official replied that Mr. Struck's remark was a largely theoretical one to the effect that nobody can say for certain what might happen if conditions change.
In taking his firm position against the Iraqi invasion more than two years ago, Mr. Schröder was widely and solidly supported by the German public, which remains deeply persuaded that the invasion of Iraq was a mistake that has led to disastrous results. From that point of view, it would be very politically difficult for any German government to deploy troops to Iraq, certainly as long as armed opposition there continues.
Moreover, German law requires parliamentary approval for any dispatch oftroops outside German territory, and it would be a very tough fight for any government to get such approval. If conditions in Iraq ever became stable and the armed opposition to the American-supported government disappeared, the public here might well accept a deployment of German troops as part of a United Nations-authorized peacekeeping force, but short of that, it is hard to imagine public approval of any military involvement in Iraq.
In his statement today, Mr. Struck reiterated that there were no plans to send troops to Iraq, but, once again, he seemed to leave the door open at least a crack to the possibility of an eventual change.
"I have made very clear that within the foreseeable future, it is out of the question," he told reporters while on an official visit to Romania. "But certainly there could be times ahead, in years to come, when Germany will get involved."
Your statement about their predictions (France,Germany,Russia,China) were correct about going to war is ludicrous. They were hiding their own deception.
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