Germany says no troops to Iraq, security is coalition's job

[stickdog]

http://www.sunnt.com/news/world/world.asp?id=10749

Germany says no troops to Iraq, security is coalition's job

Helsinki, Aug 25 - Germany does not intend to send troops to Iraq, the Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said on Sunday, adding that it was up to the US-led coalition to maintain order in the country.

"We were for a central role for the United Nations (in Iraq). Unfortunately it was decided that the responsibility would remain in the hands of the coalition, and we are not part of the coalition," Fischer said.

"The coalition is responsible for security on the ground," he added, following a sauna session and talks with his Finnish counterpart, Erkki Tuomioja.

Tuomioja said that Finland's position was similar to that of Germany: "If there were to be a question raised by the UN to send troops under the command of the UN, then we would consider particpating. This is not the case."

[rock]

1. The coalition

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. That would be the US.

[saigon68]

9. YOU FORGOT OUR COALITION PARTNER UZBEKISTAN

LOL

[demnan]

2. I can't say I blame them

Now that Bushler has pissed off all our allies and gotten involved in an unnecessary war, why should he expect "Old Europe" to help out?

[lebkuchen]

4. Speaking of PO'ed

Ever since Fischer PO'ed Rumsfeld at the meeting of Defense Foreign Ministers last year, Joschka has been on everybody's A-list in Germany. He's a very popular man at the moment, looking to move upward and onward, unlike some GOP politicians in the U.S. at the moment.

[lanlady]

12. Quite an accomplishment--

--considering that Fischer's reputation used to be, er, problematic, to put it mildly. What an amazing turn of events when Joschka's the toast of Europe and Tony B's a laughing stock.

[Kellanved]

3. The Chancellor said basically the same thing on Saturday

Here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=79704


Edit: direct link to the Article; look at the related items at the bottom of the page:
http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1430_A_954206_1_A,00.html

[German-Lefty]

5. I like Fischer

He always seems to say the smart thing. I hope the US gets a new president soon. Then we can all be friends again.

[kskiska]

6. This was decided during a sauna session

Can't you just picture * at a sauna session with world leaders?

[Evil_Dewers]

7. Sauna

That would be too "gay" for *. Even the Fab Five couldn't save a stiff like *.

[zbdent]

8. I'm sure that the 20 + (unidentified) countries which signed on

with W are willing to send their military might to help W with the cleanup effort.

All 307.5 of their soldiers.

[Old and In the Way]

10. Message to W-

You broke it, you fix it.

[Kellanved]

11. another Interview: the Minister of Defense says the same

Along with a plan to increase the numbers of the Special Forces.

http://www.expatica.com/germany.asp?pad=190,205,&item_id=33706
--snip
HAMBURG - German Defence Minister Peter Struck has ruled out sending the country's troops to Iraq without an extended United Nations mandate.
Struck told Welt am Sonntag newspaper the civil reconstruction of Iraq was "decisive", adding: "That is no job for soldiers."

The minister told German television late Saturday that a UN mandate was a precondition "for a civilian engagement in Iraq and for members of the German Bundeswehr in Iraq".

Struck told ZDF the US administration took the view that the current occupation statute in Iraq would not be changed.
"As long as this position does not change there is no point talking about when and with what people we will go there," he said
...
He also said Germany would increase the number of its elite Commando Special Forces (KSK) unit from 450 to around 1,000.
--snap


The spin is starting for reconstruction aid; today our C-SPAN (Phoenix) blamed the US ban on German companies for the electricity problems:
The Baghdad plants and the grid were built by Siemens decades ago, but the Bremer administration blocks spare- orders by the Iraqi plant operators. Wouldn't be a problem, but no US-corp has these types of spares.