Now either I have been asleep, and have missed the developments leading up to this move by the US government, or this is a breaking story:
Pullout rocks Germans By Robin Gedye, Foreign Affairs Writer (Filed: 03/05/2003)Germany reacted with dismay yesterday to America's decision not to return the 17,000-strong 1st Armoured Division to Germany, accelerating plans to relocate its troops to eastern Europe.
Roland Koch, the premier of Hesse state, where 3,700 of the 70,000 US soldiers in Germany are stationed, said the American decision would lead to the loss of 250 jobs and have a huge impact on shops and other businesses.
Chancellor Gerhard Schroder has repeatedly shrugged off the prospect of a withdrawal of US forces, but officials around Frankfurt and Heidelberg, where troops are stationed, are concerned at the loss of millions of dollars which the soldiers and their families bring in each year.
Attributions: Country Store > Midwest Conservative Journal
I actually did a search trying to find any other news source on this story, came up empty on AP, Reuters, UPI and even FARK. However, there are several stories about how the US is going to have bases in Iraq, and this is likely a result of that decision. However, and where did I hear Bulgaria?, Iraq is not in Eastern Europe, being on the wrong side of Turkey.
I was stationed in German for brief spells in the 70's when I was in the Army with the 2nd Armored Division, and loved my time there. I thought the German people and culture were fascinating. The country was clean, the people nice, and the scenery magnificent. However, that was over 30 years ago, and since that time, I have heard rumors that the Neo-Nazis in Germany are growing more popular and their membership is growing. Was there an ulterior motive for Germany's lack of support in our efforts to free Iraq? After all, Israel does fit into the picture in middle East, and Saddam was a powerful enemy of Israel. WWIII did not take place, as was expected by some when the battle began, and maybe it was just waiting for the same country whose actions started the last two, to play their hand once again. No hard evidence to think so at this point, but then again, stranger things have happened.
Posted by Tiger at May 3, 2003 10:33 PMthe Germans of post-war Europe are not Nazis nor were they during the 2nd World War. I too was stationed in Europe during my time in the Army but in the mid 90's and we have no mission there. the war in Bosnia and Kosovo did extend our reasons for being there, but that too is over and we need to concentrate on the Middle East and Asia. the EU can take over the leadership and most imprtantly the funding. this is the smartest policy from W yet!..
Posted by: Rob at December 7, 2003 05:39 PM