GERMANY: WASHINGTON ASKS GERMANY FOR 2,000 TROOPS TO HELP GUARD U.S ARM BASES IN GERMANY AS SPECULATION MOUNTS FOR US ATTACK ON IRAQ
Record ID:
647201
GERMANY: WASHINGTON ASKS GERMANY FOR 2,000 TROOPS TO HELP GUARD U.S ARM BASES IN GERMANY AS SPECULATION MOUNTS FOR US ATTACK ON IRAQ
- Title: GERMANY: WASHINGTON ASKS GERMANY FOR 2,000 TROOPS TO HELP GUARD U.S ARM BASES IN GERMANY AS SPECULATION MOUNTS FOR US ATTACK ON IRAQ
- Date: 20th December 2002
- Summary: (W6) BERLIN, GERMANY (DECEMBER 20, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SMV /SCU GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTER PETER STRUCK BEING INTERVIEWED 0.09 2. SLV CAMERA CREWS 0.12 3. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTER PETER STRUCK, SAYING: "The German Chancellor answered a query from the Americans and said, just like after September 11th, that we are prepared to protect American buildings in Germany if it is necessary. The question of when and how many will be answered in the coming weeks." 0.38 4. SLV PEOPLE LOOKING IN TO BUILDING THROUGH GLASS WALL 0.42 4. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTER PETER STRUCK, SAYING: "We shouldn't speculate if and when military measures will take place in Iraq. At the end of January there must be a result of the inspections in the Security Council. Of course we have kept our word and are talking to the Americans about exact numbers of soldiers and the time point from which we will be protecting American interests." 1.12 5. SMV MEDIA 1.17 6. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION LEADER ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "We have known for a long time that the Americans have requested special protection. We in the CDU are in favour of this protection and know the time period could be interesting. But it is not a surprise when I say that all will try their hardest to avoid military measures. We must and want to help the Americans, that is correct, but it is also clear that if the Chancellor tries to separate military and peaceful measures he will not be successful. This kind of support will also be military support." 1.57 7. SLV PEOPLE LOOKING THROUGH GLASS 2.02 (W6) RAMSTEIN, GERMANY (FILE) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 8. WIDE OF ENTRANCE TO RAMSTEIN AIR BASE WITH TRAFFIC QUEUING AND BEING CHECKED AT ROAD BLOCK 2.06 9. WIDE OF SIGN "US AIRFORCE RAMSTEIN AIR BASE" 2.11 10. VARIOUS VIEWS MILITARY PERSONNEL GETTING ON TRANSPORT PLANE (5 SHOTS) 2.42 11. CLOSE OF ENGINE OF PLANE STARTING 2.46 12. WIDE OF TRANSPORT PLANE ON RUNWAY 2.52 13. WIDE OF ENGINE OF PLANE 3.02 14. SLV GROUND PERSONNEL SIGNALLING TO PILOT 3.06 15. VAROIUS, PLANES TAXIING ON RUNWAY (2 SHOTS) 3.26 16. CLOSE OF PILOTS IN COCKPIT 3.31 17. VARIOUS, MILITARY PERSONNEL GETTING OFF PLANE (2 SHOTS) 3.50 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 4th January 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BERLIN AND RAMSTEIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Reuters ID: LVACX2CXYSTPHOBHG72ZT2XZEF38
- Story Text: Washington has asked Germany to provide 2,000 troops to
guard U.S. bases in the country at the end of January, a
government source has said, as speculation mounts of a U.S.-
led attack on Iraq early in 2003.
A senior German government source told Reuters on
Friday (December 20), that an informal request had been made
for German forces to help guard barracks and other military
installations as well as transport routes for U.S. troops. A
parliamentary source also confirmed the request.
The U.S. embassy in Berlin and the U.S. European Command
in Stuttgart declined to comment.
A defence ministry spokesman said only that Germany had
agreed to a U.S. request for help guarding bases in case of
war but was still examining when and how much support would be
needed.
"The German Chancellor answered a query from the Americans
and said, just like after September 11th, that we are prepared
to protect American buildings in Germany if it is necessary.
The question of when and how many will be answered in the
coming weeks," German defence Minister Peter Struck told
Reuters on Friday.
The United States currently has 71,000 troops, mostly army
and air force, stationed at various bases around Germany.
Despite German government opposition to a war with Iraq
that has strained relations with Washington, Chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder assured President George W. Bush last month
that Germany will grant fly-over and transit rights for U.S.
forces.
However, any troop movements are likely to attract
protests from Germany's large pacifist movement and any war
would raise the level of security alert for U.S. installations
in Germany.
A war and any German support for it is also likely to
provoke tension in the ruling coalition of Schroeder's Social
Democrats and Greens partners, some of whom have said U.S.
fly-over rights should only be granted if there is a U.N.
mandate for an attack on Iraq.
The United States has been steadily building forces in the
Gulf region, with Bush warning that Iraqi President Saddam
Hussein must comply with a U.N. resolution to stop developing
weapons of mass destruction or face possible military attack.
On Wednesday, U.S. officials said the military has been
told to notify up to 50,000 troops that they may be sent to
the Gulf region early next year. The United States currently
has about 60,000 troops in the region overseen by U.S. Central
Command.
Bush has approved a flexible U.S. military plan for a
possible large-scale invasion of Iraq using up to 250,000
troops.
Prime Minister Tony Blair told British troops in a
Christmas message on Friday to prepare for possible war with
Iraq but said it was still unclear whether weapons inspectors
would find Iraq in breach of a U.N. resolution on disarmament.
The United States has said Iraq is in "material breach" of
U.N. resolutions for failing to disclose information about
illegal weapons. Britain says it is deeply disappointed with
Iraq's arms declaration but has stopped short of saying Iraq
is in material breach as yet, a term that could trigger war.
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