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Germany pulls out of military expo over retired Army officer's column
The German military has pulled out of the U.S. Army's annual Land Combat Expo, protesting an opinion piece written by a controversial retired U.S. officer slated to be a guest speaker at next week's event. Retired Army Lt. Col. Ralph Peters, a noted author and frequent lecturer in military circles, wrote an opinion piece blasting the Germans in the New York Post on Aug. 19. The column came in the wake of criticism from Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign team of President Bush's plan to reduce U.S. forces in Europe and Asia. "Not one presents a reasoned strategic argument for maintaining wasteful garrisons abroad. And not one admits that the Germans only care about losing the jobs we provide," wrote Peters. "Regarding the Democrats' claim that we'll lose influence in Europe, the obvious question is, 'What influence?'" Peters continued. "We're not stabbing our French and German 'allies' in the back. They stabbed us. And they'll do it again. Our troop posture in Europe doesn't give us influence over the Europeans — it gives the Europeans power over us."Posted by: tipper 2004-09-24 |
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