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"Old Rumsfeld" in Munich, slaps Schroeder, defends NATO, meets...
OK this is what the press knows...Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Saturday came out against a German proposal that would create a trans-Atlantic rival to NATO to coordinate and develop policy among alliance nations. Rumsfeld described the 26-country alliance, created in 1949 to confront the Soviet Union's military strength in the Cold War, as still energetic and vital. As were at least two participants of the conference... He also said the U.S.-European alliance can withstand its current differences, caused chiefly by opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq. In urging unified efforts to defeat terrorism and deter weapons proliferation, Rumsfeld took a conciliatory note toward America's allies in Europe and even made light of his "old Europe" characterization of nations such as France and Germany that opposed U.S. policy in Iraq. "That was old Rumsfeld," he said, drawing laughs from officials at a security conference. "Our collective security depends on our cooperation and mutual respect and understanding." And on a different German government maybe... Germany's defense minister proposed more direct coordination between the European Union and the United States. NATO "is no longer the primary venue where trans-Atlantic partners discuss and coordinate strategies," said Peter Struck, reading a speech on behalf of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who was ill. Too bad he felt the urge to write anyway... Struck also recommended appointing a commission to study the idea. Ok, study it, then dump it. But Rumsfeld said: "NATO has a great deal of energy and vitality. I believe they are undertaking the kinds of reforms to bring the institution into the 21st century. The place to discuss trans-Atlantic issues clearly is NATO." That's why they call it the North Atlantic Treaty Organization [...] "Our Atlantic alliance relationship has navigated through some choppy seas over the years. But we have always been able to resolve the toughest issues," he said. "That is because there is so much to unite us: common values, shared histories, and an abiding faith in democracy." Except for those demonstrators waving the old flag of the Soviet Union and Palestine (interesting combo) and held up photos of "pacifist" Che Guevara... the usual suspects. The Pentagon chief said coordination of legal, diplomatic and intelligence efforts was crucial. "By now it must be clear that one nation cannot defeat the extremists alone," he said. But until the others get a clue the United States gave the thing a kick start. "It will take the cooperation of many nations to stop the proliferation of dangerous weapons ... and it surely takes a community of nations to gather intelligence about extremist networks, to break up financial support lines, or to apprehend suspected terrorists," Rumsfeld said. Listening to Mr Ivanov, I'm not so sure about Russia... He added, "The military can only be part of the solution and it is always the last resort." And sometimes the ONLY resort. The secretary singled out France and Germany for praise for their arrests of suspected Islamic extremists last month. The sparrow in the hand... [...] He also said he believed that U.S. and European policy concerning Iran's nuclear ambitions were in accord. "There is not much daylight between the approach of the United States and the Europeans," Rumsfeld said. TGA will have a lot to comment on that issue in the coming days... Posted by: True German Ally 2005-02-12 |
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