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| Middle East |
| Schroeder pledges Germany will supply Israel with Patriot missiles |
| 2002-11-26 |
| Germany will provide Israel with Patriot anti-missile systems, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was quoted Tuesday as saying, indicating that Germany wants to help Israel defend against any Iraqi attack if war erupts in the Middle East. "If Israel needs an increase in security, we will help - and on time," Schroeder was quoted as saying by the weekly Die Zeit. Germany had "a historic and moral duty," he added. You could say that. In Jerusalem, the Israeli Defense Ministry said it asked Germany for Patriot missiles more than a year ago and was waiting for an answer. Israeli officials raised the request again during talks at the German Defense Ministry last week, the Israeli statement said. The German air force has 30 Patriot missile systems in service, and the daily Die Welt said Israel wants them to strengthen its defense against Iraqi missiles. Germany is among some 50 countries discreetly contacted by US President George W. Bush to ask what they might contribute to military action against Iraq. Officials have given few details, and government spokesman Hans-Hermann Langguth said Monday the request was "unspecific." The Defense Ministry spokesman said Israel's request was separate from the US move. Sure it was, Hans. Nothing to do with it at all. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #5 "The Reuters news agency reported that the German military has said it has six Patriot systems which it no longer needs." Threat level has gone down and these are excess to their current requirements. Most likely they are sitting in a warehouse somewhere, just have to drive them on a plane (C-5) or put them on a ship and they can be in theater soon. Gets them off the German military's property books and gives them good PR when they really need it. |
| Posted by: Steve 2002-11-27 09:39:09 |
| #4 I seem to recall that the Patriot is an American product and that the usual boilerplate agreement to licence the production of or procurement of requires the other country to request a mother-may-I from the American government. Not that the Americans would withold such a request in this instance, it is a technology transfer that is not an all German act. The Germans have looked at the Patriot as an anti-theater ballistic missile system since the mid-80s. How much they may or may not have adjusted the system's limitations for the threat profile will be interesting to see. |
| Posted by: Don 2002-11-27 09:18:22 |
| #3 I'm sure if the Germans do sent them to Israel, they'll make sure they won't be in working order. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2002-11-26 20:44:32 |
| #2 John B., The request is being made now because Israel asked for these over a year ago, and after receiving no response, are now asking yet again. Germans never pass up an opportunity to screw over Israel and the Jewish people. Just look at their voting record in the UN. Or if you've got a long memory, you may recall Germany's deft handling of a certain incident at the Munich Olympics in '72". |
| Posted by: Aracona 2002-11-26 15:56:04 |
| #1 This is precious. Despite their proclaimed reluctance to lift a finger, the Krauts will do more than 90% of our "allies" if they send this equipment to Israel to be used against Iraq. And there is zero way they could turn down a request to provide defensive weapons to Jewish people. Though I am sure the Patriots will be useful, this request was surely made in part because of how it embarrasses the Germans. |
| Posted by: John B. 2002-11-26 15:19:03 |