LOL Germany Pulls Out of NATO Excercise

Annie

Diamond Member
Nov 22, 2003
50,848
4,828
1,790
All because of a New York Post op-ed piece, NO I am not kidding!

http://medienkritik.typepad.com/blog/2004/09/germanys_critiq.html

Germany's Critique of the U.S.: One-Way Street Only
There's no limit to the critique of America and the American government in the German media and in German politics - but please note, dear American friends: this is a one-way street only.

Germany pulls out of military expo over retired Army officer's column
HEIDELBERG, Germany — 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.”

In response, German army leaders informed U.S. officials on Tuesday that they’ve decided to pull out of the expo, said Col. Hans Kling, the chief German liaison officer at the Army European headquarters in Heidelberg. Kling said the decision to withdraw from the expo was made by the commander of Germany’s land forces, Lt. Gen. Axel Bürgener.

The Germans were to provide three tanks, two wheeled vehicles and about 30 soldiers as part of the German army’s display at the expo. (...)

Peters said any boycott amounts to “defacto censorship.”

Called for comment at home in northern Virginia, Peters said, “It’s perfectly all right for the Germans to call President Bush a Nazi, it’s perfectly all right for the Germans to criticize everything about America, to lionize [“Fahrenheit 911” director] Michael Moore and treat our soldiers as second-class human beings … but they want to try and censor the American media.”

Peters said the German decision was disappointing but not surprising.

“I think the fact that they’re pulling out is the best imaginable indicator of how weak our alliance is, how meaningless Germany’s contribution is,” said Peters. “If they pull out because they can’t stand one 800-word opinion piece in an American newspaper, how could we possibly expect them to stand by us in a violent crisis?” (emphasis added)

Peters, who is fluent in German and served in Germany for 10 years during his active-duty career, said he stands by everything he wrote.


I guess the German military will demand Michael Moore or Susan Sontag as guest speaker at the U.S. military expo in order to attend. Anything less will be considered an insult.

Did I mention Noam Chomsky?

+++BREAKING NEWS+++ ANOTHER LOSS FOR SCHROEDER: Germany's ruling Socialists under Chancellor Schroeder just suffered another historic loss in the nation's most populous state. Read all about it HERE.
 
just move the troops to romania, montengero, czech republic, poland, the baltic states (estonia, lithuiania, latvia), hungary, bulgaria... spread em out among our allies who appreciate our alliance and are trying to train their best with us so they can do more to defend their nations, keep and maintain the peace and fight terrorism.
 
I suppose that the US should now be ashamed, upset, and groveling. Somehow, I dont see the current administration or the US military doing that. Maybe the Kerry campaign will take it upon themselves to apologize.
 
NATO AIR said:
just move the troops to romania, montengero, czech republic, poland, the baltic states (estonia, lithuiania, latvia), hungary, bulgaria... spread em out among our allies who appreciate our alliance and are trying to train their best with us so they can do more to defend their nations, keep and maintain the peace and fight terrorism.

When they get there, at least half of them should point west.
 
What's really weird, this was over a newpaper article. Germany thinks the government can control the press? :wtf:
 
Kathianne said:
What's really weird, this was over a newpaper article. Germany thinks the government can control the press? :wtf:

The Bundeswehr has always been noted for its cultural sensitivity and its respect for freedom of the press.
 
onedomino said:
The Bundeswehr has always been noted for its cultural sensitivity and its respect for freedom of the press.
LOL
 
Kathianne said:
What's really weird, this was over a newpaper article. Germany thinks the government can control the press? :wtf:

Wooooohoooooooooooo.

First the handspringing art protester and now this.

I really am beginning to believe that sauerkraut rots your brain.
 
I'm not suprised Germany is trying to control the press. I give it 20 years and it'll be borderline fascist like Putin's Russia. Of course they will never go all the way to fascism again. Not without Hitler and his magical mind control watch that he hypnotized everyone with. Amazing what a couple of Sherman tanks coming down the strasse can do to wake you from a trance.
 
I laughed my ass off reading that.
I'm speechless.
I hope we get our guys out before FY05 ends.
 
kinda brings a tear to my eyes with hurting their feelings and all. :boohoo: we need a box of tissue smilie
 

Forum List

Back
Top