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Quote:
Originally posted by Grojlach:
By the way, while we're on the subject of Germany anyways, here is some news that most definitely insulted many Germans:
Rumsfeld lumps Germany with Libya, Cuba on Iraq
WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday put Germany in the same category as Libya and Cuba as countries that had ruled out any role in a possible U.S.-led attack on Iraq or post-war reconstruction.
Rumsfeld, testifying to Congress, contrasted these three with "the non-trivial number" that he said had already pledged to join U.S.-led forces or support them by providing access, overflight or basing.
Another "pretty good group of countries" had indicated they would help rebuild Iraq after any departure of President Saddam Hussein. Saddam is widely accused of harboring banned programs to build nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the means to deliver them.
"Then there are three or four countries that have said they won't do anything," he said in reply to a question from House Armed Services Committee member Robert Andrews, a New Jersey Democrat. "I believe Libya, Cuba and Germany are ones that have indicated they wont help in any respect, I believe."
Rumsfeld did not name any other countries as having ruled out a role, not even the four blacklisted by Washington as alleged state sponsors of terrorism along with Iraq, Libya and Cuba -- Iran, Syria, Sudan and North Korea.
Last month, he triggered a storm by calling France and Germany "old Europe" in criticizing their opposition to the early use of force against Saddam.
"I think that's old Europe," he said at the time. "If you look at the entire NATO Europe today, the center of gravity is shifting to the east. And there are a lot of new members."
Source: Alertnet
For a German response to all of this, see this article.
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Why would this anger Germans? All he did was list some nations that had a particular view. If they don't like the company they keep, that isn't Rumsfelds problem. Sheesh, you would think that they were ashamed to have the same views as Libya and Cuba...fellow socialist states...with apparently the same professed stand on the Iraqi War.
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