Germany outlines interventionist posture

[demdave]

BERLIN, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- In a major change in military posture, Germany has outlined a plan for a force capable of interventions anywhere in the world, Time magazine reported.

Germany's Defense Minister Peter Struck has announced a shift from territorial defense to overseas peacekeeping, the magazine reported in its latest edition. Germany is also announcing massive cuts in high-tech weapons development.

The armed forces will be divided into three groups, a force of 35,000 "intervention" troops, 70,000 "stabilizing" troops and 137,500 support troops.


http://interestalert.com/brand/siteia.shtml?Story=st/sn/01180000aaa04827.upi&Sys=siteia&Fid=WORLDNEW&Type=News&Filter=World%20News

[aquart]

1. Oh, happy days. Germany making pre-emptive strikes.

Well, we started it. And I have always said, anyone who starts a war gets no say in how it ends.

But I would have no problem convicting BushCo of treason.

No wonder they want to go to Mars. After World War III, the earth will be uninhabitable, even for the really really really rich.

[Turley]

6. ???????????????

I have no clue how you reached such a conclusion. Do you?

[JohnOneillsMemory]

2. It's come to this. Former allies holding our own rogue gov't in check. n/t

[Eloriel]

4. And I gues I have to say

"And thank God for it."

I just hope there doesn't come a day when they have to come intervene here.

Were you a friend of O'Neill's? One of the more amazing "coincidences" of 9-11, and a sad story to boot.

[fabius]

3. Look at the fine print - "cutting high-tech weapons development"

They won't contain the US with high-tech weapons, so this is obviously not the intention. Looks like they're doing some of what we should be doing IF we intend to keep getting involved in "nation-building", developing a mission-specific peacekeeping force.

[Voice_of_Europe]

5. Germany is just reforming its army, not planning a war...

This is not a reaction to the "pre-emptive" doctrine or something like it. More like peace-keeping.

Germany is just doing a long awaited army reform.

There is no army duty for young men anymore but they are shaping a modern army of professional soldiers now.
A smaller force but better equipped.

Also aimed to be better integrated with armies of other european countries.

And also better suited for the conflicts at hand.
There was no war for the last 50 years in western Europe.
The need for a huge army has disappeared.
What is needed now are specially trained troops for peace keeping missions.