No German Army Deployment in Southern Afghanistan

Published in Bild Zeitung
(Germany) on 9 November 2008
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Ron Argentati. Edited by .
Social Democratic Party (SPD) whip Peter Struck says he rejects any escalation of German military participation in the southern areas of Afghanistan despite Barack Obama’s election as President of the United States.

Struck is proceeding on the assumption that Obama will request more assistance from NATO and the Europeans in the region than previously. The former Defense Minister made it clear, however, that there were limits. In an interview with the newspaper Bild am Sonntag he said, “We’ve already sent 1000 additional troops to Afghanistan and are prepared to provide AWACS early warning aircraft with German crews as well.”

He rejected a possible deployment of German troops to the southern areas of Afghanistan even though Obama might request it. “I would vigorously oppose such a deployment. Obama’s election has nothing to do with it,” Struck said.

The SPD whip also doesn’t think the newly elected President will be capable of fulfilling the expectations of his European supporters. “Every President can change the world, for the worse as in George Bush’s case, or for the better. But the hopes and wishes Obama is expected to fulfill are too great. Every President’s first priority must be America first.”



Kein Bundeswehr-Einsatz im Süden Afghanistans

SPD-Fraktionschef Peter Struck lehnt auch nach der Wahl Barack Obamas zum neuen US-Präsidenten ein deutlich stärkeres Engagement der Bundeswehr in Afghanistan ab.

Er geht zwar davon aus, dass Obama von der Nato und den Europäern in Afghanistan mehr verlangen wird als bisher. Der ehemalige Verteidigungsminister macht aber zugleich klar: „Es gibt Grenzen.” Im Interview mit BILD am SONNTAG sagte er: „Wir schicken jetzt schon 1000 zusätzliche Soldaten nach Afghanistan, sind bereit, AWACS-Frühwarnflugzeuge mit deutscher Besatzung bereitzustellen.“

Dass die Bundeswehr auf Drängen Obamas auch im Süden Afghanistans eingesetzt werden könnte, lehnt Struck ab: „Ich würde mich entschieden dagegen wehren. Daran ändert auch die Wahl Obamas nichts.“

Der SPD-Fraktionschef glaubt nicht, dass der neue US-Präsident die in ihn gesetzten Erwartungen erfüllen könne. Struck: „Jeder US-Präsident kann die Welt verändern, zum Schlechten wie George W. Bush oder zum Guten. Doch die Hoffnungen und Wünsche, die Obama entgegen gebracht werden, kann er gar nicht erfüllen. Und für jeden Präsidenten gilt: America first.“

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