U.S. Tax Relief: German Criticism of Obama’s Suggestions

Obama wants more NATO troops in Afghanistan in order to finance tax cuts in the United States. German politicians see it quite differently.

German political leaders have criticized Barack Obama’s suggestion that more NATO participation in Afghanistan would allow the United States to cut taxes at home. “More German soldiers in Afghanistan for lower taxes in the United States is an outlandish idea,” the leader of the CSU, Erwin Huber, told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper in an interview.

In a CNN interview, Obama said, “If we have more NATO troops in Afghanistan, that means fewer American troops in the long run. And that means we will save billions of dollars with which we can lower taxes on middle-class families suffering under higher gasoline prices.”

“If one side suffers more casualties so the other side can gain an advantage, that’s quite the opposite of solidarity and partnership,” Huber said.

FDP General Secretary Dirk Niebel rejected Obama’s suggestion just as emphatically saying, “Under no circumstances will German tax money be used for more soldiers in Afghanistan so that taxes on Americans can be lowered.” He pointed out that Germany has a large military and humanitarian presence already in Afghanistan. “When we reach our limits, we have to say no, even to Obama,” Niebel added.

The SPD also criticized Obama’s suggestion: “We are engaged in Afghanistan for our security and the security of the people who live there. Those are the only reasons,” Rainer Arnold, SPD defense spokesman told the newspaper.

In the meantime, presumptive Republican nominee John McCain criticized his rival’s Middle East and Europe visits during his radio broadcast. He said Obama claims to speak to the people of the world, adding, “I feel a little left out. Maybe you do, too.”

In London, Obama rejected the criticism, pointing out that McCain also made a similar overseas trip after his primary victory. He added that he knows, as do McCain’s campaign strategists, that the next president must forge effective relationships with our allies. He called his trip important saying, “I’m convinced that many of the problems we have to deal with at home cannot be solved without strong partners overseas.”