Peter Struck Calls Rumsfeld's Remarks on Germany Completely Unacceptable and Unfair - 2003-02-13

Peter Struck, the German Minister of Defense, told the parliament of his country that Donald Rumsfeld, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, has gone too far by placing Germany alongside countries like Cuba and Libya as nations that did not support the U.S. position on Iraq. Mr. Struck stated that Rumsfeld's comments last week were unacceptable, unfair, and un-American. The German Defense Minister pointed out Germany's significant participation in U.S.-led anti-terrorism operations and operations in Afghanistan, noting that nearly a thousand German soldiers are stationed at military bases and facilities in Germany to allow American soldiers to be sent to the Gulf region. He questioned what these soldiers must think when an American official places Germany in the same category as Libya or Cuba. Mr. Struck mentioned that during a meeting with Mr. Rumsfeld, he raised this issue, and the U.S. Secretary of Defense told him that he did not intend to compare Germany with Libya and Cuba but only wanted to mention countries that did not participate in U.S. efforts in the Gulf. This is not the first time Mr. Rumsfeld's remarks have angered German officials. Last year, he stated that Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's strong anti-war position during the election campaign had poisoned U.S.-German relations. Last month, Rumsfeld also referred to Germany and France as part of an 'old Europe' for opposing military action against Iraq.