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Germany to provide 3,900 troops
©Washington Post, BERLIN -- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Tuesday that he would activate 3,900 troops, including special forces, to support U.S. military action in Afghanistan. He called the move an "important, fundamental and -- if you like -- historic decision," recognizing that it will be the nation's most far-reaching participation in military action since World War II. Schroeder said the offer of assistance, which follows a U.S. request received Monday, does not include "classic ground troops." But he did say it would include a small "special unit" of up to 100 soldiers, which he refused to detail, but which commentators here believe will be from one of the country's elite units. With the commitment of special forces from countries such as Australia, Turkey and Britain, among others, the United States now appears to be assembling different groups of elite troops for special operations rather than any large allied ground force at this stage. Schroeder's offer would put Germany in the forefront of U.S. allies supporting the campaign -- second only to Britain, which is flying refueling and reconnaissance missions in support of U.S. airstrikes and has also fired Tomahawk missiles at Afghan targets. Schroeder, briefly using English, said the special unit could participate in "hit and run" actions, which, despite repeated prodding from the press, was as close as he got to acknowledging that German forces could see action in Afghanistan. It would be the first time the nation's troops have been in combat since 1945. "What was not requested was involvement in airstrikes or ground troops in Afghanistan," the chancellor said. Otherwise, Schroeder said, Germany will send to the region a force of 800 troops with Fuchs armored vehicles, which can be used to detect biological, chemical and nuclear material; a force of 250 troops to help evacuate wounded soldiers; air and material support; and naval forces to protect shipping. In all close to 4,000 German troops could be deployed but not necessarily at the same time, he said. "The government plans to accede to the request from the United States," said Schroeder in a one-hour news conference during which he jousted repeatedly with German reporters over the legality of such a commitment in advance of parliamentary approval. Under Germany's constitution, the lower house of Parliament must approve the posting of German troops outside NATO soil. That approval appears to be a foregone conclusion with the major opposition parties indicating their willingness to back the chancellor after a briefing Tuesday morning. "It's now about putting solidarity with the Americans into practice," said Friedrich Merz, parliamentary leader of the main opposition Christian Democrats. Schroeder's main political difficulty may lie within his own governing coalition of Social Democrats and Greens. Claudia Roth, the co-leader of the Greens, Schroeder's junior partner in government, has called for a bombing pause. And another Greens leader, Fritz Kuhn, said he preferred "critical solidarity" with the United States to the "unlimited solidarity" expressed by the chancellor. But after meeting leaders of the Greens Tuesday morning, Schroeder said they would support his package "without any restriction." Germany sent troops into military action abroad for the first time since World War II during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999. And German troops are now serving in peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Kosovo, and leading a security force to protect Western monitors in Macedonia. Since Sept. 11, Schroeder has been anxious to elevate Germany's standing as a military ally so that it can be seen automatically as a partner equal to Britain, Canada, Australia or France, which despite its periodic qualms about U.S. foreign policy nearly always engages with the United States during crises. Public support for military action has been sliding here, but Schroeder said that "German foreign policy cannot forget the images of Sept. 11." Other nations' contributionsBRITAIN: Is the second largest contributor of personnel and equipment after the United States and has deployed ships, including an aircraft carrier, an assault ship, a frigate, a destroyer and three nuclear submarines. It has flown refueling and reconnaissance missions and will contribute 200 marines for special operations, plus 400 in reserve in the United Kingdom. CANADA: Is providing ships, aircraft, special forces and 2,000 military personnel. AUSTRALIA: Is sending 150 special forces and 1,400 other personnel, along with warships and aircraft. ITALY: Has promised 1,000 troops, including an armored regiment, as well as explosive experts, fighter jets for reconnaissance, four warships, transport aircraft and a team of experts and special vehicles to deal with nuclear, bacteriological and chemical weapons. FRANCE: Has made available 2,000 troops, including naval and air force personnel and intelligence officers on the ground in Afghanistan. Paris has sent an oil tanker and a frigate to the Arabian Sea, mainly to help U.S. and British vessels with logistical support. Special ground forces are available on request. French airspace is open to the war effort. NEW ZEALAND: Has made available special forces for military actions, as well as medics, engineers and transport for humanitarian efforts. TURKEY: Has pledged an anti-guerrilla mountain warfare unit. PHILIPPINES: Has opened its airspace and ports and promised ground troops, if asked. SPAIN: Opened its air space and military bases and will send troops, if necessary. JAPAN: Has readied more than 1,000 personnel, up to six military vessels and four transport planes. POLAND: Has offered its special forces, if needed. CZECH REPUBLIC: Has offered chemical warfare unit of 300 troops. PAKISTAN: Has allowed U.S. planes use its airspace and bases in support of operations in neighboring Afghanistan. UZBEKISTAN: Has opened an air base for U.S. troops to stage humanitarian and search-and-rescue missions. TAJIKISTAN: Opened its airspace and U.S. military experts have surveyed three former Soviet bases for possible American use. RUSSIA: Has cleared its airspace for allied humanitarian flights, is giving intelligence and promised to help arm Afghan opposition forces. NATO: Has sent five AWACS early-warning aircraft to the United States to free American AWACS planes for use in supporting operations against terrorism. A naval force of nine ships from eight countries was sent to the eastern Mediterranean to boost NATO's presence in the region. -- Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
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