Military

GERMANY-A400M

¨         A multi-billion-euro European order for military-transport airplanes from Airbus is under renewed threat as a growing number of German politicians seek funds for emergency flood aid, writes the Wall Street Journal. According to the newspaper,   some members of the ruling Social Democrats and the opposition Free Democrats consider that the German government should reconsider its order for 73 A400M aircraft in the wake of the flood disaster relief plan.  The newspaper observes that such a decision would undermine one of Europe's most high-profile defense project.

CZECH REPUBLIC-FIGHTER JETS

¨         According to Prague's CTK, Aug. 26, Czech Foreign Minister Svoboda said Monday that the government will postpone its decision on the possible purchase of fighter planes until after the NATO summit in Prague.  Svoboda reportedly also indicated that "the after-flood situation had opened space for considering the purchase of U.S. planes." The report noted that according to Defense Minister Tvrdik, the government should discuss the cheapest methods of air space protection within a month. Beside the originally planned purchase of 24 new British-Swedish Gripen fighter jets, another possibility is the purchase of older planes, which, for example, have been offered by the United States.  According to Tvrdik, it is certain that the government will not buy all the planned 24 Gripens, stressed the dispatch. 

ESDP-UNITED STATES

¨         The Wall Street Journal, Aug. 26, quoted Eurocopter SA, a subsidiary of the European aerospace company European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. (EADS), saying Monday it is talking to Boeing Co. and other U.S. aerospace companies regarding possible collaboration that could give it access to the lucrative U.S. helicopter market. According to the newspaper, a Eurocopter spokesman said the discussions center on Europe's requirements in the area of heavy military helicopters, but added that the talks are still at an early stage and it is premature to be more precise. 

IRAQ

¨         Reuters reports Foreign Minister Michel said Tuesday Belgium will oppose a military strike on Iraq unless the United States can prove Baghdad possesses weapons of mass destruction.  The dispatch notes that Michel's stand places Belgium squarely behind German Chancellor Schroeder. 

Remarks by Vice President Cheney Monday, in which he laid out the White House's case for pre-emptive action against Iraq, generated media interest.

The Guardian stresses that Cheney's remarks are significant because he speaks directly for the White House.  It suggests that the speech, along with similar comments made by Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, appeared to be part of a concerted administration effort to build domestic and international support for a pre-emptive attack on Iraq.  The Times claims that Cheney's remarks came as the newspaper was told by the Iraqi opposition that Washington had given them a clear signal in recent private talks that the United States is pressing ahead with preparations for military action against Saddam Hussein.  The BBC World Service stressed that as Cheney was setting out the case for pre-emptive action against Iraq, the Gulf state of Qatar added its voice to Arab opposition over any U.S. strike.  The broadcast reported that speaking in Baghdad, Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Al-Thani said his country wanted a diplomatic solution to the dispute over the return of UN weapons inspectors to Iraq.  He reportedly said the U.S. had not asked permission to use the Al-Odaydia base, but disclosing what the answer would be if it did, he said:  "We are trying to save the region from new tragedies.. We are of course opposed to any military operation (against Iraq) and have always said that (disarmament) must be settled through diplomacy within the framework of the UN."

AFGHANISTAN

¨         According to The Daily Telegraph, America unveiled a major switch in its strategy in Afghanistan Monday:  Instead of concentrating solely on the war on Al Qaeda, it will now take a lead in the "nation-building" it shunned for months.  It is to press donor countries to fulfill the financial pledges they have already made to speed up reconstruction of the country and help President Karzai to stabilize it.  It is also dropping its opposition to the expansion of ISAF, both in size and scope, so that it can operate beyond Kabul.  Paul Wolfowitz,  deputy secretary of defense, reportedly told the newspaper:  "I do think increasingly our focus is shifting to training the Afghan national army, supporting ISAF, supporting reconstruction efforts-those kind of things that contribute to long-term stability."  Wolfowitz reportedly also made it clear that America would no longer block the expansion of ISAF to other cities beyond Kabul and suggested that ISAF forces could be increased in Kabul.  "We are looking very seriously at what might be done if we get more contributions to ISAF.  There are some suggestions that expanding ISAF in Kabul might be a good thing also," he said.  According to the newspaper, the Pentagon is now examining several options, including how ISAF could develop mobile forces.