Military

GERMANY-BUNDESWEHR

¨         Claiming that the Bundeswehr is facing a further round of cuts, Die Welt, Nov. 2, reported that in accordance with guidelines laid down by Finance Minister Eichel, Defense Minister Struck is set to make savings of 145 million euros next year.  Quoting a defense expert saying that "procurements are being cut to the bone," the newspaper wrote that a meeting last week between top military brass and Defense Ministry representatives to discuss further cuts and savings ended in acrimony.  The newspaper quoted "Bundeswehr insiders" saying that Chief of Staff, Navy, Adm.  Hans Luessow, was particularly vociferous in his objections to proposed cuts affecting the Navy, such as the disbanding of one squadron of naval Tornadoes, and the premature decommissioning of several torpedo boats.  The article remarked that in addition, plans for the replacement over the next few years of the Breguett Atlantic marine reconnaissance aircraft have been abandoned.  It recalled that three of these aircraft are presently stationed in Kenya, where they are being used for monitoring the airspace above the east African coast in the framework of Enduring Freedom.  The newspaper further said that the Defense Ministry also intends not to allocate any further funding for the "Postdam Center,"  a German-American institute for conflict and crisis management. In a contribution to Welt am Sonntag, Nov. 3, British Defense Secretary Hoon urged Germany not to cut its defense budget.  Ahead of a visit to Berlin, Hoon stressed that in the wake of Sept. 11 and subsequent terrorist attacks in Djerba, Bali and Moscow, the challenge now facing NATO is to adapt and develop lighter, more flexible armed forces, capable of being rapidly delivered to wherever in the world they are required.  Acknowledging, however, that the success and pace of reforms ultimately depend on financial decisions, Hoon added:  "The German government, like the British, pursues many budgetary priorities.  Health, education and social policy are all important. But defense is a public service, too.  Its purpose is to give the entire population the security they need for their daily lives..   This is why we appeal to Germany to stay as close as possible to our collective target of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense. And this is why the United Kingdom also believes it is right to concentrate European efforts within joint projects, wherever it makes sense.  Along with the Eurofighter, the United Kingdom therefore continues to support the development of the A400M transport aircraft and the Meteor missile, together with Germany and other partners..  The major task of a government lies in effectively defending its population."

¨         Hamburg's Financial Times Deutschland, Nov. 1, asserted that the Federal Government wants to reach an agreement with main partners France and Britain regarding the problems of financing the Airbus A400 military transport aircraft The newspaper quoted ruling coalition circles saying the parties were trying to achieve at least an informal solution by the date of the NATO summit in Prague.  Noting that under current plans Germany has ordered 73 aircraft,  the newspaper added that Defense Minister Struck is now considering a reduction in the amount of airplanes for a value of about 9.4 billion euros.  The article stressed that in the wake of a meeting between Struck and his French counterpart Alliot-Marie last week, military experts in Berlin are now confident that this could put an end to the long-simmering dispute over the core project of the European arms program.  Alliot-Marie reportedly agreed to a reduction of the German order by a maximum of 13 aircraft.  The newspaper further said there is hope in coalition circles that British Defense Secretary Hoon, who is to meet Struck on Tuesday, might also be willing to compromise.

UNITED STATES-DEFENSE

¨         According to the International Herald Tribune, a Federal judge has blocked the U.S. Navy from deploying its long-planned and powerful new sonar system, concluding that the deafening underwater sounds could injure and kill whales protected by law.  The newspaper adds that responding to a lawsuit filed by environmental groups against the Navy, a U.S. magistrate in San Francisco issued a temporary injunction stopping the Navy from deploying the high-volume, low-frequency sonar worldwide because of its likely danger to marine mammals.  But, stresses the daily,  the magistrate agreed with the Navy that a ban on the new sonar could hamper military preparedness and ordered both sides to work out a compromise creating zones where the equipment could be tested.  The newspaper quotes a U.S. Navy spokeswoman saying that Navy and Justice Department lawyers were reviewing the decision. 

¨         Against the background of the use of poison gas to subdue Chechen rebels in Moscow, the Christian Science Monitor claims that the United States is investigating new substances that can be used to disable terrorists and perhaps even battlefield opponents.  According to the newspaper, the opiate used to knock out the Chechen attackers reflects a new era in weapons development:  using biotech advances to degrade enemy forces while enhancing one's own troops.  The newspaper writes that according to Pentagon documents, the Defense Department is studying the development and use of so-called "calmative" chemicals as well as "incapacitants, malodorants, and possibly convulsants." The idea is to take the fight out of an attacker without inflicting mortal damage.

TURKEY-ELECTIONS

¨         Electronic media report that Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of the Islamist-based Justice and Development party (AK), has claimed victory in Turkey's general elections.  With 99.9 percent of the ballot boxes counted, AK had 34 percent support and the center-left Republican People's Party had 19 percent.  Other parties remained below the 10 percent threshold needed to enter Parliament.  The BBC World Service remarked that AK will have a massive majority in Parliament-just a few seats short of the two thirds needed to change the Constitution.  It highlighted that it is not clear how the forming of the new government will proceed as Erdogan is banned from holding public office in Turkey and must find a suitable candidate for prime minister from the top ranks of his party.  Media generally highlight that Erdogan quickly sought to calm fears that he would try to steer Turkey away from its pro-secular and pro-western course.   AP notes that Republican Party leader Deniz Baykal refused Monday to describe Erdogan's party as a threat to Turkey's secular system.  "Such accusations would put the country into distress," he reportedly said, adding:  "We have to act in good faith. But I will retain caution.  The whole world will be watching developments very carefully."

ANTI-TERRORISM

¨         According to the BBC World Service, U.S. defense officials have confirmed that they are planning to establish a military headquarters in the Horn of Africa to help in the hunt for suspected terrorists.   The network observed that the Horn of Africa has become a main focus of the Americans' global war on terrorism and their hunt for Al Qaeda members.  Several hundred U.S. army and special forces troops are already stationed in Djibouti.  The new so-called joint headquarters would help coordinate their efforts and U.S. cooperation with local states, stressed the broadcast.  It added that  Pentagon officials say the headquarters is likely to be based first aboard a naval command ship, but then could move ashore.