Military

SHAPE News Morning Update

15 December 2003

ESDP

• European Union leaders agreed on Friday to set up a military planning cell independent of NATO, but their plan fell deliberately short of French and German ambitions because of Washington’s deep suspicions. Seeking to close a chapter of trans-Atlantic acrimony over the Iraq war, leaders of the EU’s 25 current and future members also declared their commitment to a “constructive, balanced and forward-looking partnership” with the United States. “The decisions taken are in keeping with the interests of both Europe and NATO,” French President Jacques Chirac told a news conference at the EU summit. “We have put the controversy behind us.” (Reuters 122226 GMT Dec 03)

U.S. TROOP BASING

• The German defence minister said in an interview released on Saturday that a German-American working group was being set up to look at reducing the roughly 80,000 U.S. troops based in Germany and permanently closing some bases here. Speaking to the Welt am Sonntag weekly, Defence Minister Struck said the move was part of U.S. Defence Secretary Rumsfeld’s plans to for a global realignment of American troops oversees. Peter Struck insisted that the changes would not be abrupt, but only come about after joint U.S.-German discussions. (AP 131900 Dec 03)

IRAQ

• U.S. troops captured Saddam Hussein hiding in a hole near his home town of Tikrit in a major coup for Washington’s beleaguered occupation force in Iraq. The U.S. commander in Iraq, Lieutenant-General Ricardo Sanchez, described Saddam as “talkative.” That could give U.S. officials vital intelligence on his alleged banned weapons. Governing Council members said Saddam faces trial under a tribunal agreed with Washington only last week. (Reuters 141822 GMT Dec 03)
  
  
• German Defence Minister Struck said on Saturday that American soldiers were inadequately prepared for their current Iraq mission and need “nation building” training to help the country on the road to democracy. While lauding the battlefield abilities of the U.S. military in Iraq, Peter Struck said in an interview with the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that American forces in Iraq did not have the training and were not doing enough to prepare the country for democracy. He said German soldiers sent to Afghanistan on a peacekeeping mission get special training. “They are clearly prepared for (nation-building),” Struck said. “Our soldiers that go to Kabul are schooled about the mentality and history of the country, and also know the differences between the different population groups.” He also said German troops would probably stay in Afghanistan beyond the scheduled end of the mission. “We will not be able to leave next year - there is no end in sight.” (Reuters 131358 GMT Dec 03)

AFGHANISTAN

• Afghans launched a crucial meeting on Sunday to approve a constitution to take the country to its first free elections and President Hamid Kazai defended his bid for a strong presidency, calling it vital after years of war. Amid tight security after Taliban threats, the Loya Jirga, finally got under way in a giant tent at Kabul polytechnic campus after successive delays earlier in the week. The gathering is expected to last from 10 days to several weeks, with vigorous debate expected on many of the 160 articles of a published draft constitution. (Reuters 141458 GMT Dec 03)

CAUCASUS

• A U.S. anti-terrorism training program intended to help this republic root out Islamic militants graduated its fourth class on Saturday. Interim President Nino Burdzhanadze reviewed the battalion taking part in the “train and equip” program and described it as a step in building the Georgian military. The program was launched to help Georgia form its own anti-terrorist units for action against militants believed to be linked to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network. Georgian officials have expressed hope that the U.S. training will help bring their country closer to NATO. (AP 131353 Dec 03)