Do the French and German citizens know their govts. helped bomb Iraq

[bigtree]

after all?

German spies helped U.S. in Iraq war

Jan 12, 2006 — BERLIN (Reuters) - German spies in Baghdad helped U.S. warplanes strike at least one target during the 2003 Iraq war despite Berlin's statements it was not involved in the conflict, German media reported on Thursday.

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper and NDR television said two agents of Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency remained in Iraq throughout the war, supplying U.S. counterparts with information.

"They gave us direct support. They gave us information for targeting," NDR quoted a former U.S. military official as saying in a preview of a programme to be broadcast later on Thursday.
Top Stories

He cited a April 7, 2003 air raid on a Baghdad suburb where Saddam Hussein was thought to be staying that had been conducted after a BND officer confirmed limousines were parked outside a building. At least 12 civilians were killed in the attack.

>>>>Sueddeutsche Zeitung said the BND spies had been based in French diplomatic quarters because Germany's embassy was closed on March 17, 2003 — three days before the war started. France supported Germany's opposition to the war.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1496679


they do now

[tocqueville]

1. it's worse than that, France tested its new cruise missile

SCALP by letting the British version "Storm Shadow" be launched from British vessels. With very good results since Saddam's bunkers were eviscerated by smaller charges than the Tomahawks...

there is never any absolute neutrality. But ABC won't write on the cruise missiles, because talking about military technology superior to the US one, isn't good for the freeper morale...

[bigtree]

2. right you are

UK drops secret bunker busters on Iraq
Hindustan Times | March 23 2003

British Tornado warplanes have dropped new bunker busting missiles named Storm Shadow on key targets in Iraq, senior officers said.

The airborne long-range cruise missile was rushed into service early in a classified operation and first indications suggest it worked, piercing reinforced installations used by Iraq's high command and exploding inside.

Tornado GR4 aircrews based at Ali Al Salem, close to the Iraqi border in northern Kuwait, were handed the mission on the 60th anniversary of their squadron's formation to deliver bouncing bombs -- Dambusters -- to breach dams on the Ruhr during World War II.

"It was an historic mission for us," said Wing Commander Dave Robertson, 45.

Storm Shadow, an Anglo-French production, was delivered under cover of darkness to Ali Al Salem and offered to US battle planners.

[melody]

3. US and EU are in it all together

Either secretly or overtly. You can't divide one from the other. It's the same dragon with two faces.

[Kellanved]

4. naturally

The "Aid on the ground" thing isn't really established yet; it is entirely possible that the BND did it on its own by creative interpretation of their orders.

But that aside: Germany had the third most troops in the region when the war broke out; more than Australia, almost as many as the UK. Fox news and other outlets simply painted an incorrect picture during their anti-Europe spree.