GERMANY: IRAQ SPYING AFFAIR PROMPTS GROWING CALLS FOR FULL INQUIRY
Berlin, 24 Feb. (AKI) - Calls among Germany's opposition are growing for a full parliamentary inquiry into the role of German intelligence during the US-led and occupation of Iraq. A government-commissioned report released late on Thursday said two German spies provided the US with intelligence on Iraq but rejected allegations it aided the US bombing campaign in 2003. The issue is sensitive because Germany's former Social Democrat chancellor Gerhard Schroeder strongly criticised the war and insisted Germany had no direct part in it. Incumbent chancellor Angela Merkel has also ruled out sending troops to Iraq.
The Green party, which together with the liberal Free Democratic party and the Left Party currently form Germany's opposition had previously opposed moves for a full parliamentary inquiry: prominent Green, Joska Fischer was foreign minister in the Schroeder government. The support of all three opposition parties could be enough to push through a motion in favour of such an inquiry - which is not supported by the coalition government of Merkel's Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats.
The report found that German Gereral Intelligence Service (BND) agents provided the US with intelligence, but said this was mostly limited to reports about items such as "civilian protected or other humanitarian sites, such as Synagogues and Torah rolls and the possible locations of missing US pilots.
It rejects media allegations at the centre of the spying affair that BND agents were in the capital to identify these targets for the US military. The German government has always denied this, but MPs in the opposition believe the German spies remained in Iraq to point out targets for destruction.
The 90 page report includes details of BND president August Hanning's decision on 17 March 2003 that two BND agents would remain in Baghdad despite the evacuation of the entire German diplomatic corps from the capital. The order came just three days before the US-invasion began with a number of targeted airstrikes in Baghdad.
The Green party, which together with the liberal Free Democratic party and the Left Party currently form Germany's opposition had previously opposed moves for a full parliamentary inquiry: prominent Green, Joska Fischer was foreign minister in the Schroeder government. The support of all three opposition parties could be enough to push through a motion in favour of such an inquiry - which is not supported by the coalition government of Merkel's Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats.
The report found that German Gereral Intelligence Service (BND) agents provided the US with intelligence, but said this was mostly limited to reports about items such as "civilian protected or other humanitarian sites, such as Synagogues and Torah rolls and the possible locations of missing US pilots.
It rejects media allegations at the centre of the spying affair that BND agents were in the capital to identify these targets for the US military. The German government has always denied this, but MPs in the opposition believe the German spies remained in Iraq to point out targets for destruction.
The 90 page report includes details of BND president August Hanning's decision on 17 March 2003 that two BND agents would remain in Baghdad despite the evacuation of the entire German diplomatic corps from the capital. The order came just three days before the US-invasion began with a number of targeted airstrikes in Baghdad.
posted by Marko at 2/24/2006 01:49:00 PM
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