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Where they stand on Iraq: Germany
If the United States goes to war against Iraq, who can it count on as a friend and who will line up as a foe? This week, CNN takes a look at five key countries and where they stand. Germany Germany has been outspoken in its opposition to a direct attack on Iraq. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder won re-election in September in part because of his criticism of a possible U.S.-led war on Iraq. The country's finance minister says Germany will not give a single euro to any war effort in Iraq. Hans Eichel said Germany's weak economy could not cope with providing any financial assistance to a U.S. strike. Schroeder first announced Germany would not take part in military action against Iraq during the 2002 election campaign. That stance -- coupled with alleged comments by a government minister comparing U.S. President George W. Bush to Hitler -- "poisoned" U.S.-German relations, White House officials said. Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer has made efforts to smooth ties, while Bush sent congratulations to German President Johannes Rau on the 12th anniversary of Germany's reunification. But tensions remain: Pentagon adviser Richard Perle told an interviewer the best thing Schroeder could do to ease relations would be to quit, and Schroeder -- asked by reporters if he felt he should apologise to Bush -- said: "I do not understand the question." Schroeder and his ministers backed the international call for Baghdad to let U.N. weapons inspectors return. "Our main aim must be, on the one hand to allow inspectors to go in without conditions, and on the other hand to avoid war," German Defense Minister Peter Struck has said. Germany provided finance, but not troops, in the Gulf War campaign.
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