| http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/04/20/news/berlin.html
Greens party agrees to back new system
BERLIN Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's government approved Wednesday night the development of an ambitious new air defense system, ending months of wrangling in his coalition and paving the way for better ties with the United States.
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The decision, which was finalized by Parliament's budget committee, is a major compromise for the pacifist wing of the Greens party, the junior partner in Schröder's coalition, which is led by the Social Democrats.
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"With the Greens on board, the way should be clear for developing the system," said Elke Leonhard, a senior Social Democrat, defense expert and member of the budget committee. "It will provide better protection for our troops but also send a clear signal to the United States that we are reliable partners and we do want to work together with them over this new system."
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The Medium Extended Air Defense System, or MEADS, is a joint project developed and funded by the United States, which holds a 58 percent stake. Germany holds 25 percent and Italy 17 percent.
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Germany's share of the development costs will amount to €886 million, or $1.16 billion, over eight years, and procurement costs will total more than €2 billion. Lockheed Martin, a U.S. company; EADS, which is partly owned by Germany; and MBDA of Italy are the lead companies developing the mobile surface-to-air missile system.
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The Greens had opposed the project for months, despite having initially supported it.
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The party claimed that the costs were too high, particularly at a sensitive time for the government, which faces crucial state elections next month in North-Rhine Westphalia. The coalition's popularity has fallen since it started this year to reduce social welfare payments while unemployment, at more than five million, reached record levels.
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Also, the pacifist wing of the Greens had questioned the need for a separate air defense system to protect German soldiers in peacekeeping missions abroad.
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However, its biggest concern was that once the system was deployed it would push the military toward participating in high-combat operations, which the pacifists strongly oppose.
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"It wasn't easy at all for us," said the Greens party leader, Reinhard Bütikofer.
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The United States said Wednesday that it welcomed the Greens' support. "Obviously we are still waiting for the budget decision, but the agreement with the Greens is a good thing," said an official who requested anonymity. "We have been pursuing this project for a while with Italy and Germany. It shows the alliance is working,"
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Relations between Berlin and Washington are slowly on the mend after Germany, along with France, led opposition to the U.S.-led war against Iraq in 2003. Washington, however, is still highly critical of Schröder's determination to lift the European Union's arms embargo on China, which had been imposed after the crushing of student-led opposition protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989.
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Leading Social Democrats and the German Defense Ministry had struggled over the months to obtain agreement for a missile defense system that would replace the Patriot missile system. "MEADS will prove more reliable for protecting troops or sensitive locations from aerial assault by missile or plane," said Leonard, the Social Democrat.
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The Defense Ministry, under pressure from the Finance Ministry to trim its budget, has also fought a long battle for funding to upgrade protection for its troops. Germany has 6,000 to 7,000 troops in peacekeeping missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.
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"The Patriot system is reaching the limits of what it can provide in terms of protection," said a senior defense official who asked for anonymity. "Peacekeeping involves danger. It is our duty to provide the maximum protection to our troops. We are confident MEADS will meet those needs."
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The official said that MEADS had several advantages over the Patriot system, including greater mobility and flexibility, as well as advanced radar systems with 360 degrees of coverage, which the official said would provide better protection for the transportation of troops and equipment.
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