Thursday, December 06, 2007

Civilians on the Battlefield

German-Foreign-Policy.Com

Newsletter 2007/11/28 - Civilians on the Battlefield
ROSTOCK/HOHENFELS/BAGHDAD/LINZ (Own report)

With the procurement of thousands of "extras", German firms are helping the US Army in its military training for illegal combat missions in Iraq. The company "Firma DSS" in Rostock (Mecklenburg-West Pomerania) for example, is supplying civilians ("Civilians on the Battlefield") for maneuvers to prepare for deployment, in a war being waged in violation of international law. The "Firma DSS" prefers recruiting Iraqis, because of their knowledge of "traditions and habits" in the war zone. But also Afghans are being hired to play extras during the training for the deployment at the Hindu Kush. These maneuvers are being carried out on the Hohenfels (Bavaria) military compound, the second largest US military training center in Europe, after nearby Grafenwoehr. Washington is investing billions of dollars to expand both military installations. Hohenfels and Grafenwoehr are playing a central role in US planing for future combat missions in the so called war on terror. The German military (Bundeswehr) is also using these combat training centers to prepare for joint deployments.
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