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Article: Standing up. (West Germany and the Kuwait-Iraq Conflict, 1990) (Europe)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- August 18, 1990
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1990 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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While the military build-up in the Middle East continued this week, West Germany's generals and admirals could only look on with frustration as their main allies all sent forces to the Gulf. However much they might wish to play their part in meeting what is clearly as much of a threat to West Germany as to any other country in Europe, they think they are held in check by the constitution. This document, it has long been claimed limits the German armed forces to action within the NATO area, meaning Western Europe and the North Atlantic. But for how much longer? The conflict in the Gulf has revived the argument about whether a ban on "out of area" activities still makes ...