On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 12:26:00 +0100, Martin Hotze
wrote:

ISTR that Germany has still got foreign troops on its soil.

well, this is Germans business. Their treaties might forbid to dismiss foreign
troops. But maybe it is a good deal for the Germans (economical speaking). All
those thousands of soldiers need to spend their money somewhere.

It's better than that. It means that Germany need not field a large
defense force, (I know it has one, but it's not the size of the old
Wehrmacht, I'm sure) and thus spares itself the cost of that force.
Guns 'n' Butter: they're making butter first, and left most of the
guns in the hands of NATO and the U.S.

Rob

--
[You] don't make your kids P.C.-proof by keeping them
ignorant, you do it by helping them learn how to
educate themselves.

-- Orson Scott Card