European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 28, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday March 28, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 3in the Gulf military role needs clarification by de Reavis staff writer Germany which sat on the military sidelines in the persian Gulf War is rapidly rethinking its position on participating in wars outside of areas that Are part of a i Don t think anyone has to worry about German militarism anymore a said a spokesman for Volker Rishe the Secretary general of Chancellor Helmut Kohls Christian democratic Union. A a we be had anti militarism taught and preached to us for so Long in a convinced we be Learned that lesson of our  during the persian Gulf War Germany stayed on the military sidelines because of the Way German leaders interpret several articles of the nations Constitution. One of these articles 87a, states that except in cases of defense the country a armed forces May be used Only in cases explicitly allowed by the Constitution. The Constitution however spells out no other cases. And article 26 forbids preparation for a War of aggression. A v Quot a a a a these articles Are generally interpreted to mean that the armed forces May take part Only in a War designed to repel an aggressor against nato. But even on this Point German politicians Are split and found themselves debating during the Middle of the persian Gulf War whether they would fight on natos Side if Iraq had attacked Turkey. A up until the time of the War in the Gulf there a never been any question that the our Constitution Only referred to nato actions in Europe a said Claudius Wenzel a Security expert with the social democratic party. Now Wenzel said there is some doubt about the Issue and the Constitution needs clarification. To change the Constitution a three fourths majority of the German parliament must approve a new Amend ment. So far the task appears to be a difficult one for those ruling parties a the Christian democratic Union the Christian socialist Union and the free democrats. These coalition parties favor an amendment that would allow Germany to take part in All . Military actions and any action sanctioned by nato. But some leaders of the opposition social democrats want to restrict German troop participation to . Peace keeping actions. Such actions Are called a Blue helmet role up until the time of the War in the Gulf there s never been any question that the our Constitution Only referred to nato actions in Europe a Claudius Wenzel a Security expert with. The social democratic party which is named after the headgear worn by the . Forces. A a a a. A a a a a a a a. A a. Unlike the social democrats Rishe has championed a constitutional amendment with greater leeway. A any change that limits the bund Sychr to . Blue helmet peace keeping actions would not be worthy of the responsibility Germany actually bears in world politics a i Ihen a spokesman said. A the country must ask itself whether it wants to exercise its sovereignty differently from the French or the  Franz Miller a Legal expert for the Christian democratic Union supports Ruhel a position. In a position paper Moller said Germany joined the United nations with no Legal reservations and therefore should have no problems with participating in any .-led actions including War. A any restrictions that a constitutional amendment might impose would conflict with the International obligations Germany accepted when it joined the  de nations in 1973,�?� Miller said. A Germany also de. Clarid with its signature that it was willing and constitutionally capable of fulfilling its obligations within the . Charter.�?�. The position of the spa in t nearly As Clear Cut. Wenzel said there were three positions in the party vying for a majority. A the first is the Blue helmet peace keeping position. The second is to allow the bund Sychr to participate in All . Military actions. The third position is there should be no change in the present practice a no German participation in any military action outside classic nato  the spa is expected to argue out its position on the Issue during its convention set for May in Bremen Wenzel said. Despite the debate some politicians said they think no changes Are legally needed. Miller also said any changes Are from the Legal standpoint superfluous. But tie said that from a political standpoint a clarifying amendment is necessary. A interpretation of the Constitution should have the widest consensus possible within and to avoid irritations abroad a mall Era a position paper said. Werner Hoyer a spokesman for the Small business orientated free democratic party agreed. A we believe the bund Sychr can also operate out of area in concert with the United nations without a constitutional change a Hoyer said. A and i done to mean just nato Blue helmet operations with carnations in Rifle barrels checking passports but also other International forces such As those from common Market coun.  a a a a a a. A a a ����.�. Hoyer said the Ftp wants an amendment in order to Stop the debate. But the party has reservations about supporting any armed conflict that is waged without the Sanction of the United nations or nato he said. A a we be brought enough misery to the world by starting two wars on our own a Hoyer  wreckage on display in Iraq in Safwan Iraq three american soldiers from the 55th Cav Wade through wreckage that covered near what had been an iraqi Encampment during the persian Gulf War. The appears to be from a Dow Ned . F-4 phantom Jet fighter. The wrecked pieces were Dis planets pieces had been displayed on a platform for iraqi soldiers to inspect