http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0805-08.htm
Published on Monday, August 5, 2002 in the Daily Telegraph (London) : Schröder Stakes Poll Chances on Iraq Peace Vote
Gerhard Schröder has told Germans that a vote for him is a vote against war in Iraq, as he urgently seeks a "big idea" in his fight for a second term as chancellor.
Ahead of today's launch of the "hot phase" of his Social Democrat Party (SPD) election campaign - brought forward three weeks because of the SPD's alarming slide in the polls - Mr Schröder told a party rally he would not support American "adventures" in Iraq nor provide a single euro to fund them.
In a clear criticism of Washington's current policy that he hoped would appeal to Germany's pacifist majority, he said: "Whoever goes in has to know why he goes there and what he wants there.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,769851,00.html :
Tuesday August 6, 2002 The Guardian
German leader says no to Iraq war John Hooper in Hanover
German chancellor Gerhard Schröder and his Social Democratic party yesterday broke ranks with America's other European allies by declaring at the start of their election campaign that Germany would refuse to provide troops or money for an invasion of Iraq.
The SPD's top official indicated that Germany under a centre-left administration was ready to stay out, even if the UN gave its blessing to a war.
Germany's rebuff to Washington came as Iraq further tried to split western opinion by inviting the US Congress to send a mission to Baghdad, offering free access to any site alleged to be developing weapons of mass destruction. The White House dismissed the invitation.
The SPD's hardline stance is likely to stiffen growing resistance within Labour ranks in the UK to a new conflict in the Middle East and add to the pressure on Tony Blair for a rethink of Britain's effectively unconditional backing for the US president, George Bush.
Franz Münterfering, the SPD general secretary, told a press conference that the party leadership had decided over the weekend to go its own way. "Independently, of what the UN decides, there must be a German way, that we must decide for ourselves what is to be done. That decision for us means no involvement in any... conflict or war in Iraq."
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