(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
Southwest Germany is home to one of the United States' largest military bases, an efficient and high-tech center for the airborne "war on terror." Almost out of sight and without much attention and criticism, it can conduct its warfare based on intelligence, drones, troop and equipment transport and bombing. Over the course of a decade, drone warfare has increased fivefold. The Ramstein area also has the United States' largest ammunition depot outside the United States, such as the Miesau depot, which also contributes to making the area extremely vulnerable and dangerous.
Video footage of drone attack targets in Afghanistan is transmitted from Ramstein to the remote pilots who press the tracers somewhere in Nevada, and planes depart from Ramstein with war materials to Iraq and Syria or special forces for missions in Africa. This US air defense headquarters in Europe has transport reach at least well over 100 countries with huge aircraft, such as the C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster and C-130J. In such a high-tech network system where fewer and fewer people are involved in the decision-making chain, personal responsibility is pulverized. The most horrific drone killings and carnage are going on without it being clear who has blood on their hands. In an annual report from Northeast Afghanistan 2012 – 2013, 200 people must have been killed. Of these, only 35 were original targets (Operation Haymaker).
Little America. The US has 174 military bases in Germany, more than in any other country. Japan with its 113 bases is number two. Around 57 Americans are stationed in and around Ramstein. Of these, approximately 000 are in active service. A lot of time must also be spent on maintaining the systems and improving precision and time span. Little America, as Ramstein is called, is to be the largest American community outside the United States. With high-quality service offerings, a giant shopping mall and five colleges, families deployed by the United States Air Force can live comfortably, "almost like home." The traumatizing sound of the drones doesn't sound very good there.
In such a high-tech network system where fewer and fewer people are involved in the decision-making chain, personal responsibility is pulverized.
Stop Ramstein. But the German peace movement is now sharpening its focus on what is happening in Ramstein, and is working intensively to get the base shut down. In June last year, the biggest campaign against Ramstein was organized so far, with over 5000 people present. Among the protesters were also well-known German politicians, both nationally and regionally. In addition, more and more peace activists from other countries are participating. Various demonstrations and discussions were arranged. Among other things, the participants formed a ten-kilometer protest chain around Ramstein. And to the astonishment of the organizing committee, the media also showed interest for the first time.
Also among most people in Germany, the American drone war is poorly regarded. Two out of three are directly opposed. Attempts have been made to get drone warfare from Germany declared illegal, but so far without positive results. Lawyer and parliamentarian Hans-Christian Ströbele of the German Environment Party believes the drone war violates human rights, international law and the German constitution, and therefore believes that Germany can be considered partly responsible for the acts of war. Sahra Wagenknecht from Die Linke regards drone war as a criminal act against people who cannot defend themselves at all. Moreover, the drone attacks create thousands of new terrorists. Following the interception of Angela Merkel's cellphone, intelligence and eavesdropping – also possibly related to Ramstein – are more advanced in people's consciousness.
Action plans. Reiner Braun, co-president of the International Peace Bureau and central to the German peace movement, reports that 120 people from various peace organizations recently attended a planning meeting to discuss the Stop Ramstein coalition's actions in 2017. The biggest celebration will be in Ramstein 8. –10. September 2017, where a number of meetings and actions are planned. The main focus is on the legality of the US drone war from German soil, the closure of the Ramstein base and conversion to civilian purposes. A separate group works with the local population to promote alternatives to the base. Because even though many in the area depend on the base as a livelihood, many are also very anxious and angry. The most grand proposal is to remove the base, get it taxed and create a lake for pleasure and outdoor activities for many. More politically strategic discussions are also planned on how best to promote non-violent proposals for conflict resolution and peace-building, and thus concretely show that there are alternatives.
Possible military dual roles. Defense policy is the black hole of democracy. It doesn't take much criticism before anyone starts talking about "danger to the kingdom's security". And with the huge sums going to military defense, the peace movement and ordinary people are badly shunned to confront the military-industrial complex. By comparison: One year's military budget globally corresponds to approximately 615 regular UN budgets. Military top management is obviously not interested in reducing or closing down their operations. Most high-level people are exceptionally well paid, and many also have large incomes from the companies producing the military equipment, for example through board positions and advisory functions, and they often move to positions in the rapidly growing "security sector" after their military careers. Although the war on terror must be considered totally unsuccessful as it creates more enemies and terrorists than it fights and is also a huge burden for taxpayers, it is not at all financially unsuccessful – neither for the producers, the arms dealers nor for some of the military top management in the long run. .
The most grandiose proposal is to remove the base, get it charged and create a lake for enjoyment and outdoor activities for many.
But we must be able to ask the question: Why should the United States continue to have bases, troops and even nuclear weapons in Europe? In addition to Germany, there are American modernized nuclear weapons in Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Turkey.
Maybe the situation is so tight with Trump in the White House that it becomes easier to argue against the closure of both Ramstein, Africom in Stuttgart and other bases? Maybe it will even be possible to raise the issue of US base plans in Trøndelag?
