[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16258]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               GERMANY REFUSES EVIDENCE OF 9/11 TERRORIST

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                          HON. DARRELL E. ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 4, 2002

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express indignation at 
Germany's refusal to provide evidence in the trial of would-be 9/11 
terrorist, Zacharias Moussaoui. This past weekend, the German Justice 
Minister Herta Daeubler-Gmelin said that Germany would not release any 
evidence against Moussaoui unless they were assured that it would not 
be used to obtain a death sentence. He said that German documents 
``cannot be used for the death penalty or for an execution.'' The 
United States would either have to accept their terms or walk away 
empty-handed.
  In the face of this continuing terrorist threat to our country, the 
Germans are trying to meddle in our justice system--giving us 
instructions for how we should try a suspected terrorist conspirator 
and mass murderer. What an outrage!
  The last time I checked, Germany was supposedly an ally--a NATO ally, 
to be more specific. In fact, right after denying us this critical 
evidence, Dauebler-Gmelin labeled U.S.-German relations ``good and 
trustful.'' Yet the Germans apparently have no qualms about using life 
and death information to make a disparaging comment on our justice 
system. My message to the Germans is simple: let us decide what we do 
with our mass-murderers and terrorists. If you are a true friend and 
ally, give us the tools to provide security for our own people.
  What really bothers me about this is that the very existence of 
modern Germany is due to our unwavering support for them during the 
Cold War. In the face of a mounting Soviet threat against Germany, we 
provided them with military protection, food supplies, and development 
assistance. Under the Marshall Plan, we gave them the billions of 
dollars necessary to get their economy back on its feet following the 
Second World War. If not for our leadership in the NATO alliance, 
Germany would have suffered the same fate as the other Warsaw Pact 
countries--a harsh and cruel life under a Communist dictatorship. We 
have always supported Germany, throughout all the difficulties of the 
Cold War and other challenges they have faced.
  Germany's refusal to help us is really quite unique. The vast 
majority of our true friends have been overwhelmingly supportive in the 
war on terror. Over the past year, we have worked hand-in-hand with the 
intelligence services of our moderate Arab allies to get the 
information we need to shut down terrorist threats around the world. 
Much of the intelligence we used in our successful Afghanistan campaign 
came from our Arab friends and allies. There has not been one incident 
where our real friends have even suggested the idea of not sharing 
intelligence with us.
  The fact that Germany is now only willing to provide information with 
strings attached is cause for alarm. Would we put up with this behavior 
from any of our other allies? It is time to bring some real pressure to 
bear on the Germans. Germany needs to stop playing games and choose 
sides.

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