German Police Out in Force for Bush Visit

22/05/2002| IslamWeb

HIGHLIGHTS:Germans to Protest Bush's Iraq, Mideast, Trade & Environment Polices||Shroeder's Government Particularly Unhappy With Bush's Unilateralism on Issues of Mutual Concern||Greens Accuse Bush of Adopting a Missionary Approach Towards Evil||STORY: Some 10,000 German police officers geared up to confront a wave of protests on Wednesday with the arrival President Bush in Berlin at the start of a six-day tour of Europe. (Read photo caption)

Authorities mobilized a post-war record number of police for a state guest to thwart any violence from protesters angry over topics from a possible U.S. attack on Iraq to policies on trade, the environment and the Middle East.

Bush, who arrives at around 1830 GMT and will spend 20 hours in the reunited capital city, will also face criticism from leaders in Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's center-left government over America's perceived unilateralism on issues, in particular Iraq.

Peter Struck, parliamentary floor leader for Schroeder's Social Democrats (SPD), said he would admonish Bush about his Iraq policies. Many Europeans fear Bush plans to launch a military action to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein

Antje Vollmer, a parliamentary leader for the Greens party, junior partner to Schroeder's SPD, said Bush was using "an almost missionary approach against evil" which was causing tension and instability worldwide.

PHOTO CAPTION

Demonstrators protest in downtown Berlin May 21, 2002, against the upcoming visit by President George W. Bush. About 20,000 protesters marched peacefully in Berlin against U.S. policies on the eve of a visit by Bush that officials fear may widen a transatlantic rift rather than close it. Poster reads 'No attack against Iraq, warmonger go home.' (Christian Charisius/Reuters)