ACCESSION NUMBER:228375
FILE ID:PO-309
DATE:05/20/92
TITLE:FRANCO-GERMAN JOINT UNIT PROPOSAL SOUND, CHENEY SAYS (05/20/92)
TEXT:*92052009.POL
FRANCO-GERMAN JOINT UNIT PROPOSAL SOUND, CHENEY SAYS

(But U.S. will remain involved in Europe)  (700)
By Jacquelyn S. Porth
USIA Security Affairs Correspondent
Washington -- Defense Secretary Cheney says a French-German concept for a
combined military unit involving both nations in Europe is "basically a
sound proposal."

Cheney told an audience at the National Press Club May 20 that the United
States is counting on its allies playing an increased role in Europe's
security, adding that they "should be a part...and...supportive of the NATO
alliance."

While supporting the idea of a Franco-German military corps, U.S. officials
have urged that any German troops assigned to the corps still have a
continuing responsibility, assignment and mission "vis-a-vis NATO", the
secretary said, "so there is not a net subtraction" from the alliance.

Cheney said he discussed the multinational defense concept with British
Defense Minister Malcolm Rifkind recently and that Rifkind outlined ways
the Western European Union might contribute to the Atlantic alliance.

"I think we will see greater willingness on the part of the Europeans," the
secretary said, "to do more for themselves, at least with respect to
out-of-area (military) exercises and, possibly, with respect to
peacekeeping exercises inside Europe."  Cheney also said it is necessary
that the United States remain "actively involved" in Europe and "vital that
the basic principle of forward-deployed forces in Europe be retained."

American armed forces have "achieved an extraordinary world trust," the
secretary said, and leaders of countries such as Poland and Czechoslovakia
want a continued U.S. presence in Europe.  "They look to the United States
for the kind of confidence that is needed for democracy to take root in
their newly independent nations," he said.

Regarding Asia, Cheney said the United States plans to maintain military
forces in the region because it is in the interest of everyone.  If U.S.
forces were to withdraw from the area, he said, "we would create a vacuum
and sooner or later someone would come along and try and fill it."
1
Cheney also said the United States continues to be concerned about North
Korea developing nuclear weapons.  While he pointed to recent progress in
the North-South Korea dialogue, he emphasized that additional steps must be
undertaken before "we will be confident that the North is no longer
aggressively pursuing the development of a nuclear weapon."

Asked about Iran's nuclear program and ambitions in the Middle East, the
secretary said the United States becomes concerned whenever "we see a
significant buildup of military capability or...hardware on the part of a
nation that has in the past been involved in fairly aggressive behavior
against their neighbors."

The United States plans to remain involved in the strategic region, he said,
and will "do everything we have to do to protect and defend our friends"
from a future threat.  Asked about the U.S. military's future role in
humanitarian and evacuation missions, Cheney noted that the military has
been called upon to perform those kinds of missions recently in Bangladesh,
Liberia and Somalia and he said, "I think that will continue to be an
important mission for us."

Cheney faulted critics who want to cut the defense budget, including House
Armed Services Committee Chairman Les Aspin.  Aspin suggested recently the
defense budget should be further cut to provide money for domestic
priorities, such as aid to U.S. cities.  Those who would turn a blind eye
to the role of the U.S. military, he said, "simply ensure that we will
eventually face more serious threats, at higher cost and greater risk."

Cheney also commented about the British legal ruling that two American
pilots were responsible for accidentally killing nine British soldiers by
"friendly fire" during the Persian Gulf war.  The incident occurred during
"the fog of war," he said, and the loss of lives is deeply regretted.  The
U.S. government, he added, has done everything "it could to support and be
responsive to the proceeding that just ended in Britain," including
providing depositions from the pilots.  "At this point I don't see anything
else that can be done," Cheney added.

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