Now we have to thank AUSTRIA also!

Austria Blocking Movement of U.S. Troops-Rumsfeld
Thu February 13, 2003 03:39 PM ET
By Charles Aldinger
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Thursday accused Austria of blocking the movement of U.S. troops from Germany by rail through that neutral country to Italy, apparently part of a buildup of American forces preparing for possible war against Iraq.

He complained that it would take additional days to get the troops where they were going and told the Senate Armed Services Committee it was an example of problems in stationing more than 100,000 U.S. troops in Europe, including 70,000 in Germany.

"Right now, for example, we're trying to move some forces from Germany down to Italy, and Austria is causing a difficulty with respect to moving the forces through Austria by rail," Rumsfeld said.

"Which means we may have to go up to Rotterdam (in the Netherlands) or possibly by train through two, or three, or four countries. It's better (to move) directly," he said.

A spokesman at the Austrian Embassy in Washington confirmed that the movement of U.S. troops was being temporarily blocked by his country. Austria is a neutral state and restricts the movement of foreign military equipment across its territory.