„Chief of Staff“ der US-Army Europe Brigadegeneral Markus T. Laubenthal the bridge reception

CASTING – WETZLAR – CENTRAL HESSE (rg) – It was long ago, that high-ranking military visit to casting was welcomed. Until the withdrawal of the last US GIs in 2007 dominated German and American soldiers many decades the streetscape as a garrison town. Times changed and will change again. With Brigadier General Markus T. Laubenthal was on Wednesday evening with the "Chief of Staff" from the headquarters of the US Army Europe in Wiesbaden one of the leading German generals at the invitation of German-American Clubs THE BRIDGE Gießen-Wetzlar guest. Laubenthal was the first German "Chief of Staff" in the American armed forces at all on the side of US General Ben Hodges. At Bridge-New Year reception in the filled to the last seat main hall of the hotel Köhler he used his speech to the current security situation in Europe to illuminate and to promote the important cooperation within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The floated the uncertainty about the political path of the new US administration on all the, was everywhere to grip even with the welcome speech of bridge-President Roger Schmidt. Just the name of the newly elected US president fell not once.

Prominent guests were also come to bridge reception, the including were in addition to the highest representatives of the Hessian Parliament, Parliament President Norbert Kartmann and his party colleague Hans-Jürgen Irmer also the City Council Chairman Egon Fritz and Councillor Monika Graulich from Giessen and from Wetzlar, Councillor Manfred Viand, come. Musically the mixed choir Modern Voices had attuned led by Andreas Stein from glee club Germania Watzenborn-Steinberg with a potpourri American evergreens guests at the beginning. Schmidt warned in his speech to the false prophets and the supposed saviors, which currently have economic. Future have Germany in the community of Europeans, thus freedom, stay get peace and prosperity. Ups and downs in transatlantic relations, have always existed. The German and American interests remained in the great contexts of history. The Bridge Club will continue to keep clear course for transatlantic and international linking agreement in respect to the benefit of all people, promised Schmidt.

„Fakenews - fake night directing ", just in social media, while often from Russian sources, damaged confidence in our Western societies, warned Brigadier General Markus T. Laubenthal. The 28.000 stationed in Germany from former US soldiers 300.000 make known a more important contribution, together with the Bundeswehr and other NATO allies to security in Europe. The propaganda and misinformation on the Internet as well as the events in Eastern Ukraine have shown, that the decision to reinforce the deterrence was important. Die US-Army Europe (USAREUR) have currently a brigade 3.500 soldiers with 440 laid track vehicles from Fort Carson in Colorado for nine months through Bremerhaven to Eastern Poland. A logistical challenge, with 1.040 Waggons in 37 Trains has been mastered. More device follow for storage in depots to strengthen the rapid deployment readiness. Concerned citizens would ask him, is whether this "saber rattling" necessary and does not demand a lot more dialogue, so the General. The communication channels are open, However, the discussion results are not satisfactory, then the answer would be. An adequate and visible deterrent in the face of Russian actions necessary, so the unanimous political will. The speed of reaction with appropriate combat strength had increased in recent years. Exercises are necessary.

Especially with the young civil society wants to dialogue now further strengthen. For this was an internal program with internships for students in the US Armed Forces in Grafenwoehr, Kaiserslautern and Wiesbaden launched, announced he. Already 40 young people not only from Germany had in the past 15 Months the offer in the fields of media design, journalism, used environmental and languages. Under phone 0611 143 537 0401 you can learn and in person or by mail at usarmy.wiesbaden.usareur.mbx.praktikum@mail.mil, campaigned he. For Laubenthal his coming was also the farewell from Hesse. In Oldenburg he takes command of 1. Panzerdivision. With Brigadier Kai pipe separator will as his successor again as a sign of continuity of the good German-American relations in the USAREUR headquarters in Wiesbaden equally on the side with the US commander in chief, a German stand,de.