Stardate 20020924.1606

(Captain's log): Well, the crew came through with references to reports as I had thought I remembered them, and it's true that Stoiber was not the first to say that Germany should forbid America from using German airbases and airspace as part of any war it might fight in Iraq.

Stoiber made his gaffe on 20020919. Iain Jackson found this story from 20020916 which says:

Schröder led Germany into its first post-war military operation in Kosovo in 1999, but he kicked off his re-election campaign by opposing a US-initiated attack on Iraq. He went further, saying he would oppose action even if it were endorsed by the UN, and would not contribute money in lieu of troops as Germany did during the Gulf War.

Schröder then said that if an attack went ahead, he would even withdraw German biological and chemical weapons experts already stationed in Kuwait, and suggested he might not let the US use its air bases in Germany to support any such attack.

Scott Hanson found the following, dated 20020913:

In Berlin, the German foreign ministry refused to confirm or deny whether permission to launch Iraq-related missions from Germany would be given although, there are no plans to impede US activities on the bases themselves.

A spokeswoman said: "When a decision to go to war is made it is the day such decisions concerning Germany will be decided. The question remains open."

So the idea was in the air even earlier. In fact, quite a lot earlier. Stefan found this editorial (also in German) which proposed the idea of denying use of German airbases. The page doesn't say so directly, but it was published 20020907.

Eugene found an interesting article in German, part of which he translates as follows:

Twice in the past, a German government has denied overflight rights: in 1973 during the Yom Kippur war, the government under then chancellor Willy Brandt (SPD) intervened diplomatically to ensure that the U.S.: would not traverse German airspace in supplying arms to Israel. Germany's strict neutrality in the Middle East conflict was cited as the reason for the refusal.

And in 1986 chancellor Helmut Kohl decided on a similar course. The coalition government (CDU/FDP) led by Kohl denied overflight rights to the U.S. government when it ordered a bombardment of Libya's capital Tripoli. In this instance as well, the matter was handled through diplomatic channels. No public debate took place.

Thanks, folks!