Possible Military Move East Makes Czechs Uneasy

The last foreign troops based in the Czech Republic swore allegiance to the USSR.

When the 75,000 Soviet soldiers left the country following the collapse of the Iron Curtain in the early 1990s, many in the Czech Republic hoped it was the last time soldiers under a foreign flag would set up shop on their home soil.

Now, there's very serious talk in the Pentagon of relocating U.S. bases in Western Europe east to countries like Poland and the Czech Republic - and the country finds itself in the middle of a hot debate.

Czechs "are very touchy when it comes to foreign soldiers on our territory. The renewed stationing of foreign troops would probably not be welcome," said Czech President Vaclav Klaus in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung last month.

Czechs more skeptical than Poles

The remarks unleashed hefty discussion within the government and parliament. Though government officials largely supported the war against Saddam Hussein, they stopped short of committing any military personnel, like Poland. There are other signs to indicate they do not share their neighbor's euphoria in supporting America.

Poll numbers suggest that some 43 percent of the Czechs would reject the stationing of U.S. troops in their country. Parliamentarians, such as the chair of the foreign affairs committee, also remain skeptical.

"I understand this future, but for us, for me, it's a problem, a question," Vladimir Lastuvka told Deutsche Welle in an interview.

U.S.: too early for such talk

U.S. military leaders insist it's too early for any talk of soldiers on Czech soil. Military planners said the current discussion on the movement of some troops out of Germany into Eastern European countries is taking part as part of a long-term military reconfiguration. Speculation on the actual move and where it might bring U.S. troops is still premature, they say.

But that hasn't stopped Eastern European officials from advocating the merits of such a move.

"In the future where are the prevalent possible sources of conflict? It's still the Balkans, still the Middle East. We can talk about this movement of American bases as a step towards a higher efficiency for the future deployment of American forces," Deputy Prime Minister Petr Mares told Deutsche Welle.

The new NATO member would stand to gain as well, with an American military base lending a feeling of protection and security to the country. There are also the economic benefits American soldiers will bring to the country, benefits the German towns surrounding U.S. bases in Ramstein and Landstuhl have known for quite some time.

"I think that it's maybe a good idea, because American soldiers are professional," said one Czech man in an on-the-street interview with Deutsche Welle. "And I think it's good for the economy in our country too."