A View Across the Atlantic

"Citizen" Schmidt speaks of missiles, peace and Germans

In his new role as a self-described "citizen of our Atlantic community," Helmut Schmidt has become, if anything, even more outspoken than during his eight years as Chancellor of West Germany. He still has harsh things to say about U.S. leadership of the alliance. But he remains a firm believer in checking Soviet expansion, and, like his successor Helmut Kohl, he is committed to the NATO "double-track" decision. Excerpts from Schmidt's keynote address to TIME'S Atlantic Alliance Conference:

The debate within the West right now is...

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