Should the West Encourage German Military Expansion?
Adverse security circumstances have caused the United States, the United Kingdom and other Western countries to pressure Germany into taking a more active military role in Afghanistan and other theaters of conflict. But what are the potential consequences from a biblical/historical perspective?
by John Ross Schroeder
A recent Newsweek world affairs feature article firmly stated: "Germany was expected to play a big role in European security. But its defense policy has gone AWOL" (Feb. 25, 2008, emphasis added throughout). How can this be, since Germany has sent over 3,100 soldiers to Afghanistan (behind only the United States with some 27,000 troops and the United Kingdom with 7,800)?
The rub is that all German soldiers are stationed in the much more peaceful northern part of Afghanistan doing humanitarian work like helping to dig wells and construct schools. The south remains where the war against the Taliban is at its fiercest. Further, the German army has strict instructions from Berlin to avoid counterinsurgency combat activities. Principally the Americans and British, but also Canadians, Danes and Dutch troops, are bearing the brunt in losses of life and serious injuries.
A wary German public
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently sent a stern letter to his German counterpart Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung. In this communiqué he reportedly complained of German refusal and demanded the deployment of its soldiers to the troubled southern provinces of Afghanistan.
According to the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, "Mr. Jung replied in similar mode with a 'direct and stern' letter to Mr. Gates" (The Times, Feb. 2, 2008). One German source stated that "our given location was in the North and that is where we are staying."
Berlin's adamant refusal to commit soldiers to battle clearly reflects the overwhelming popular will of the German populace. Recent polls indicated that "86 percent of Germans...say the Bundeswehr should not be fighting anywhere. And 61 percent want even the non-combat missions pulled out" (Newsweek, Feb. 25, 2008).
But notwithstanding the German defense minister's response to Secretary Gates, late last year he also stated, "We must convince the public that these [military] missions are firmly in Germany's interests" (Financial Times, Dec. 4, 2007).
