After 55 years of NATO and American defense protection, Germany seeks to abandon America. by James Luko
(centrist)
Friday, May 21, 2010
Since 1955 West Germany (and Germany after 1991) was protected from possible Soviet invasion or intimidation by the NATO alliance and the American nuclear umbrella.
Germany's reunification was strongly supported by the United States and now after the protective umbrella we provided which in large part facilitated the "German economic miracle" after WWII, the Germans wish to "wimp out" and abandon us in Afghanistan.
Some German troops in Afghanistan are wearing "banned" badges which say " I fight for Merkel" (referring to German Chancellor Angela Merkel) as a "protest" in order to illicit an explanation from Merkel "why" they are fighting in Afghanistan. Others have called it a "low-key" " MUTINY" which has caused panic among the top officers of the Bundeswehr.
Germany and its troops are complaining about their cumulative combat deaths- currently 47, although, from its population of over 80 million, compare that to UK's deaths of 275 soldiers (with a smaller population of 55 million) and look at Canada- with a population of 33 million suffering 140 deaths in Afghanistan to date- almost FOUR times the deaths of Germany. (not to mention America's toll of 951 deaths)
Why is it so difficult for Germany, its Chancellor or America to explain WHY they are fighting in Afghanistan ? The answer to their question is simple and clear :
Article 5: of the NATO Charter: OBLIGATES Germany as a member to contribute to the retaliation of a surprise attack upon the soil of the United States, a fellow NATO member, on 9/11 2001. WHY does the mainstream media NOT mention this prenominal FACT ? It's clear that the mainstream media wishes the public to look at Afghanistan through the lens of the Iraq War- and hence, lose all support for our current efforts in Afghanistan and the reason and justification for being there. It is another issue entirely if we debate- how well we are executing our efforts, strategy or goal in fighting in Afghanistan, than the issue of WHY we are there.
Afghanistan is NOT Iraq- Afghanistan is a question of collective defense and treaty obligations- which means that Germany does NOT have a choice. Unlike Iraq, which is being fought by the famous "coalition of the willing", fighting in Afghanistan is a "legal" obligation which invoked Article 5 for the first time ever in NATO's existence.
NATO has served as the "structural" pillar of unity in the Atlantic community, despite consistent intransigence from France, but always staunchly supported by its main member, the United States.
Even though Germany's support of ISAF, with few troops who are assigned to the most peaceful areas of Afghanistan (the North) they still seek to leave altogether. After being able to divert resources and funds to economic development instead of defense, enjoying 55 years of peace under America's and NATO's protective umbrella- they [Germany] now seek to turn their backs on America. Now that the Soviet threat is gone, Germany feels the elbow room to renege on their NATO treaty obligations and stab America in the back by "constructively" abandoning us and their legal, moral and historical obligations to America.
My own experience in working with the German military and soldiers was during my posting to Kosovo for almost two (2) years (1999-2000) with the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal as the Operations Officer during the conflict there. I personally found them to be among the most uncooperative- similar to the Italians, when it came to missions that required their troops to leave the safety of their bases. It was a shameful display of collective cowardice and dereliction of their duties under the mandates from which they were deployed. Their interest was to do their time and get home, hardly a contribution, hardly a soldiers heart or courage. NOTE: As I observed many military contingents in Bosnia, Kosovo and Croatia, I often wondered why so many joined the military although they had such disdain for testing their mettle in combat. I found the soldiers of Argentina, Germany, Italy particularly shy of dangerous missions or combat. Why do soldiers join the military and then do their best to keep out of combat ? ( I obviously know the several answers but its a rhetorical question)
I found the Australians, British and Canadian troops as the most willing contingents to get out to the fight and not allow strict interpretations of mandates to serve as an excuse to hide inside their bases.
Germany is acting like Afghanistan IS a coalition of the WILLING, which it is NOT; but, to punish or pressure Germany would only widen the rift, thus, Germany has the advantage in this situation.
Indeed, one of the purposes, post WWII, of providing for the defense of Germany was to prevent Germany from again rebuilding any massive military might. Therefore, if the US were to now isolate or threaten Germany that in the future, the US or NATO might not come to the full assistance of Germany in case of threat, that in itself might prompt a future German arms build up.
In this case, it may serve all interests better if a coherent exit strategy is consensually created by NATO or alternatively a long term presence committed to solely by the United States.
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