German Cabinet Discusses Future of Bundeswehr

[von-Scharnhorst]

As German troops continue missions in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and patrol along the coast of Lebanon, the German grand coalition government Wednesday published a white paper on the country's security policy and future of the Bundeswehr.

"I think the question of security for our country is so important that it is not a question of a single minister but a question for the entire government," Defense Minister Franz-Josef Jung said in Berlin.

The 133-page paper is the first to deal with German army engagements in 12 years and covers threats posed by terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction as well as future military deployments.

Military not only answer to world's problems

"Today's Bundeswehr is shaped by international assignments," the paper said, adding that Germany will continue to deploy troops in the international fight against terrorism but also plans to play a role in resolving regional conflicts and ensuring the protection of human rights and free trade.

"Eighty percent of our trade occurs on the seas, which naturally includes the security of energy supplies and raw materials," Jung said. "After an oil tanker was attacked by terrorists in the Strait of Hormuz in 2002, it is clear that such terrorist activities need to be eliminated when it comes to the energy security and supplies and free trade on the seas."

The paper, however, also warned of placing too heavy an emphasis on military solution to international problems, saying that trade, diplomacy and developmental aid are of equal importance with martial force.

Germany currently has about 9,000 soldiers deployed in German missions around the world, a level the paper says could increase to a maximum of 14,000 troops in five theaters of operation.

Goals cannot be geographically defined

"German security policy has to take into account developments happening in regions that are geographically far away," the paper said. "Interests cannot be solely geographically defined in an age of globalization."

The report also went to lengths to define Germany's national interests, which nearly always coincide with those of the European Union, according to Social Democratic Party defense expert Jörn Theißen.

"I would suggest a discussion about our European goals, what can actually still be a German goal and what is only possible in an international framework," he said.

Continued close relations with NATO also "remain the basis for Germany and Europe's shared security," according to the paper, which also calls the United States a close ally of "paramount importance" to Germany.

Critics hoped for more pubic discussion

Theißen, however, criticized the paper for not doing enough to provoke a wide enough debate in Germany on security issues and their impact on legal and diplomatic efforts.

"The white paper was supposed to start a wide discussion but was prepared by a small circle of people and then was stopped by the justice and foreign ministers," Theißen said.

Political differences of opinion in Chancellor Angela Merkel's grand coalition of conservative Christians and Social Democrats on deploying the Bundeswehr domestically stopped the discussion before it reached the SPD-run justice and foreign ministries, Theißen added.

Defense Minister Jung, however, again said the government needs the ability to use Bundeswehr inside of Germany, which is currently unconstitutional.

"None of us wants police work to be taken over, domestic security will continue to be provided by the police in the future," Jung told German public broadcaster ZDF on Wednesday. "But when the police's abilities are exhausted, such as in preventing attacks from the air, the Bundeswehr has to be used. It is necessary for the protection of the people."

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,...214521,00.html