This is about the lives of German soldiers
In December, the German Bundestag hastily decided to participate in the US-led anti-IS campaign in Syria. A mere 77 minutes-long discussion was held by German MP's before the majority decided to send up to 1,200 German soldiers to the war in the Middle East. Thereby, perhaps the most fatal and dangerous military deployment of German soldiers in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany has begun. Nothing is clear. There is no strategy, we do not even know against whom we are fighting there in Syria, and against whom we are not.
The reason for this military expedition is grotesque: The German government wants to respond to the terrorist attacks that took place in Paris on November 13th. Germany wants to increasingly "fight terrorism" according to German Chancellor Angela Merkel. But instead of taking the threat seriously, immediately closing the borders and trying to gain an overview on the chaos of mass migration, the German chancellor continues to operate the dangerous “Willkommenskultur” (“welcoming culture policy”). Potential terrorists can continue traveling to Europe without any problems. Neither the Chancellor nor the mainstream media mention this subject. In contradiction, they imposed a political taboo on citizens and themselves as well: the issues of immigration and security policy should not be mixed. Unfortunately, the potential terrorist does not see it the same way. The "Islamic State" had announced several months ago that thousands of fighters are infiltrating Europe.
Who are our enemies and who are our allies in the Syrian theater of war? Neither the German government nor the opposition appears to be clear about it. Germany is to fight on the side of the so-called "Anti-IS-coalition" of Americans, at the same time that states like Turkey and Saudi Arabia support IS. Both countries officially support terrorist gangs in Syria, they finance and organize the supplies. Often these aids land right in the hands of the terrorist brigades of the "Islamic State". TheBundesnachrichtendienst (German Federal Intelligence Service) itself pointed out the negative role of Saudi Arabia in the Syrian war.The Berlin government responded with disinterest. Meanwhile, Berlin maintains embargoes and sanctions against precisely those states that effectively fight against terror in Syria: Syria, Russia and Iran. The Syrian army could operate more effectively against IS and other terrorist groups if Berlin would work to ensure that the EU freezes all sanctions and embargoes against Damascus for at least the duration of the war. Germany could thus play in the fight against terrorism in the Middle East an important role without jeopardizing the life of a single German soldier.
All these points did not play a role in the parliamentary debate of 77 minutes. If it were not for war or peace, the whole thing might have been dismissed as a typical Berlin incompetency. But it comes to the lives of German soldiers and the German national security interests. Innate concerns have hitherto never really interested Berlin.
