Premature skepticism about premature talk
Some journalists just have a way with words. As Matthias Geis put it in this week’s Die Zeit article “Die Armee, die nicht verweigern darf” (The Army That Can’t Refuse), he writes i.e. understates that “(German) military missions are usually chosen with a clear view to the dangers involved...” Well ain’t that a mouthful of god-awful truth. He – and even the staunchest German pacifist out there by now – just can’t help but notice that Germany’s famous collective memory concerning what Chancellor Merkel labels the “historical duty” to defend Israel’s right to exist has become more selective these days instead.
It’s time for “utmost caution” again, in other words. Once Germany starts threatening to provide training for police and military forces, it’s all over folks. Angela Merkel is now in the process of institutionalizing a pattern of behavior that appears to be handmade for the German psyche. You know, that proven say-no-before-anybody-asks-you process begun by her predecessor - albeit she’s doing it for other reasons (she’s not up for election yet).
As ridiculous as it might sound, the 6,800 German troops currently in action around the world (good luck in the Congo today guys – seriously) is pretty much about it as far as German peacekeeping capacity goes. At least as far as the way Germans go about keeping the peace. Germany stopped spending on its military years ago, though strangely, the German weapons industry is charging along as hard is it ever was and making a “killing” as usual (apparently another sacred-cow-taboo-topic that is never addressed in this country).
And with all due respect about these threats to train police and military, I don’t think Israel needs a whole lot of help in this department, people. Oh sure, sorry. You meant the Lebanese (or did you mean the Hisbollah?). Nobody needs better trained police down there. What both of these countries need is a new buffer zone between each other. Lebanon has been hijacked again, you see. This will stop the rockets from being fired into northern Israel. That’s why Israel is there now. Get it?
Yes it’s true, Germany. It’s premature to talk about any of this peacekeeping stuff before a ceasefire actually takes place in Lebanon. And sure it’s a little early to talk about such forces when we don’t even know just who might be putting them together. But it’s just as premature to say no to something you haven’t even been asked to do yet. Especially when the hundred or so Iranian (excuse me, Hisbollah) katjusha rockets landing in northern Israel everyday seem to be coming in right on time.
And somebody, of course, as usual, is going to have to set up this buffer zone. With utmost caution or not.
Vorsicht ist geboten bzw. wurde gerade überboten.
Kommentare auf Deutsch? Her damit!
