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Does Germany need a national security strategy?
By Charlie
Apparently this type of thing is hotly debated in Deutschland, and in Europe as a whole. It seems obvious to me that a nation state would want to set up some type of national command authority, as well as spell out the circumstances for deploying their military, in order to give themselves and their people a framework on how the country will respond to events as the occur in the real world.
Weekly Standard:
For far too long, in other words, German political leaders shied away from communicating a comprehensive strategic framework that defines the country’s national interests and addresses responses to the various threats. The conservative strategy paper defines Germany’s national interests in terms of five issue areas: (1) the fight against terrorism; (2) nuclear proliferation; (3) energy and pipeline security; (4) climate change; and (5) the prevention of conflicts.
My question: is this a blip on the radar, or are more countries going to start taking responsibility for themselves as they face real threats in the world? With declining military and defense spending throughout Europe, this type of move is a break from 50 years of relying on someone else to make defense decisions. We'll have to see how this plays out...
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Haha, they included "climate change" and neglected to even consider the possibility of a future war in continental Europe which might affect them? It may not be likely but surely that's the kind of thing there should be plans for.
Are they serious?
Prevention of conflicts is great but you need to have a plan if prevention fails.
Of interest to me is #3: energy and pipeline security. Germany receives a significant amount of oil from Russia (their former chancellor Gerhardt "Screw-the-USA" Schroeder works for Russia's Gazprom. If the Germans are to develop the capability to secure their energy and the gas/oil pipeline, that means they are going to take on Russia. That'll be interesting.
On #1: multiculturalism just may die a bloody death in Germany. They eventually learned to be ruthless in rounding up Baader-Meinhof and the Red Brigade of the month.
The rest of it is pablum. My two cents...
Thank NATO for this. For ten or more years, led by the U. S., NATO has been telling the Partner countries (10 of which have become Allies) what a good idea having a National Security Strategy is. In many cases the Partners have made wrenching changes, that put some of the Allies to shame. (Albania, deciding they need no fixed-wing aircraft, going to all helo's, for example. There are many others.) Now, some of the Allies who have been lacking are getting the idea.
"...6) Und, finally, beating zee scheiss out of zee neighborrss, venn zee corrrekt time comess! JA JA!"
No really, I don't think I need to add comedy to this, because it contains its own comedy. CLIMATE CHANGE?? This is what comes of decades of nutty leftist politics slowly gone mainstream, coupled with getting the bulk of your strategic defense provided by others. America, take note!
Germany's National Security Strategy:
1) Rely on the US for security
2) Spend defense money on unsustainable social welfare programs
3) Complain about how the US goes about our own national security strategy, by actually confronting threats.
Wasn't it Der Spiegel that showed the average German soldier was woefully out of shape?
Ahh, the cosmic irony of the Germans. Anyone who thinks America could never degenerate into a soft socialist country because of 1)our proud military history, or 2) our hard-fought devotion to freedom, should read a little of German history... History stutters.
I've quoted you and linked to you here: http://consul-at-arms.blogspot.com/2008/05/re-does-germany-need-national-security.html
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"Climate Change"?!
Blip.