The Fear of Consequences

Germany was left reeling from the shock of seeing members of their armed forces in Afghanistan desecrating the dead Wednesday. By Thursday, the shock had turned to disgust and then concern as the country began to consider the wider implications of the actions of those involved.

"This is revolting," the Schwäbische Zeitung wrote. "It is certain to inflict huge damage on the armed forces. It is reminiscent of the atrocities in the Congo 40 years ago when a mercenary leader was notoriously photographed with a human skull on his jeep. One can only guess at the effect that this will have on the Bundeswehr's mission in Afghanistan."

"How much damage this scandal, perpetrated by stupid and irresponsible members of the Bundeswehr, will inflict on their colleagues in Afghanistan and in the wider Islamic world cannot be foreseen as yet," wrote the Westdeutsche Zeitung. "One thing is certain: the behavior and guidance of our soldiers overseas is beyond the control of the politicians."

The Süddeutsche Zeitung also questioned the government's handling of the Afghanistan deployment. "It's clear that the politicians should express outrage at the deeds of these soldiers," the paper wrote. "And they should act to punish those involved and prevent further events such as these. But the real discussion about foreign involvement by the Bundeswehr has not even begun. Germany wanted to help but now finds itself in a war."

The Financial Times Deutschland said that an overhaul of the Bundeswehr forces in Afghanistan may be a rare positive to come from the scandal. "The indiscipline had brought danger and disrespect to Germany," it wrote. "But it shows that the training and education of troops in Afghanistan must again be reviewed. They must realize that they are a foreign army in a hostile land and must face the reality of that and take it upon themselves to act accordingly. This, however, does not excuse the shameful behavior of those involved."

The Stuttgarter Zeitung offered a brutally realistic view of the scandal: "The general public must get used to the fact that German soldiers are not beyond acting with disrespect. Maybe it is time to realize that the image of these 'angels of peace' has all been an illusion. This has been shown by the failure of ministers and officers to uphold the obligation of the armed forces to abide to international law and those of humanity."

Der Spiegel said that the "crass" photos could not have come at a more damaging time for the German government. "The Bundestag's defense committee is discussing the case of Murat Kurnaz, the Turkish-born German resident who was released this summer from the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay and has since accused German elite soldiers of abusing him in Afghanistan's Kandahar region," it wrote. The defense ministry also extended its commitment to the anti-terror Operation Enduring Freedom on Wednesday but that the number of German troops in Afghanistan will be reduced from 2,800 to 1,800. "Evidence that German soldiers may be participating in some of the uglier aspects of war may well increase public opposition to the keeping the troops in Afghanistan at all," the magazine wrote.

Britain's Independent and Le Figaro in France both also commented on the damaging effect the scandal is likely to have on the reputation of the German army.

"Politicians and military leaders have been painfully conscious that the army's peacekeeping role in Afghanistan has given the armed forces an opportunity to demonstrate that today's German army had broken with its Nazi past," the British daily wrote. "Until yesterday the 2,800 German army troops deployed in Afghanistan as part of ISAF enjoyed a reputation as exemplary peacekeepers, who were popular with the local population. That may no longer be the case."

"Beyond the loss of prestige for the Bundeswehr, this affair risks complicating the task of the all the Western forces, which are less and less accepted by the Afghan population," the Paris-based Le Figaro wrote. "The scandal could be used by the Taliban as an absolute breaking of an Islamic taboo and could provoke a wave of anger throughout Afghanistan."