Fighter Debate
February 6, 2007
Jung made his statement to the daily Bild newspaper, as Germany's governing Conservative-Social Democratic cabinet prepared to discuss expanding the Bundeswehr's mission. On Monday and Tuesday, the Defense Minister made an unannounced visit to German troops in Afghanistan to inform himself about the military situation there.
When it meets on Wednesday, the German cabinet is expected to approve a draft mandate that would allow the Bundeswehr to use as many as eight Tornados to provide reconnaissance for British and American troops in Southern Afghanistan. But the draft also stipulates that they not be deployed for direct combat or "close air support."
NATO has requested the Tornados to help deal with increased attacks by the Taliban on its troops, especially in Southern Afghanistan. Thus far, the Bundeswehr's mission has focused on the more peaceful north of the country, where German troops are largely involved in maintaining order and assisting reconstruction.
Matter of Conscience
If the cabinet goes ahead with the mandate, it would then have to be approved by Germany's parliament, the Bundestag. A vote would likely happen in March.
But the prospect of voting to widen the Bundeswehr's mission has caused unease, especially among Social Democrats. On Monday, SPD parliamentary leader Peter Struck said that the issue was a "matter of conscience" and that individual Bundestag MPs would be allowed to decide for themselves about whether to support a new mandate.
SPD defense expert Hans-Peter Bartels said on Tuesday that he was "puzzled" by Struck's statement and called for his party to reach a unanimous decision.
The latest public opinion polls suggest that only around one-fifth of Germans support the idea of expanding the Bundeswehr's involvement in Afghanistan.