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07-28-2010, 12:59 AM
German Lawmaker Rips Condition of Afghan Gear
By ALBRECHT MÜLLER
Published: 27 Jul 2010 16:56
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BONN - Germany's parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces criticized the state of German military equipment and training in Afghanistan.
Hellmut Königshaus called the state of gear "simply a drama" - a German phrase connoting a tragedy - "and naturally that's very demotivating for the people," in a July 23 interview with Sächsische Zeitung newspaper.
Königshaus said the Bundeswehr has no protected vehicles to help soldiers find and dispose of IEDs, and he partially blames bureaucratic footdragging. He said that German troops cannot use allied vehicles because they don't comply with German regulations that say that military vehicles must comply with the safety standards that govern civilian roads at home.
Königshaus said another example is a lack armored ambulances. He said Germany might buy ones based on the ATF Dingo, but bureaucrats have ruled that out because its internal headroom is only 1.5 meters.
Königshaus noted that troops had too little of certain ammunition types for missions and training. The commissioner said that the German G36 assault rifle uses a small-bore ammunition with limited penetrating power and therefore more rounds are needed in combat.
In the July 26 issue of a Bundeswehr magazine, Gen. Volker Wieker, the Bundeswehr's Generalinspekteur, spoke of a temporary shortage of training ammunition and promised more supplies for this year and next.
The military spent 127.6 million euros ($165.2 million) in 2009 and more than 70 million euros so far this year to resolve these issues, Wieker said.
Wieker said Germany is sending most of its new protected vehicles straight to Afghanistan to relieve shortages there, leaving a shortage at home as well. Germany has signed a contract to convert 65 Fuchs armored personnel carriers to the 1A8 standard, a better-armored version. The military also has near-term plans to buy 40 basic systems for the future soldier project and 506 high-precision rifles.
Königshaus said the lack of furniture for protected quarters and camp beds in the German base in Kunduz make German soldiers feel their lives are less important than those of the Afghan civilian population.
Like the lack of equipment in some parts, this complaint is also nothing new.
Defense Secretary Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg first reacted to Königshaus with some harsh comments in media statements last weekend, but eased tensions afterward by saying on German TV that he would be grateful for the recommendations.
Zu Guttenberg said that Defense Ministry channels sometimes move slowly, he said, but allegations have to be checked closely and it was the commissioner's job to bring up painful subjects.
Königshaus also echoed criticisms leveled by by his predecessor, Reinhold Robbe, in a March report to Parliament.
"For our soldiers, it is simply not comprehensible why their fellow citizens pay so less attention and give so little moral support, although they risk their health and lives for German interests and with a mandate of German Bundestag," Robbe said in his report.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4721516&c=EUR&s=LAN
By ALBRECHT MÜLLER
Published: 27 Jul 2010 16:56
Print Print | Print Email
BONN - Germany's parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces criticized the state of German military equipment and training in Afghanistan.
Hellmut Königshaus called the state of gear "simply a drama" - a German phrase connoting a tragedy - "and naturally that's very demotivating for the people," in a July 23 interview with Sächsische Zeitung newspaper.
Königshaus said the Bundeswehr has no protected vehicles to help soldiers find and dispose of IEDs, and he partially blames bureaucratic footdragging. He said that German troops cannot use allied vehicles because they don't comply with German regulations that say that military vehicles must comply with the safety standards that govern civilian roads at home.
Königshaus said another example is a lack armored ambulances. He said Germany might buy ones based on the ATF Dingo, but bureaucrats have ruled that out because its internal headroom is only 1.5 meters.
Königshaus noted that troops had too little of certain ammunition types for missions and training. The commissioner said that the German G36 assault rifle uses a small-bore ammunition with limited penetrating power and therefore more rounds are needed in combat.
In the July 26 issue of a Bundeswehr magazine, Gen. Volker Wieker, the Bundeswehr's Generalinspekteur, spoke of a temporary shortage of training ammunition and promised more supplies for this year and next.
The military spent 127.6 million euros ($165.2 million) in 2009 and more than 70 million euros so far this year to resolve these issues, Wieker said.
Wieker said Germany is sending most of its new protected vehicles straight to Afghanistan to relieve shortages there, leaving a shortage at home as well. Germany has signed a contract to convert 65 Fuchs armored personnel carriers to the 1A8 standard, a better-armored version. The military also has near-term plans to buy 40 basic systems for the future soldier project and 506 high-precision rifles.
Königshaus said the lack of furniture for protected quarters and camp beds in the German base in Kunduz make German soldiers feel their lives are less important than those of the Afghan civilian population.
Like the lack of equipment in some parts, this complaint is also nothing new.
Defense Secretary Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg first reacted to Königshaus with some harsh comments in media statements last weekend, but eased tensions afterward by saying on German TV that he would be grateful for the recommendations.
Zu Guttenberg said that Defense Ministry channels sometimes move slowly, he said, but allegations have to be checked closely and it was the commissioner's job to bring up painful subjects.
Königshaus also echoed criticisms leveled by by his predecessor, Reinhold Robbe, in a March report to Parliament.
"For our soldiers, it is simply not comprehensible why their fellow citizens pay so less attention and give so little moral support, although they risk their health and lives for German interests and with a mandate of German Bundestag," Robbe said in his report.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4721516&c=EUR&s=LAN