… What is now still exceptional – German military deployments –
needs to become more common and needs to become thus more widely accepted,
and this was one of the reasons why I, to the surprise of some in Germany,
tried to find a new language a couple of weeks ago when it came to the
explanation and the descriptions for our military deployments, to find a
language which is blunt, which is clear and which tries to describe what I
think is reality.
And we have had a tendency in German politics all over the party lines
to somehow – let’s call it euphemistically, outbalance our language when
it came, for instance, to Afghanistan and what we are doing there and why we
are doing it and what’s actually happening there. And some were startled
and very surprised that the term war or that the term, actually, the term
war suddenly played a role in public discussion on Germany. But I think
it is necessary that we lead that discussion and it’s necessary that we
also keep in mind what reactions that may cause may be on the legal level
– it’s a soft discussion we are having – and may be on the emotional
level.
For decades, the risk to the safety of our country has been so very real
for us Germany, tangible most, that the change towards the risk management
of today’s security policy is not easy. We are faced with new and
increasingly complex threats and challenges. We have discussed them very
often also at CSIS, and in today’s security environment – and this is a
truism – threats no longer respect borders or geographical distances...
But this is not all. Analysis of future trends, such as the 2008 National
Intelligence Council study, indicate that the West is faced with a
relative decline in power. For Europe, things look even gloomier. It is
said to lose much of its influence and current status. What a lovely
prospective, ladies and gentlemen. On the other hand, new powers emerge
– China and India are just two of them. In recent years, we have
allowed the transatlantic partnership and NATO, its most important forum, to
drift – at least to a certain extent.
And there’s quite some discussion going on right now in Germany whether
the transatlantic partnership and the transatlantic ties still have the same
or even higher relevance than, for instance, the transpacific ties, ladies
and gentlemen. I’m not referring to a trip that is taking place right now,
definitely not. But we all have to be aware that this – that at least this
– those ties are getting stronger. And from a European, from a German
perspective, we not only need to discuss it but also see it as a reason
to foster and strengthen the transatlantic ties. Not to follow them only
with romantic or nostalgic views and tear-driven eyes.
In Europe, during the last couple of years, as you all have followed, to
a certain extent, anti-Americanism grew – accusing the U.S. of
being responsible for many crises around the world, of doing too much, of
not doing enough, or of not doing it right…
It is the first operation that followed an attack on one of the alliance
members. For NATO, this mission is unprecedented in scope, in breadth and
complexity both in civil and the military terms. And this is why visiting
Afghanistan was priority to me. And I wanted to gain another first hand
insight and talk to various actors involved. There are countless pictures of
Kabul and Kunduz in my mind now – pictures of a difficult situation for
both our soldiers and the Afghan people. And, to be very honest, Kabul at
the moment is more fortress than a lively village or city.
And our soldiers are in combat, unfortunately; far from stabilization…
I underline the word, clear aim and, clear benchmarks, and not just
phrases and not just vague impressions, but benchmarks that deserve the name
because we have to struggle in Germany, as in many other countries and
partner nations as well, with the inflationary use of the term “exit
strategy.”
And the question is how we use the word “exit strategy” or whether we
use it? Is exit strategy just off and away or does it actually mean handover
in responsibility? And does it then follow a clear structure and does it
follow a clear strategy as such? …
