German Bundeswehr soldier killed in northern Afghanistan | Germany | Deutsche Welle | 18.12.2010 Chancellor Merkel thanks troops on surprise visit to Afghanistan | Germany | Deutsche Welle | 18.12.2010
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQt4fZaAnHny_uoYrWQOk3vkoOwP_ni8L-42ff5o5PsxXZQsSK3 Merkel condemns deadly attack on German aid worker in Afghanistan | World | Deutsche Welle | 25.12.2010 German opposition: support for Afghan military mission hinges on withdrawal | Germany | Deutsche Welle | 26.12.2010
I heard something very similar on newsnight a couple of months back,although it wasnt just flying it was any form of operation. Just adds more to the old story that the germans really are afraid of the dark,the soviets found this one out sharpish. I don't think it is the case of the German military being afraid, it's more like their politicians being afraid of loosing some votes in the next election. Seems to me that to much of the war is being fought on our televisions at home. Monday morning quarter backs.
I'd agree with Rav on this one, casulaties in ones or two's are regretable but you can't make an omelette with breaking eggs unfortunately - Afghanistan in many ways is a bit like Op Storm back in Dhofar in the 1970s - a steady but small stream of casualties but the difference is that Storm was a secret mission that the British public were unaware of - todays operations are carried out in the glare of the media spotlight and Wikileaks and most Commanding Officers have to do as much PR for the media as they do soldiering, I sometimes wonder if Cassino or Falaise had been on the TV news in colour what the political rexations would have been
But the casualties in Dhofar were a fraction of Afghanistans. I well remember the sitreps coming through on some night shifts in the various comcens I served in. A tough little war, a secret war to the public, but as serving folk, we knew of it and there were still a lot of us back then.
