Too fat to fight
It’s all becoming clear. German troops in Afghanistan won’t fly at night, won’t send troops to help Nato in the volatile south, and are apparently “too fat to fight”. According to The Times today official reports say that the 3,500 troops in northern Afghanistan drink too much and are too fat.
A German parliamentary report has revealed that in 2007 German forces in Afghanistan consumed about 1.7 million pints of beer (485 pints per man) and 90,000 bottles of wine (25 per man). Blimey they’re a bunch of alcoholics. Sounds like life in Kabul for German troops is one big slap my thigh and pour me another.
In comparison British and US bases in the country enforce a strict ban on alcohol. The report also found that 40 per cent of German soldiers aged 18-29 were overweight - more than the civilian population (35 per cent) .
When Barack Obama comes begging to Nato for more troops for Afghanistan to support the troop surge he better bring a diet plan and fitness regime for the Germans. Obama has said as many as 20,000 more US troops could go, but he wants a commitment from allies for more support. Good luck with that.
On that note, and more seriously, chief of the defence staff in the UK, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, has said no more British troops should be sent to Afghanistan unless other countries make greater efforts to promote the economic and political development as fears grow over the lack of ability of Hamid Karzai’s government to impose its will outside the capital.
The Guardian says frustration among British military commanders is coming out into the open, which was reflected in a forthright speech by Sir Jock about any increase to the 8,000 British troops in Afghanistan.
“I’m not saying that we couldn’t or shouldn’t do more in Afghanistan if we judge that to be necessary.”
It has been hinted that Britain could transfer some of its 4,000 troops in Iraq to Afghanistan but is resisting the idea of a one for one swap.
The Daily Telegraph quotes senior defence sources as saying that the defence chief’s comments reflect a belief that the Nato mission to contain the Taliban and stabilise Afghanistan is not making enough progress because of the lack of troops on the ground.
“We do not have enough military force on the ground — it’s as simple as that,” said one source. “We need more than we’ve got now.”
If only you could win this war in the beer halls. It has been pointed out by Nick in the comments that the French are also pretty shoddy as was mentioned in the Summer.
Comments
| 3 December 2008, 11:45 am |
“Twenty-eight German soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001, including two in a suicide bomb attack in Kunduz province last month.”
And all this risk avoidance isn’t even keeping them safe.
| 3 December 2008, 11:45 am |
In comparison British and US bases in the country enforce a strict ban on alcohol.
A ban honored in the breach. The US military are famed for their access to the best dope.
| 3 December 2008, 11:49 am |
Well the ANA are well known for their liking of a smoke during down time as well.
| 3 December 2008, 11:51 am |
I would imagine that any army is likely to have a higher proportion of overweight people than the normal population, since the body mass index (BMI) does not differentiate between weigh due to fat compared to weight due to muscle. I seem to recall that many of the world cup winning England rugby team were classed as obese by the BMI.
Nice to see that I would be an average drinker in the German army though! 9 pints of beer and a half bottle of wine a week!
| 3 December 2008, 11:57 am |
Right so, the Germans fight when they are drunk. Apparently some Afghans fight when they are stoned.
The Brits aren’t being all prissy and spoiling the party are they? ;-)
| 3 December 2008, 12:36 pm |
Benj, I think the issue is that the Germans don’t fight when they are drunk. Or at any other time either.
| 3 December 2008, 12:49 pm |
They’ve still got the best guns though. Shame they don’t use them. Or is it? The last time they did, it was a bit of a headache.
| 3 December 2008, 1:14 pm |
I read that as a sly reference to Galloway’s “poor me, poor me, pour me another” line in Celebrity Big Brother.
| 3 December 2008, 1:55 pm |
I hope the Germans realize how lucky they are. When the Red Army were fighting there in the seventies, they were said to be drinking everything from tank fuel to boot polish.
| 3 December 2008, 2:54 pm |
There is also the German special forces - Kommando Spezial kräfte - KSK (yet another recently formed unit modeled on 22 SAS), who didnt have their own TAOR - (Tactical Area Of Operation) in Afghanistan, but worked alongside US special forces. I understand the KSK, who actually engaged in pro active ‘kinetic operations’ - are now being pulled out.
Chancellor Merkel’s cabinet Tuesday extended Germany’s commitment of troops to Afghanistan even as the defense ministry said it will no longer send elite soldiers to back US-led counterterrorism operations.
Germany’s cabinet on Tuesday, Oct 7, extended the German army’s military presence in Afghanistan by 14 months and also agreed to beef up the mission with an additional 1,000 soldiers in the face of worsening security.
Germany’s lower house of parliament is scheduled to debate the Cabinet decision later in the day.
A vote is not due until mid-October, but the measure is expected easily to pass in the legislature, where Merkel’s broad-based coalition enjoys a secure majority.
The move came a day after the German Defense Ministry confirmed it will no longer make troops from its elite KSK special forces available to support US-led counterterrorism operations in the region called “Operation Enduring Freedom” (OEF).
Don’t forget to rubbish the French too! They only deploy 2,600 Troops in Afghanistan, and they have no commitment to Iraq following their perfidious action in the run-up. They have the second highest military expenditure of any nation after the US.
Most French forces in Afghanistan are rear echelon troops. They are by all accounts distinctly unwilling to do the bread and butter of Infanteering - closing with and killing the enemy, leaving the bulk of this to the Anglosphere troops.
| 3 December 2008, 2:57 pm |
Germany still has national military service, doesn’t it? Does anyone know whether conscripts are sent to Afghanistan or only do they only send troops from the regular, professional army?
If only you could win this war in the beer halls
Or on Decent blogs ….?
| 3 December 2008, 5:49 pm |
One, admittedly minor, point is unclear. You say that more German soldiers are overweight (40%) than the civilian population (35%). I’m assuming you’re referring to the German civilian population. Is that right?
The Afghanis, I suppose, are hardly in a position to overeat. But I just want to be sure; poverty and overweight can go hand-in-hand if the staple foods are high in starch and carbs (viz. Mexico).
| 3 December 2008, 6:33 pm |
Oh, Hindenburg must be spinning in his grave! And Ludendorf! And Rundtstadt, Kesselring, Paulus, (several other names later) Rommel. Fitness fanatics everyone of them!
Where are the bloody Japs when you need them?
| 4 December 2008, 10:39 am |
In a way, I suppose this is a tribute to the post-war reconstruction of Germany as a pacifist democratic nation rather than a militaristic tyranny.
Pity about the French- they used to be seen as top- notch fighters.
Incidentally the “Anglosphere” soldiers who are doing most of the fighting include Canada, US and UK. However, the Dutch are also major contributors doing some serious fighting in Uruzgan province. Among the minor powers, Denmark and Estonia have been keeping the UK company in Helmand while Romania and NOrway have also being doing some serious fighting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Security_Assistance_Force
| 4 December 2008, 1:39 pm |
Boy George is also too fat to fight
| 4 December 2008, 4:54 pm |
“Pity about the French- they used to be seen as top- notch fighters.” – Tzimisces.
Come again?
Write a comment