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Merkel plan to send German troops to Iraq 'may require law change'
Country's severe constitutional limits on military created to prevent repeat of Nazi crimes may need to be changed to allow major expansion of Iraq mission
Germany is planning to send troops to Iraq in a major break with the military policy it has followed since the end of the Second World War, and one that may even require the country's constitution to be changed, according to reports.
Angela Merkel's government wants to send troops to northern Iraq to help train Kurdish forces fighting in the struggle against Islamic State (Isil). German troops were have served with international forces in Afghanistan, Bosnia and elsewhere, but until now they have only taken part in missions with an international mandate from the UN, or as part of the Nato alliance.
A handful of German military personnel are already in northern Iraq training Kurdish peshmerga fighters in the use of sophisticated weapons, but Mrs Merkel's government wants to send more than 100 troops in a major expansion of the mission, according to Bild newspaper.
Under German law, any military deployment abroad requires parliamentary approval, but this mission may require more than a simple parliamentary vote. The Defence Ministry fears it may require a change in the Basic Law, Germany's constitution, Bild reported quoting an unidentified ministry source.
When West Germany formed a new military for the first time since the end of the Second World War in 1955, the country placed severe constitutional limits on its use in order to prevent any future repeat of the Nazis' crimes.
Although the Bundeswehr's role has expanded and German troops have been serving abroad since 1990, it is believed that under the constitution they may only be permitted to take part in missions with an international mandate, or as part of the Nato alliance.
Lawyers have already raised doubts about the current training mission, and senior ministers are reportedly locked in discussions over whether the new deployment would be constitutional. A change to the Basic Law requires a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag, and a simple majority in the upper house.
The planned deployment comes despite equipment shortages so severe the defense minister, Ursula von der Leyen, has admitted Germany cannot meet all its Nato commitments.
A €70m shipment of arms to Kurdish forces in Iraq caused the German military intense embarrassment in September when it was stuck on the ground for several days because of a series of aircraft breakdowns.
Military trainers heading to Iraq were left stranded in Bulgaria for several days by a combination of another aircraft breakdown and their paperwork not being in order.
An armed forces report submitted to the Bundestag defence committee revealed that only 42 of Germany's 109 Eurofighters are available for immediate use, alongside 38 of its 89 Tornado aircraft.
Only 280 of the army's 406 Marten tanks are operational, alongside 70 of its 180 Boxer armoured personnel carriers.
Ms von der Leyen has led calls for Germany's military to take a more proactive role in the world, but in recent months she has been left struggling to defend the armed forces amid calls for increased spending.
Under a Nato agreement, members are supposed to spend 2 per cent of GDP on defence, but Germany spends just 1.3 per cent.
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Country's severe constitutional limits on military created to prevent repeat of Nazi crimes may need to be changed to allow major expansion of Iraq mission
Germany is planning to send troops to Iraq in a major break with the military policy it has followed since the end of the Second World War, and one that may even require the country's constitution to be changed, according to reports.
Angela Merkel's government wants to send troops to northern Iraq to help train Kurdish forces fighting in the struggle against Islamic State (Isil). German troops were have served with international forces in Afghanistan, Bosnia and elsewhere, but until now they have only taken part in missions with an international mandate from the UN, or as part of the Nato alliance.
A handful of German military personnel are already in northern Iraq training Kurdish peshmerga fighters in the use of sophisticated weapons, but Mrs Merkel's government wants to send more than 100 troops in a major expansion of the mission, according to Bild newspaper.
Under German law, any military deployment abroad requires parliamentary approval, but this mission may require more than a simple parliamentary vote. The Defence Ministry fears it may require a change in the Basic Law, Germany's constitution, Bild reported quoting an unidentified ministry source.
When West Germany formed a new military for the first time since the end of the Second World War in 1955, the country placed severe constitutional limits on its use in order to prevent any future repeat of the Nazis' crimes.
Although the Bundeswehr's role has expanded and German troops have been serving abroad since 1990, it is believed that under the constitution they may only be permitted to take part in missions with an international mandate, or as part of the Nato alliance.
Lawyers have already raised doubts about the current training mission, and senior ministers are reportedly locked in discussions over whether the new deployment would be constitutional. A change to the Basic Law requires a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag, and a simple majority in the upper house.
The planned deployment comes despite equipment shortages so severe the defense minister, Ursula von der Leyen, has admitted Germany cannot meet all its Nato commitments.
A €70m shipment of arms to Kurdish forces in Iraq caused the German military intense embarrassment in September when it was stuck on the ground for several days because of a series of aircraft breakdowns.
Military trainers heading to Iraq were left stranded in Bulgaria for several days by a combination of another aircraft breakdown and their paperwork not being in order.
An armed forces report submitted to the Bundestag defence committee revealed that only 42 of Germany's 109 Eurofighters are available for immediate use, alongside 38 of its 89 Tornado aircraft.
Only 280 of the army's 406 Marten tanks are operational, alongside 70 of its 180 Boxer armoured personnel carriers.
Ms von der Leyen has led calls for Germany's military to take a more proactive role in the world, but in recent months she has been left struggling to defend the armed forces amid calls for increased spending.
Under a Nato agreement, members are supposed to spend 2 per cent of GDP on defence, but Germany spends just 1.3 per cent.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
