The German Defense White Paper
By Stephen Szabo

For a look at some other assessments of the White Paper, see the following collection assembled by Professor Szabo's research assistant, Tyson Barker, a SAIS student.

DEUTSCHE AUSSENPOLITIK (GERMANY): In his piece in Deutsche Aussenpolitik, Marco Overhaus welcomes the transformation of the Bundeswehr from a territorial to an expeditionary military. While this is a generally positive critique of the new Defense White Paper, he does note that critiques have been quick to point out the "fluffiness" of the document, a product of compromise policy culture of the Grand Coalition. He lauds the fact that the document places centrality on so-called asymmetric threats. He does believe that the White Paper falls short in defining "German national interests" in a way that could guide policy but believes that the notion of "networked security" -- however, controversial its practical implementation may become -- provides a sound theoretical.

THE NEW YORK TIMES (Subscription required - Oct. 24, 2006): Written before the publication of the White Paper, this article states that the policy should be a reflection of Germany's growing confidence in itself as an international political actor. The article repeatedly emphasizes Germany's renewed commitment to NATO and seems to place the centrality of the document on Germany's continued commitment to the American role in assuring European security. It also talks about a so-called "special relationship with France." The article also quotes critics of the White Paper who say that it is too compromising and "lacks courage."

THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE (AP) (Oct. 25, 2006): This brief article tracks the gradual movement of Germany from aversion to acceptance of foreign military deployments, starting with Kohl's allowance of the use of German military medics in a UN mission to Cambodia in 1992. This article also noted that the White Paper does not give room for further reductions in defense spending.

LE FIGARO (Oct. 25, 2006): Le Figaro opens its article on the White Paper with the declaration of an "emancipated Bundeswehr." The article places the emphasis on the need to amend the German constitution in order to give the Bundeswehr a role in the fight against terrorism. The article points to the return of traditional domestic cleavages between the SPD and CDU on the usage of the Bundeswehr as a deployable force for domestic security. During the World Cup, Schauble called for the deployment of the Bundeswehr in event cities. The SPD opposed this.

LE MONDE and RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONAL: Both couch their coverage of the publication of the White Paper in renewed domestic (German) doubts about the prudence of German foreign military engagement in the wake of the publication of the Afghanistan skull photos.

NPR (Nov. 20, 2006): This report points out a widening gap between deployment fatigue and embarrassment on the part of the German public and the increasing willingness of the German political elite to participate in international peace keeping missions.

THE GUARDIAN (Oct. 26, 2006): This article too links the release of the White Paper with the release of the skull photos. This article places the emphasis on Germany's desire to raise the number of deployable troops to 14000. There are currently 9000 German troops stationed abroad.