Over the past week, there's been several mentions in the German news over the Germany military (the Bundeswehr) lacking cold weather gear and tents....in fact, there are various items which the logistical folks admit.....just aren't there and if the crew were ordered to deploy, it'd be a mess.
If you got back to 1940, and examine the core weakness of the German military in WW II....it fell into the same category. Great plans...poor logistical preparation.
If there ever was some minor conflict to drag NATO into some stand-up of forces, it's mostly all dependent upon the US to deliver. If you told the Germans that some conflict would start in twelve months, then they'd go and spend the money....otherwise, no....they will spend the money on bridges, roads, and infrastructure.
Are the German troops amused by this? Well...if you don't have enough cold weather gear.....you won't be sending that many troops out into winter weather for exercises, and most folks would be happy about that. So maybe out of a four-year period....you only have to participate in one single winter exercise. Some folks would be happy about that.
Added to this discussion is the fact that when you establish a requirement....like a particular type of web belt....well, the Germans have a rule that says the belt really ought to be made within Germany, or at least the EU. So they don't import Chinese-made gear. Cost factor? Well....you tend to pay more for German-made equipment.
The comical thing about this is that when Merkel goes into some meeting with Trump....you can predict that he's going to bring up the two-percent deal, and eyeball this shortage of gear as a problem of commitment. None of this discussion helps bridge this issue.
Hopefully, if there ever is some east-west conflict....it'll start in the spring and end by October.
No comments:
Post a Comment