Military operation in Afghanistan

This evening on German television there was a discussion on the role the German Army is playing in Afghanistan.

It was sensational. In a follow-up debate the wife of a German soldier, who had served in Kosovo and Afghanistan, told the story of her husband's post traumatic stress.

Defence Minister Thomas de Maziere was also on the programme. The Minister agreed that the Army was in a learning curve and things were getting better in the care of returning soldiers.

Another panelist, Juergen Todenhoefer, was of the view that the operation was from beginning to end a disaster. He argued that the Germans are there simply and only to support their US partners.

Also on the programme was the Catholic bishop of Essen, Overbeck, who is also Bundeswehr bishop.