Germany debates role of Bundestag in approving arms shipments to Iraq

EurActiv ^ | 22/08/2014 - 08:08 | (EurActiv.de with Reuters)

[Olog-hai]

Iraqi Kurds have welcomed the German government’s expressed willingness to supply weapons in the fight against violent Islamists.

Speaking on Deutschlandfunk radio on Thursday (21 August), Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq Rodsch Schawais said arms assistance should come as quickly as possible.

The Kurdish leader addressed fears that German weapons could end up in the wrong hands or later be used in a possible conflict for an independent Kurdistan. This question is not relevant right now, he said. At the moment it is important to stop the advance of the extremist Islamic State (IS), Schawais explained. […]

But the government’s announcement that it wants to send weapons to Iraq has sparked debate over whether or not the move requires a Bundestag mandate. Under Germany’s Parliamentary Participation Act, military deployment must be preceded by approval from the Bundestag because of the Bundeswehr’s definition as a “parliamentary army”. The question now is whether or not this should apply to weapons shipments as well. …

[tumblindice]

"Deutschlandfunk radio" German strong woman Merkel commented, "Bring on da funk, fo' shizzle. An' I ain't just a woofin'."

[wally_bert]

Crank up the production lines for tiger tanks, king tigers, 88 mm AA, MG 42’s, and STG 44s.

[Olog-hai]

Heh. “Deutschlandfunk radio” is redundant since “funk” is German for “radio”.

[Moltke]

Just going by a general observation of the behaviour of Kurds in Western countries for the past decades, I’d say it’d be foolish to arm them with anything more than a butter knife.

*All* the “cultures” from that region are pretty much alike, no matter what religious affiliation. The obvious exception being Israel.