What is the average German’s view of this?
Merkel runs a coalition government (her party the CDU, the Bavarian Conseratives (CSU), and the SPD (the Social Democrats)).
Berlin state election is today (Sun), and there are 3 x state elections in the spring. With the German national election in Oct/Nov of 2017. Merkel won’t be running again....she’s hinted that on several occasions. But to be honest, there’s no four-star character from any party, or even her own....that looks that attractive.
To complicate matters...her sister party (the CSU) has said that it’s time to write down a rule that only 200,000 immigrants are to be received per year. She doesn’t like the idea, nor with the SPD agree to it anyway. The CSU has said fine....if you won’t do it...we won’t be part of the future relationship deal in 2017. Without their 9-percent draw nationally...the CDU can’t win.
So, to what the average German thinks? After the sexual assaults of Koln on 31 Dec 2015 (600-plus reports)....all leading back to immigrants (mostly North African). The public shift occurred. Three-quarters of the adult population think that immigration is screwed up. Most Germans have lost confidence in state-run TV news.
This idea of training Syrians for a “future mission” in Syria? The question would be when this might occur? If things looked great for Assad to retake the country within six months, then it might be positive. There’s been a civil war or ISIS war since 2012. As long as someone is funneling support to ISIS and keeping them going....I don’t see a light at the end of this tunnel. Maybe this is just a white-paper project and just a way of looking positive over the mess. Even if the war ends...would Assad agree to some German sponsored “civil rebuilding team”?
Most Syrians that I come in contact with....see this mess as a ten-year episode. The younger Syrians have given up on going back. Syrians over 40 who made it to Germany aren’t that happy because it’s a pretty complex place to adjust to and the language is a big stumbling block. Syrians are more educated than the rest of the rest but due mostly to Assad putting money and assets into certification-training programs and universities.
I think as the bottom line....Germans trust in leadership has been shaken. This whole thing could have been done in a better way and you see the whole Berlin ‘club’ (all parties) as performing dismally. Whatever you see in the US with frustration toward DC and both parties....the same can be said now for Berlin and it’s political system.