Bundeswehr in Afghanistan "too fat to fight"

[Panzerbear]

Haha are they serious???

They drink too much and they're too fat to fight, that's the damning conclusion of German parliamentary reports into the country's 3,500 troops stationed in Afghanistan.

...

The statistics only add to the embarrassment of the country's federal army, Bundeswehr, after a report earlier this year found troops to be too fat, smoked too much and didn't exercise enough.

It showed they lived on beer and sausages while shunning fruit and vegetables.

The parliamentary report claimed that some 40 per cent of all German army personnel are overweight - a higher percentage than in the civilian population.

At the time Reinhold Robbe, the parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces, stated: 'Plainly put, the soldiers are too fat, exercise too little, and take little care of their diet.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worl...-boys-dry.html

[shadyrome]

and i thought,these's can things only happen in america

[Ragabash]

Dailymail. :

[Carach]

Dailymail. :

doesnt mean its all lies

[Panzerbear]

, I think *I* should switch to "beer and brats" kind of diet.

[Markas]

From The Times:

German Tornado aircraft are limited to unarmed reconaissance

German Medevac helicopters have to be back at base by dusk

German forces limited to the northern areas of the country where there is a lower level of fighting (though the level of fighting there is now beginning to change)

US forces have been very frustrated by the caution of German rules of engagement - German troops operating alongside US forces have refused to open fire on occasion for fear of causing civilian casualties.

A trial is currently underway in the German courts following an incident in which German soldiers opened fire on a car that approached a checkpoint believing it contained a suicide bomb - several civilians died in the incident

Their helicopters have to be back by bed-time...no wonder their eating and drinking so much their self-esteem must be at a low ebb.

[Samuel Adams]

From The Times:


US forces have been very frustrated by the caution of German rules of engagement - German troops operating alongside US forces have refused to open fire on occasion for fear of causing civilian casualties.

A trial is currently underway in the German courts following an incident in which German soldiers opened fire on a car that approached a checkpoint believing it contained a suicide bomb - several civilians died in the incident

Their helicopters have to be back by bed-time...no wonder their eating and drinking so much their self-esteem must be at a low ebb.

Wow and Wow. The notion of not wanting to cause civilian casualties and in return the fear of a few bad people escaping is sick. Psh, these guys should hang out with TJ and Ben Franklin... who thinks this way?!

And actually causing civilian casualties? It's a good thing no other armed force in the region causes civilian casualties. That would be horrible.

Take any kid into Toys R Us, and tell him to decide between a pop gun and a violent video game for Christmas. Which do you think he'll choose?

The overt toys are becoming taboo, but "kids today" (makes me feel so old, saying that) have a much higher imaginary body count than I could ever attain as a young punk, waving around my gun-shaped stick in the woods.

That said, I probably did draw more actual blood than most "kids today".

lol I agree. with all of it. But, I have to say, I'm also tougher than most guys twice my size thanks to the hard knocks I got with my brothers playing Civil War in the yard or sniper in the trees. Or the random fistfights... erm...

[Lord Feloric's Ambassador]

This is a bit shameful. A good commander keeps his troops in shape and ready for battle.

[Rapax]

Yeah that is a bit shameful, but combat troops are actually the minority of German soldiers in Afghanistan. There's a lot of specialists there and a smaller portion for patrolling and base security. 40% overweight has to be taken for the entire Armed Forces. I know from personal experience that the combat troops stay fit, though they do like their beer (after duty).

[Fianóglach]

Too fat to fight? No.

German Government too cautious to fight? Yep.

Rapax has got it right, the majority of Germans in Afghanistan are support roles, not combat. ANd anybody who is fat, and is in sustained combat will drop pounds quickly. I went from 280 to 220 in 4 months!

[Visna]

Then it's a good thing they don't do much fighting (if any, someone might know more about that). It's a bit shameful, but on the other hand it would be a major PR scoop for the Taliban if some Germans killed civilians. So, with the German history in mind it's perhaps for the best.

[Zephyrus]

Then it's a good thing they don't do much fighting (if any, someone might know more about that). It's a bit shameful, but on the other hand it would be a major PR scoop for the Taliban if some Germans killed civilians. So, with the German history in mind it's perhaps for the best.

If the germans weren't so pussyfooted about their history, they might actually get some respect from people. The wehrmacht were the fiercest fighting forces in WW2, and they stood against alot of allied powers. Sure, they took orders from hitler but lets understand something: warfare is ugly. And I'm not even german or like germany, but even I had to give some props to their tactics against the allied forces. If they hadn't massacred the jews, they would have been percieved as a worthy opponent instead of reviled. So plz do try harder to stop the self-historical abuse plz!

[Nikos]

Wow, well what do you expect the Bunduswehr to do? They can't fight. They just lay around all day.

Maximus-"How are the men?"

Servant-"Fat and bored."

[Gauvin]

Even fatties can fight, it's laziness and lack of political will that's the problem. Beer and sausage don't help though......

Hilarious article though, hahaha.

[Icefrisco]

Does it really matter? Germany doesn't even have many troops in Afghanistan and those that are there don't even fight much. They make their allies fight the war instead....

[Rapax]

Does it really matter? Germany doesn't even have many troops in Afghanistan and those that are there don't even fight much. They make their allies fight the war instead....

Ok, once again, third biggest troop contributor and responsible for the North.

[mrmouth]

Whats really amazing is that the recent piracy off Somalia, and not A-stan, might be the tipping point for an amendment that would allow the Bundeswehr to undertake offensive operations.

Whether it would be a simple mandate to the Navy, that is planning to deploy to protect Germany's interests, or an actual amendment that would change the constitution after the whole Nazi thing, is yet to be known. Im hoping for the latter obviously.

Germany has much to offer. If they did away with the absurd ROE in A-stan, that even handcuff their SF, that would be great for all involved.

I mean you think that at least, one of the elite CT units in the world would not be handcuffed by those ROE...

[Exarch]

germans need to GTFO of afghanistan
we dont want their precious little lives gettign lost now do we?
yes, what's that private sugarplum?

[Kiljan Arslan]

yeah trust the Daily Heil.

[metenojo]

Since 45 the Germans dont count as a militar force,the Germans are tosoft to look or act like warriors,as the most part of europeans,god protect us from any war without the USA.