Status: 08/25/2021 8:33 a.m.
For many Afghanistan veterans, current images from Kabul are difficult to process. A veterans representative warns of drifting into right-wing groups. And the defense commissioner of the Bundestag calls for more therapy offers.
The chairman of the Association of German Veterans, Bernhard Drescher, warned against radicalization of veteran soldiers in view of the developments in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the Bundeswehr. “The mood among the veterans is terrible,” he told the editorial network Germany (RND).
They would have the feeling that their concerns “have never been of interest”. In view of the pictures from Kabul, the impression now arises that her work will be ruined. After all, one does not withdraw protective forces before everything worth protecting has not been brought to safety, said Drescher. And the helpers of the Bundeswehr, the Afghan local staff, are apparently not considered worthy of protection. The processes would be “highly emotional”.
Drescher warned: “You emotionally lose a group of people who are important to the state.” As a result, right-wing groups such as “Veterans 5 n 12” or the “Veterans Pool” have recently emerged. “I’m worried about how this will develop.”
Defense commissioner: “Follow up mental stress intensively”
In order to absorb the psychological stress of the dramatic scenes and experiences in Afghanistan, the Federal Commissioner for Defense, Eva Högl, calls for more trauma therapies for active soldiers and Afghanistan veterans. “Mental stress, trauma from the mission – that has to be followed up very intensively.” The SPD politician told the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post” newspaper that more and more targeted offers were needed for soldiers so that they could get rid of the terrible experiences.
Högl was impressed by the announcement by Federal Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer that the soldiers would have their backs free and their heads turned for the rescue mission. “That is a backing that I have never heard so clearly from a defense minister,” said the military commissioner. “She obviously links that to her own political fate.”
Högl for armed drones
Högl would like the next federal government to equip the armed forces with armed drones as quickly as possible. They are very important for the security of the soldiers. “This shows a whole series of application scenarios.” It is about the troops’ own protection and the ability to react flexibly to threats.
The Union and the SPD have been arguing for years about the armament of the Bundeswehr Heron TP drones. The SPD party leadership, including Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz, had put the issue on hold in the coalition at the turn of the year. The reason given was that there was still a need for discussion in society on questions of international law, constitutional law and ethical issues relating to the use of drones. Högl does not consider this argument to be sound: “I very much hope that the next Bundestag will not discuss it again for years. The debate has been conducted, all arguments have been exchanged, the matter is ready for a decision.”