"If you decide to do something, either do it 100% or not at all." <- Old german credo.

Things are changing, however. In less then 15 years this country will have changed quite remarkebly. Lots of stuff going on on a psychological level in Germany, especially related to WW2 and all the history related to Germany before this event. Polititians and the media now refer to killed Soldiers as "gefallen" instead declaring them victims in some kind of accident. The word "Krieg" in reference to Afghanistan is finally acknowledged. And when I watch the youth and listen to their stances, then you have a kinda agressive crowd who is completly fed up with anything WW2 related and not in any way sensitive anymore. Not to forget the military's continuing effort to get the Iron Cross reinstatet.

Interesting times ahead, let's see where all this goes.

Re the GSG-9 incident. Pulling them back was the right thing to do if the situation was too risky. I rather blame the press for making this such a huge story despite the lack of scandal potential. It endangers both the victims and the policemen for no gain but headlines.

No, but that is an age at which they are receptive for Nazi propaganda. Neo Nazis are targeting schools directly to spread their pamphlets and especially racist music.
You've got the choice:
1. Teach them at an early age, or
2. Let the Neo Nazis teach them their view of things.

Don't get me wrong, there are no hordes of skinheads besieging our schools here but schools have become a prime target for Nazis to appear from time to time and give away CDs with racist music for free.

Die Welt reports today that the commander of the GSG-9 was not giving his Go, becasue it weas unknown where under deck, in what rooms, the hostages are being held. Two weeks earlier, Die Welt says, the newspaper learned about the sending of GSG9-unis to Africa, but the government asked it to withhold the information and not to publish it. die Welt followed that request.

They also report today that the decising signal to call off the mission came from the Americans, with a close security adviser to Obama showing up and pulling back the USS Boxer from where the Germans were operating. It is unknown why the amerirans decided that way. Theories include that they monitored internal German communications both on military and political level and noticed maybe differing assessements of the various german authorities and offices, or that they wanted to avoid being pulled into a faling bloodbath right when Obama was marking his 100th day in office.

Schäuble and Steinmeier may have been united in their detemrination, nevertheless this event shows that too many cooks spoil the brew, the there are too many offices guarding their powers jealously (an old problem esoecially of Germany's various secret services, plus interferences by chnaging competences on federal levels), and that Germany's logistic capacities are insufficient to run such operations independantly. - We did not have to wait long for the pirate's reaction: another German freighter has been hijacked by pirates yesterday.

agreed.