http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7657051.stm

The Berlin government has extended the mandate of Germany's military mission in Afghanistan for 14 months and agreed to deploy an extra 1,000 troops there.

The decision would keep German troops in Afghanistan until December 2009, boosting their number to 4,500.

The move requires approval by the lower house of parliament, which was due to debate the issue later on Tuesday.

Germany is currently the third biggest contributor to the 47,000 Nato-led force in Afghanistan.

Ahead of the debate in the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that it was "not very responsible to wave exit dates around".

Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing coalition has a majority in the Bundestag, which is expected to vote on the deployment issue next week.

Germany currently has 3,500 soldiers in Afghanistan, who are stationed in the relatively calm northern regions of the country.
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Just wish they'd send their soldaten to the South, where they are needed.

Germany currently has 3,500 soldiers in Afghanistan, who are stationed in the relatively calm northern regions of the country.

Then what good are they doing?

I'd like to say again that the Guam Army National Guard has 1,200 troops in the thick of it doing 'Force Protection' in Afghanistan. My neighbor has been there nearly a year and his unit has had it's share of fire fights and taken casualtites...some KIA. My Brah is re'uppin for another tour come December. He's the heavy weapons and dismounted squad SAW firepower.

This 1,200 Troops come from an Island population of about 150,000 which includes the Island's Military stationed here.

That 150,000 is about the population of Midland/Odessa Texas.

A tad bit disproportional but they have my thanks and respect.

I spoke with the local VA Rep. a couple weeks ago when I picked up the waiver for my truck tags indicating 'Guam Army VETERAN'. Humbly greatful for the recogination and respect.

They have a Military 'Hero's' Cemetery up at Piti...Troops there from back during the Liberation through today's actions...and I was told they would welcome me there...and my folks...free of charge. Military Honor Guard and the whole bit. 'First come first served'.
I told them much thanks and that 'I could wait my turn.'

German soldiers in Afghanistan find it is thirsty work
If the German defence ministry's figures are anything to go by, being a soldier in Afghanistan is clearly thirsty work.

According to military sources, around 1m litres (1.8m pints) of beer were shipped to German troops stationed in Afghanistan last year, as well as almost 70,000 litres of wine and sekt, a German sparkling wine.

The admission has shocked a country that has never had much time for the Afghan mission. Newspaper reports under headlines such as Drink for the Fatherland and Bundeswehr Boozers have suggested that alcohol is the only way of keeping soldiers onside at a time when it is becoming ever harder to recruit them.

The figures suggest that the 3,600 German soldiers based in Afghanistan as part of Nato's ISAF reconstruction mission, are each consuming around 278 litres of beer a year each, about 490 pints, as well as 128 standard measures of wine. The figures are set to rise by around 10% this year as troop numbers also increase.

Critics of the mission who have long-argued that Germany should extend its mandate to the dangerous areas in the south of Afghanistan from the relatively safe north, say the admission harms German claims that it is taking a professional approach to the job.

US troops face an alcohol ban when on mission while British and other armies are allowed to drink moderately when not on duty. This discrepancy led to the claim made at a Nato conference on Afghanistan that "some drink beer while others risk their lives."

thegunny:

I'll drink to that...

Ich auch!

The Germans in general have a positive and prominent attitude towards a time of day they call 'Feierabend'. The US equivalent roughly is 'Miller's time' or 'happy hour'. It is the time of the day when work is done and it is time to relax. In Germany that is much more connected with alcohol than in the US (I am not sure about that!) as everything in Germany that has to do with feasting, fests and celebration is in some way connected with beer, wine and drink and is accepted /expected. One cannot escape that situation in Germany. Because German soldiers in Afghanistan are a direct reflection of German society at large, it is no surprise that they (perhaps!)consume more alcohol than other NATO forces. But believe me, they are not less professionnel than their NATO buddies because of that. Feierabend and duty are strictly separated in the German Army. Statistically there are larger beer/booze consumers in Europe than the Germans: Belgians, Czechs and Russians. The latter are claimed to be born with a special liver.

quote:

The latter are claimed to be born with a special liver.

HA! Yes, that HAS to be true!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5277034.ece This another article about the Germany Military in Afghanistan.

FYI:

Canuck soldiers in the 'stan are allowed 2 beers a month.. though, the government is considering a special one-time only Christmas ' leniency' to allow for 4 beers and a shot of liquor for the festive season.

Rocketeer I remember back in the late 50s when I went onboard a British Cruiser the HMS Belfast for evening chow I was pretty much wasted from their Rum rations when I left.I think that was the only liquid on the chow table.