From my desk thousands of kilometres from Afghanistan, my impression is that the Germans have been crippled by particularly strict Rules of Engagement. I think this is criminal. I have come to believe, mainly from the little I have read of the Germans' experience in Afghanistan, that limp-wristed ROE kill soldiers faster than a gung-ho mentality - not directly, as one might think, but through the crippling effect on morale. I am curious to know how the German soldiers over there feel about this.

As far as I know, this is the Germans' first excursion since WWII, so I don't think anyone should be too judgemental. But just as the Dutch seem to have used this opportunity to rebuild their mojo after the embarrassment of Bosnia, so too I think the Germans should have been given the opportunity to do the same. I feel that you have been let down by your politicians. However, from your post, Leopard, I gather that you have been building up your institutional confidence over there.