Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09BERLIN1471, GERMANY AND BUNDESWEHR TRANSFORMATION: COMMITTED

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09BERLIN1471.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09BERLIN1471 2009-11-18 15:44 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Berlin
VZCZCXRO1667
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHRL #1471/01 3221544
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181544Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5832
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDRUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BERLIN 001471 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MOPS PREL MARR NATO EUN GM
SUBJECT: GERMANY AND BUNDESWEHR TRANSFORMATION: COMMITTED 
TO AN EXPEDITIONARY POSTURE BUT STRUGGLING WITH KEY 
DEFICIENCES 
 
BERLIN 00001471  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY.  DefMin Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg in his 
first speech to the new Bundestag on November 10 emphasized 
that the Bundeswehr must be "sleeker, even more efficient, 
and even more focused on out-of-area operations," indicating 
that the new MOD remains committed to developing a more 
mobile and expeditionary force.  However, the switch from a 
defensive military to an expeditionary force already has been 
in planning since 2004 when Bundeswehr Inspector General 
Schneiderhan kicked off Bundeswehr transformation.  The 
specific priorities highlighted in the 2006 White Book 
(strategic air-lift, reconnaissance, and attention to front 
line equipment and communications) remain unachieved, 
indicating that the new defense minister has a long road 
ahead of him.  END SUMMARY. 
 
CHALLENGES TO A MODERN BUNDESWEHR 
 
2. (SBU) Unnoticed by the German public, Bundeswehr 
transformation entered its sixth year in 2009.  While DefMin 
Jung mainly executed reforms that were initiated by his 
predecessors, DefMin zu Guttenberg will have to refine the 
course of the Bundeswehr,s transformation.  Multiple 
contacts identify Germany,s lack of strategic air lift as 
the biggest limitation on the Bundeswehr and its increased 
participation in deployments.  To meet this need in the short 
term, the Bundeswehr in 2004 joined the Strategic Air Lift 
Interim Solution (SALIS) project.  The SALIS project charters 
six Russian and Ukrainian Antonov An-124-100 transport 
aircraft to transport equipment to out-of-area deployments, 
including Afghanistan.  Although envisioned as a stop-gap 
solution, the SALIS project remains in use due to delays in 
delivery of the new A400M strategic transport aircraft. 
Without further delays, delivery should occur in 2012. 
 
3. (SBU) The lack of reconnaissance capabilities also 
restricts the Bundeswehr,s ability to function during 
deployments.  This lack is especially apparent in 
Afghanistan, according to Colonel Olaf von Roeder, Deputy 
Head of the Bundeswehr Transformation Center.  However, the 
Bundeswehr is addressing the reconnaissance gap through 
recent procurements.  Since 2000, the Bundeswehr has operated 
the LUNA drone, a light weight, medium-range reconnaissance 
system, which was brought to Afghanistan in 2005.  Earlier 
this year, the Bundeswehr also deployed to Afghanistan a new 
mini-UAV, the KZO (Kleinfluggert Ziel Ortung), which allows 
for precise target acquisition.  On October 29, the MOD 
announced that the Bundeswehr,s Tornado reconnaissance 
aircraft now have the capability to provide live, "real time" 
imagery by replacing the old photo film system with an 
electronic version. 
 
4. (SBU) The lack of defensive armor on some units and the 
inability to operate in severe climates also limits 
Bundeswehr effectiveness in deployments such as Afghanistan. 
Many German helicopters do not have any defensive armor, 
according to Von Roeder, and the helicopters are ill-suited 
for the Afghan climate.  According to Sascha Lange of the 
German Institute for International and Security Affairs 
(SWP), German helicopters, engines are not designed to 
operate in hot weather, high altitudes, and dusty 
environments.   Of the 80 CH-53s that Germany has in its 
inventory, only 22 have been upgraded to the more advanced GS 
version (equipped with armor and electronic warfare) with an 
additional six helicopters to be similarly upgraded next 
year.  Only by 2014 will an additional 40 CH-53s be upgraded 
to the GA version, with improved avionics but no additional 
armor.  The Bundeswehr has ordered 80 armored Tiger 
helicopters from EADS Eurokopter, but they will be equipped 
with the PARS-3 anti-tank missile system, which makes them 
less than ideal for the counterinsurgency mission in 
Afghanistan.  Moreover, the Tiger's delivery has been delayed 
an indeterminate amount of time due to problems with the 
accompanying radar. 
 
5. (SBU) The Bundeswehr recognizes the problems surrounding 
communications, but still lacks a unified system for the 
various services.  Currently, the Army,s communication 
system cannot be integrated with the communication systems of 
other military branches.  Additionally, conscription may 
serve as an growing obstacle to Bundeswehr transformation, 
given that conscripted soldiers are not allowed to be 
deployed for missions abroad, unless they volunteer to do so. 
 Although the MOD's official line is that there is "no 
problem" squaring the older system of conscription with 
Bundeswehr transformation, some Bundeswehr officers openly 
argue that moving to an all-volunteer force would give 
Germany a much more efficient and effective military 
 
BERLIN 00001471  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
structure and enable it to deploy units abroad much more 
easily, in contrast to the current system of putting together 
ad hoc forces to serve on international missions.  Moreover, 
the new coalition government's pledge to decrease mandatory 
service from nine months to just six calls into question 
whether a conscripted soldier will be able to perform any 
meaningful military tasks during the mandatory service 
period. 
 
LOOKING AHEAD 
 
6. (SBU) The financial crisis likely will impact the MOD 
budget in the near future.  Many experts expect the overall 
federal budget, and the defense budget in particular, to be 
affected by the current budget deficit of 86 billion euros. 
While it remains unclear whether this would be all covered by 
spending cuts, the MOD's 31 billion Euro budget -- Germany's 
third largest budget item -- is a likely to be trimmed or at 
least face a stagnant future.  Germany already spends just 
1.3 percent of its GDP on defense, far below the NATO goal of 
2 percent.  The unlikelihood of budget increases may cause 
the new defense minister to view the Bundeswehr,s current 
configuration of manpower and equipment as unsustainable, 
forcing a significant trimming of the military,s structure, 
according to SWP analyst Lange.  Moreover, the MOD already 
has allocated the procurement budget until 2015 on large 
ticket items like the Puma infantry fighting vehicle, the 
Boxer armored transport vehicle, and the A400M, limiting 
future discretion in procurement.  On top of that, Lange 
reports that the Bundeswehr remains behind schedule in its 
attempt to reduce its civilian work force to 75,000 employees 
by 2010. 
 
7. (SBU) The Bundeswehr still faces bureaucratic 
inefficiencies, which have become more apparent following the 
Balkan and Afghan deployments.  The Afghanistan experience 
especially, according to Von Roeder, has shown that the 
Bundeswehr,s distinction among stabilization forces 
(70,000), support (147,500) and combat forces (35,000) is no 
longer applicable.  This argument likely will continue to 
have traction with the new government as the CDU/CSU already 
identifies the combat-support distinction as a potentially 
outdated concept.  Former CDU/CSU Defense Policy Spokesman 
Bernd Siebert expects the new government to reassess which 
capabilities/services the Bundeswehr actually needs and 
whether some services could be provided in a better way by 
other government agencies or "non-state partners." 
MURPHY