July 26, 2006: In response to the crisis in the Middle East, European Union leaders have proposed that an international military force be positioned on the Israeli-Lebanese border, separating Israel from the Hezbollah militia. With the EU apparently willing to commit troops as a portion of the overall contingent, the question arises whether German troops will be sent to the Middle East.

As might be expected, the idea of stationing units of Germany’s postwar army, the "Bundeswehr", on Israel’s border is a touchy subject. While some politicians in Germany have indicated support for German participation in an international peacekeeping force – if Germany were to receive a request for troops – most politicians are cautious. Kerstin Müller, foreign policy expert of the Green Party, told the "Berliner Zeitung" that the weighty historical ballast carried by Germany would prevent its participation. The Central Committee of the Jewish community in Germany has also voiced its opposition to German participation in a peacekeeping force likely to be stationed either directly on Israel’s border with Lebanon or in southern Lebanon.

There may be another reason why there won’t be any German participation in an international military force in the Middle East. German troops are already on duty at several international locations as part of Germany’s commitment to NATO and, more recently, the European Union’s own military command. With the total troop strength of the "Bundeswehr" at about 250,000 men and women, the "Bundeswehr" is currently able to deploy 10,000 troops to foreign locations.

For years after World War II the idea of stationing German troops outside of Germany – other than directly in NATO countries – was unthinkable. With German unification and Germany’s stature in the world community of nations, German political leaders argued that Germany could not deny its responsibility to help with peacekeeping missions. Since 1990 German military personnel have participated in more than a dozen foreign missions, all of which had to be approved by the German Bundestag – a requirement of Germany’s postwar constitution.

Where are German troops currently on duty? Here is a listing of the main foreign assignments for the "Bundeswehr":

• 765 German troops are currently stationed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in neighboring Gabun as part of a UN-EU observer force for this Sunday's elections in the Congo. The observer force will probably be on duty for about four months.
• 880 German troops are on duty in Bosnia-Herzegowina as part of the European Union's peacekeeping force.
• 2910 German soldiers are stationed in Kosovo as part of KFOR, the peacekeeping force authorized by UN Security Council resolution 1244. German troops have been in Kosovo since June 1999.
• 2675 German soldiers serve as part of ISAF in Afghanistan, mainly in the northern part of the country.