Bundeswehr Reform: Operation Accomplished! But is the Patient Dead?
German Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière announced one of the biggest shake-ups in decades for the German military when he presented his plans for the Bundeswehr’s realignment on May 18, writes AICGS Visiting Fellow Mr. Uwe Brinkmann, professor of law at the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr. In his essay, Mr. Brinkmann examines the proposed changes and gives some views on how the reforms could affect Germany’s role within NATO and the transatlantic military alliance in general.
AGI Podcast: German and American Media Reactions to the Killing of Osama bin Laden
In a new AICGS Podcast, John Dickerson of Slate Magazine and Alexander Privitera of N24 discuss with Dr. Jackson Janes German and American media reactions to the death of Osama bin Laden and how they reflect the national views of this incident. Additionally, the discussants examine what this means for Germany’s participation in Afghanistan as well as future allied military engagements.
New AGI Podcast: German Jihad
In this AICGS Podcast, Dr. Guido Steinberg of SWP discusses his new book called “German Jihad” with Dr. Jackson Janes of AICGS and examines why Germany is increasingly becoming a recruitment target for Jihadists and radicals.
AGI Podcast: Germany’s Role in Libya and the Middle East
In a new AICGS Podcast, Member of the Bundestag Dr. Andreas Schockenhoff, deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU-parliamentary group for Foreign Affairs, examines the roles of Germany, NATO, and the EU in dealing with the conflict in Libya and across the greater Middle East-North Africa region. Moderated by Dr. Jackson Janes, Dr. Schockenhoff touches on Turkey’s role in the Middle East, potential Libyan comparisons to Kosovo, and the importance of Egypt in overall regional stability.
Germany, Israel, and the “Special Relationship”
In a new AICGS Podcast, AICGS Fellows Dr. Lily Gardner Feldman and Prof. Dr. Michael Brenner discuss with Dr. Jackson Janes the status of Germany’s “special relationship” with Israel after Chancellor Merkel’s visit and bilateral cabinet meetings, focusing on Germany’s role in the greater Middle East and the importance of interaction at all levels of society.
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Support Our WorkThe Second Face of Barack Obama
Dramatic events like the killing of Osama bin Laden can often change the course of political debate, writes Ambassador John Kornblum, AICGS Trustee and former U.S. Ambassador to Germany. In this case, killing bin Laden has added new luster to the image of President Obama and to the role of the U.S. as the leading world power, and an America battered by economic problems, social unrest, and foreign conflicts will certainly draw strength from Sunday’s SEAL mission. This essay originally appeared in the May 6, 2011, edition of Handelsblatt.
The End of bin Laden: A Chance to Refocus
In this week’s At Issue, Executive Director Dr. Jackson Janes discusses the domestic debates in Germany and the U.S. over the killing of Osama bin Laden and how these debates reflect the national psyches of the transatlantic partners.
Osama bin Laden and America’s Long Journey From 9/11 to 5/1
Kurt Volker, former U.S. ambassador to NATO and a frequent participant in AICGS events, takes a look at the U.S.’ transformation in the ten years since 9/11, showing how the nation has changed its security outlook to finally reach the goal of justice with bin Laden’s killing. Volker argues that while we still have many lessons to learn from those ten years, there might be a light at the end of the long tunnel. This article originally appeared in the May 5, 2011, edition of The Christian Science Monitor.
How Europe Can Get the Germany it Needs
Since the beginning of the euro crisis last year, no solution to the crisis was possible without Germany, write AICGS Non-Resident Senior Fellow Dr. Ulrike Guérot and Mark Leonard, both of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Although Germany has now signaled it will do what it takes to save the euro, much of Europe is worried about the way this will be done; the authors argue that Germany needs to recast its approach to economic governance to avoid the creation of a two-speed Europe and put its economic might at the heart of a push to develop a global Europe.
The Debate Over Libya – Analysis of Germany’s UN Vote Abstention
The debate over the response to the Libyan civil war continues on both sides of the Atlantic and in particular on Germany’s decision to abstain from the UN Security Council …
The Currency of Confidence
In this week’s At Issue, Executive Director Dr. Jackson Janes discusses the declining value of the dollar versus the euro and the implications for both Germany and the United States in maintaining confidence in economic fundamentals at home and abroad.
Libya: The Debate
The debate over the response to the Libyan civil war continues on both sides of the Atlantic and in particular on Germany’s decision to abstain from the UN Security Council vote. In particular, Roger Cohen of The New York Times energized the debate after an op-ed he wrote that criticized Merkel’s leadership and inability to learn lessons from recent history. AICGS has collected several essays and articles which have appeared recently on the debate, including pieces from Dieter Dettke, Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger, Constanze Stelzenmüller, and others.
