Draft Notice

Not only Alsace-Lorraine but all France and all Europe
as well as the whole world will belong to us
--Heinrich Heine

What does right matter to me? I have no need of it …
I have the right to do what I have the power to do
--Max Stirner

Must culture build its cathedrals upon hills of corpses,
seas of tears, and the death rattle of the vanquished?
Yes, it must
--Franz Felix Kuhn

Germany is the centre of God’s plans for the World
--Max Lehmann
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Germany is considering reducing the Bundeswehr, in addition to eliminating mandatory civil service for conscientious objectors mandatory conscription in general, beginning in mid-2011. While it is unlikely to happen, the consideration is worthy of note (Germany Weighs the Elimination of Conscription).

German Defense Minister Guttenberg's cost savings measure would reduce the current force from 252,000 soldiers to around 165,000. Why would a strategic member of the Western world cut their military, while the U.S, continues to see enemies under every grain of sand? Are the U.S. and Germany occupying two different realities? Why doesn't the U.S. constrict its forces? If Germany can do it, why not the U.S.?

The economic expediency of reducing military spending is evident to the German authorities, but seems to escape the notice of the U.S. administration. For the war apologists, the mantra is that the credit crunch landed us in our current economic straits. While that is certainly a big part of the picture, that does not excuse the current senseless military outlay. Because the patient is bleeding does not eliminate the need to treat his shock, as well.

As much as the Germans enjoy their militarism, they appreciate a robust economy even more, for now.