Bad enough: Rumors, disinformation and simple errors often play a major role in political debate. It is often the intent of a lobbyist that distorts the facts. In addition to the malice, there is the gullibility of ordinary MPs who have little or no staff at their disposal.
However, a Federal Chancellor is expected to ensure that all information on which relevant decisions are based can withstand scrutiny. Especially when it comes to questions of life and death. The head of government is also the holder of directive authority, to whom around 620 employees in the Federal Chancellery alone report directly.
Clarification is necessary. A search for clues in six steps.
1. What exactly is it about?
The war in Ukraine increasingly shows the superiority of the Russian army. The generals are constantly throwing new people and new material into the battle and Ukraine has so far failed to disrupt the Russian supply routes. Every two rounds of artillery from the Ukrainians are followed by eight rounds from the Russians, which is not only due to increased production but also a smooth supply chain.
The Taurus weapon system can attack the supply depots or destroy them completely. The Ukrainian government first asked for the delivery in May last year.
This is a cruise missile that is launched from a fighter aircraft and can fly 500 kilometers. “Taurus finds and destroys its target independently,” says the Bundeswehr in a YouTube video about the weapon. The destructive power is provided by a 400 kilogram “metal penetrator” filled with explosives.
Brigadier General (ret.) Klaus Wittmann is convinced of the effectiveness of this weapon system:
“The Taurus cruise missile plays a crucial role. With a range of 500 kilometers, it can significantly degrade and disrupt Russian command and logistics capability from a safe distance behind the Russian front.”
2. What exactly did Scholz say?
“What the British and French are doing in terms of target control and the accompaniment of target control cannot be done in Germany. Everyone who has dealt with this system knows that.”
What he means by that: Bundeswehr soldiers would have to take over the programming and would thus make Germany a participant in the war. Scholz therefore said reproachfully:
“I’m surprised that some people aren’t moved at all, that they don’t even think about whether what we’re doing could, in a sense, lead to participation in the war.”
3. Is Olaf Scholz right about that?
The Chancellor is wrong. Technically, it would be possible to train Ukrainian soldiers on the Taurus system and let them operate it themselves. So you could choose your own targets and press the shoot button. The same system is currently being used in South Korea without German Bundeswehr support.
Scholz’s reasoning is technically incorrect. His motive, and he tried to camouflage it using technology, is political. Apparently he lacks the confidence to hand over this “most modern missile in the air force,” as the Bundeswehr calls the Taurus cruise missile, to the Ukrainian president and his army. The German soldiers that the Chancellor is talking about should not provide technical assistance, but rather keep an eye on Ukraine.
4. What does the manufacturer of the Taurus system say?
The Taurus manufacturer does not want to publicly comment on the technical details of the system. However, we hear that operating the cruise missile is not rocket science. It can be learned by soldiers from all over the world, which makes it a potential export hit. The cruise missiles are produced by Taurus Systems GmbH, which is based in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria.
5. What is Scholz’s actual motive?
The Chancellor has been afraid of Putin since the first day of the Ukraine war and does not want to meet him on the battlefield. Ukraine’s original decision to deliver 5,000 helmets two days after the Russian invasion was exactly on the line that Scholz has since only abandoned in millimeters and only because of international pressure.
Even back then, this delivery to Ukraine caused astonishment. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko summed it up:
“5000 helmets is an absolute joke. What does Germany want to send next for support? Pillow?”
6. How do the Chancellor’s domestic political friends and opponents react to the false pretenses?
For the Union, the Chancellor’s false assertion of facts was a step in the right direction. Norbert Röttgen, the opposition’s foreign policy spokesman:
“The Chancellor’s statements about Taurus are also irresponsible with regard to France and Great Britain. Both states supply Ukraine with cruise missiles. Scholz has lost control of his arguments and is snubbing our closest allies.”
But there are also rumblings within the traffic light coalition. Anton Hofreiter told The Pioneer about the Chancellor’s claims:
„ This is wrong.”
The chairwoman of the Defense Committee – Marie Agnes Strack-Zimmermann from the FDP – also made it clear:
“German soldiers are NOT needed on Ukrainian soil for Taurus. The Chancellor’s claim is false. “
Conclusion: For a Chancellor who feels committed to the fight against fake news and for clean, democratic morals, the careless handling of the truth is no trivial offense. You have to be a humorous aphorist like Oliver Hassencamp to find something positive about the events:
“Whoever lies has at least thought the truth.”
Also read Gabor Steingart’s guest article on Donald Trump’s possible re-election as President of the United States of America. A scenario that is certainly conceivable again and will bring with it many upheavals. The author highlights the five most important changes.