Politics German Politics & News

[muck]

An attack with an incendiary device against a combined heat-and-power station in Berlin has left 45,000 homes without power. Several hospitals are now without electricity as well. Police describe the incident as a "terrorist attack". (Source)

There's heavy snowfall in Berlin and sub-zero temperatures, by the way.

Looks like the GRU have found a "throwaway agent" again.

 

[muck]

Well, that's a bit awkward …

Citing investigative research, several newspapers report that Germany's Federal Intelligence Service BND snooped on then-US president Barack Obama's communications in 2013 and 2014. The authors claim the service found a backdoor in Air Force One's communications network and bugged the aircraft, as well as some devices in Obama's possession.

Documents obtained by the authors suggest that BND had no official remit to spy on Obama, who was rather treated as a target of opportunity after the service happened upon AF-1 communications using compromised encryption. The practice was revealed to the German government in 2014 and formally ended by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel, the USA remaining uninformed.

This revelation would've been particularly awkward for her, as her own phone had been bugged by the NSA, a fact revealed by whistleblower Edward Snowden in 2013 much to Merkel's annoyance. (Source)

"Target of opportunity"? Frankly, this looks like retaliation to me.

 

[muck]

An attack with an incendiary device against a combined heat-and-power station in Berlin has left 45,000 homes without power. Several hospitals are now without electricity as well. Police describe the incident as a "terrorist attack". (Source)

There's heavy snowfall in Berlin and sub-zero temperatures, by the way.

Looks like the GRU have found a "throwaway agent" again.

A leftist group has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they attacked the "fossil fuel industry". (Source)

 

[Redav]

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Alles Gut

 

[muck]

@Redav

A bit of background; because for once, migration isn't the actual problem here.

German language proficiency for state employment is proven through a series of tests (dictation, essays, verbal tests) which are now beyond the capacity of most Gen Z recruits, including the majority of autochthonous Germans.

That's because they reflect an education system that doesn't exist any longer.

Each German state has its own education system, and they were all run into the ground collectively over the past 25 years.

The conservatives screwed theirs by streamlining the curriculum to what they believed facilitated a quick entry into the labour market; the progressives ruined theirs with "alternative education" pipe dreams.

The state of Bremen, a leftist mecca, for example, doesn't even require grammar proficiency in elementary schools any longer. The pupils there are to learn to write "by ear", I kid you not.​

As a result, proper handwriting is no longer taught, and most pupils have a drastically reduced vocabulary and limited understanding of written German, which differs from spoken German quite wildly. For example, in spoken German we only use present tense and perfect nowadays; in written German, imperfect and pluperfect are used instead.

Last but not least, German government agencies use a particular jargon often called Chancellery German, which employs a great many words the average person has never even heard.

Hence the mentoring.

 

[NebrHogger]

@Redav

A bit of background; because for once, migration isn't the actual problem here.

German language proficiency for state employment is proven through a series of tests (dictation, essays, verbal tests) which are now beyond the capacity of most Gen Z recruits, including the majority of autochthonous Germans.

That's because they reflect an education system that doesn't exist any longer.

Each German state has its own education system, and they were all run into the ground collectively over the past 25 years.

The conservatives screwed theirs by streamlining the curriculum to what they believed facilitated a quick entry into the labour market; the progressives ruined theirs with "alternative education" pipe dreams.

The state of Bremen, a leftist mecca, for example, doesn't even require grammar proficiency in elementary schools any longer. The pupils there are to learn to write "by ear", I kid you not.​

As a result, proper handwriting is no longer taught, and most pupils have a drastically reduced vocabulary and limited understanding of written German, which differs from spoken German quite wildly. For example, in spoken German we only use present tense and perfect nowadays; in written German, imperfect and pluperfect are used instead.

Last but not least, German government agencies use a particular jargon often called Chancellery German, which employs a great many words the average person has never even heard.

Hence the mentoring.

Similar issues here. When changing an insurance policy, I received a letter from the company stating I had been "excepted". I was quickly on the phone asking why there was an exception to my changes. Turns out it should have read "accepted".

I then asked if literacy wasn't a requirement for employment there. The woman made a couple unkind remarks about younger generations and how the school system just rubber stamped their progression to a diploma.

 

[muck]

The German Army's 26th Parachute Infantry Regiment, stationed at Zweibrücken, has become embroiled in a nasty scandal of drug abuse, sexual assault and Neo-Nazism. (Source) Prosecutors have charged no fewer than 55 of the regiment's 1,800 personnel with misconduct ranging from unsoldierly conduct to felonies. The years-long lack of discipline was only uncovered in the wake of a petition to parliament written by two female soldiers, after a company commander had attempted to stymy an official complaint. The whistleblowers' account has been completely substantiated by the authorities since. Examples of the gross misconduct uncovered:

• rampant cocaine consumption
• possession of child pornography
• a company commander drew a loaded pistol and pointed it to an enlisted soldier's head
• several times, drunk male soldiers tried to force their way into the (occupied) women's showers
• a male soldier exhibited his penis and tried to slap a female soldier with it
• a female soldier was asked: 'if you're killed in action, would you mind if we all F***ed your corpse while it's still warm?'
• a group of paratroopers held a private "costume party" dressed as SA members
• an entire platoon used the Hitler salute as their regular way of greeting each other
• when the victim of the exhibitionist attempted to file an official complaint with her company commander, he disregarded the proper proceedings and arranged a mock court martial with several NCOs to coerce her into silence

When the unspecific news of a scandal broke first, virtually every current or former soldier I know was like: "Oh, it's Zweibrücken again, isn't it?" This regiment has had a really negative reputation for years. The political fallout is massive, especially since Germany is desperately trying to get more young people to enlist. This scandal may well lead to 26th PIR's disbandment in its current form.

Give those two ladies a medal, by the way! Bigger balls than their disgusting "comrades". Unfortunately, they've left the army since.

Understandably so.

 

[Fluff]

The German Army's 26th Parachute Infantry Regiment, stationed at Zweibrücken, has become embroiled in a nasty scandal of drug abuse, sexual assault and Neo-Nazism. (Source) Prosecutors have charged no fewer than 55 of the regiment's 1,800 personnel with misconduct ranging from unsoldierly conduct to felonies. The years-long lack of discipline was only uncovered in the wake of a petition to parliament written by two female soldiers, after a company commander had attempted to stymy an official complaint. The whistleblowers' account has been completely substantiated by the authorities since. Examples of the gross misconduct uncovered:

• rampant cocaine consumption
• possession of child pornography
• a company commander drew a loaded pistol and pointed it to an enlisted soldier's head
• several times, drunk male soldiers tried to force their way into the (occupied) women's showers
• a male soldier exhibited his penis and tried to slap a female soldier with it
• a female soldier was asked: 'if you're killed in action, would you mind if we all F***ed your corpse while it's still warm?'
• a group of paratroopers held a private "costume party" dressed as SA members
• an entire platoon used the Hitler salute as their regular way of greeting each other
• when the victim of the exhibitionist attempted to file an official complaint with her company commander, he disregarded the proper proceedings and arranged a mock court martial with several NCOs to coerce her into silence

When the unspecific news of a scandal broke first, virtually every current or former soldier I know was like: "Oh, it's Zweibrücken again, isn't it?" This regiment has had a really negative reputation for years. The political fallout is massive, especially since Germany is desperately trying to get more young people to enlist. This scandal may well lead to 26th PIR's disbandment.

Give those two ladies a medal, by the way! Bigger balls than their disgusting "comrades". Unfortunately, they've left the army since.

Understandably so.

Sounds like a typical Friday night, in 1990’s raf Germany…..

 

[muck]

Sounds like a typical Friday night, in 1990’s raf Germany…..

I'm happy to say this is not normal behaviour in the German Army.

Or the German Air Force, for that matter.

 

[Fluff]

I'm happy to say this is not normal behaviour in the German Army.

Or the German Air Force, for that matter.

It was a joke!

Lighten up there!

 

[muck]

German humour is no laughing matter.

 

[Jake84]

The German Army's 26th Parachute Infantry Regiment, stationed at Zweibrücken, has become embroiled in a nasty scandal of drug abuse, sexual assault and Neo-Nazism. (Source) Prosecutors have charged no fewer than 55 of the regiment's 1,800 personnel with misconduct ranging from unsoldierly conduct to felonies. The years-long lack of discipline was only uncovered in the wake of a petition to parliament written by two female soldiers, after a company commander had attempted to stymy an official complaint. The whistleblowers' account has been completely substantiated by the authorities since. Examples of the gross misconduct uncovered:

• rampant cocaine consumption
• possession of child pornography
• a company commander drew a loaded pistol and pointed it to an enlisted soldier's head
• several times, drunk male soldiers tried to force their way into the (occupied) women's showers
• a male soldier exhibited his penis and tried to slap a female soldier with it
• a female soldier was asked: 'if you're killed in action, would you mind if we all F***ed your corpse while it's still warm?'
• a group of paratroopers held a private "costume party" dressed as SA members
• an entire platoon used the Hitler salute as their regular way of greeting each other
• when the victim of the exhibitionist attempted to file an official complaint with her company commander, he disregarded the proper proceedings and arranged a mock court martial with several NCOs to coerce her into silence

When the unspecific news of a scandal broke first, virtually every current or former soldier I know was like: "Oh, it's Zweibrücken again, isn't it?" This regiment has had a really negative reputation for years. The political fallout is massive, especially since Germany is desperately trying to get more young people to enlist. This scandal may well lead to 26th PIR's disbandment in its current form.

Give those two ladies a medal, by the way! Bigger balls than their disgusting "comrades". Unfortunately, they've left the army since.

Understandably so.

We had similar cases over the years in Frankreich and the reputation of the Army here, or anywhere else for that matter to be utterly silent (Ruhe!) is an issue and interfere with the justice, when it should be served.

Plenty such cases, one recent was some early 20s soldier that was mentally and physically abused for months leading to his suicide. The French army of course tried to make it some sort of burnout / personal issues case.

Harassment and bullying was always rampant in the army, all around the world. I’m fortunate the slap on my head was the worst happening to me in basic, as others got threatened with being beat up or just were beat up, when the officers weren’t looking anyway…

 

[muck]

Well, I'll concede there is something to be said about the dynamics between bored young men with nothing else to do—or about overzealous superiors with (shall we say) strange work ethics.

Only a year before my turn, the logistics battalion where I did my mandatory service saw its own little scandal when an NCO freshly returned from ISAF thought he was the S**t now and without remit, introduced "torture resistance" to his curriculum as a drill instructor.

That berk ended up tying conscripts to some sort of power source for a bit of electro play.

But as far as Germany is concerned, virtually 90% of all misconduct happens in a handful of units (26th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Special Forces Command, Guard Battalion), and it's really bizarre to see how it's always the same units and garrisons.

The casual homoeroticism of it all always amuses me. Manly man during the day, rainbow-clad warrior at night!

A couple of years ago, a parachute reconnaissance platoon's initiation ritual made national head lines around here: Recruits had a piece of dried fruit shoved up their arse, and then they got spanked with an oar.

Guess where that platoon was based? Exactly, Zweibrücken.

 

[Fluff]

A couple of years ago, a parachute reconnaissance platoon's initiation ritual made national head lines around here: Recruits had a piece of dried fruit shoved up their arse, and then they got spanked with an oar.

Officers!

 

[muck]

The Prime Minister of Sleswick-Holsatia, Daniel Guenther (CDU), has come out in favour of media censorship in Germany. Speaking in a public media talk show, Guenther called "alternative" media platforms like right-wing 'Nius' "our adversaries and enemies of democracy". When the stunned host enquired: "So, do you actually mean to regulate, censor, perhaps even ban them?", Guenther simply replied "Yes." (Source)

His statements drew some criticism from his own party (and from the right-wing AfD, of course), but gained loud approval from the left.

Guenther is so far out there, I never understood why he won't just show his true colours and join a leftist party. Absolutely disgusting.

 

[Mike1976]

Guenther is so far out there, I never understood why he won't just show his true colours and join a leftist party. Absolutely disgusting.

The same with the CDU's Dutch sister party. Leftist policy and Christian in name only.

 

[muck]

The same with the CDU's Dutch sister party. Leftist policy and Christian in name only.

Guenther is a Merkellian. Some survived the purge, I'm afraid.

 

[muck]

On Saturday, Antifa is going to pour onto the streets of Leipzig to protest against … *drumroll please* … Antifa! A group mottoed "Antifa means Free Palestine" has announced they'll rally to do Antifa things, against which a group mottoed "F*** Antisemites" has announced resistance. A civil war is brewing within Antifa in Germany. The police expect considerable outbursts of violence, an entire quarter will be cordoned off, and a thousand cops in riot gear will be deployed to separate the antagonists. (Source)

 

[muck]

The Prime Minister of Sleswick-Holsatia, Daniel Guenther (CDU), has come out in favour of media censorship in Germany. Speaking in a public media talk show, Guenther called "alternative" media platforms like right-wing 'Nius' "our adversaries and enemies of democracy". When the stunned host enquired: "So, do you actually mean to regulate, censor, perhaps even ban them?", Guenther simply replied "Yes." (Source)

Even the left-leaning Journalists' Union DJV is now attacking Guenther.

Titled "DJV appalled by calls for censorship", they write:

"DJV Federal Chairman Mika Beuster sees [Guenther's statement] as a serious encroachment on the constitution, which states: "There shall be no censorship." Any official, such as a state premier, must not disregard the constitution: "Daniel Guenther's annoyance with 'Nius' and others must not lead to censorship or even a ban," says Beuster. The self-governed press council, not the government, is responsible for settling any disputes concerning journalistic integrity."
He should either retract his statement or resign.

 

[Euroamerican]

I’d love to see Antifa destroy itself, both in Germany and in the USA.