Why Germany may not send more troops or send them to the south.

US and Canadian politicians probably don't care two hoots about the fate of German politicians but almost all politicians are anxious to keep their seats. With a less than thirty per cent support for even the ISAF mission German politicians are not likely to send more troops or send them where there will be more casualties. If they do thne they risk becoming casualties themselves next election. This is from World Politics Review.

The German parliament recently renewed the "mandates" authorizing the German Bundeswehr to continue military operations in Afghanistan. On Oct. 12, the legislators voted to approve Germany's continued military participation in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF). On Nov. 15, the Bundestag extended by one-year the authorization permitting Germany's elite special forces unit, the Kommando Spezialkräfte, to participate in the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan, which also involves German naval patrols off the Horn of Africa.The OEF deployment, which focuses on counterterrorism, has proven more controversial among Germans than supporting the ISAF, which is often depicted as a humanitarian and civil reconstruction mission. Nevertheless, neither operation is especially popular given that over two dozen Bundeswehr personnel have died in Afghanistan and others have been held hostage there. According to a recent newspaper poll, only 29 percent of Germans favor continuing the ISAF deployment.