Kommentar: Deutsche Geheimdienste sind Weltklasse? Die Fakten sagen etwas anderes
Ausländische Dienste warnten zuletzt mehrfach vor Anschlägen in Deutschland – nicht BND oder Verfassungsschutz selbst. Es ist längst Zeit für einen Realitätscheck.
Deutsche Geheimdienste, including the BND and Verfassungsschutz, are not as advanced as claimed, according to recent facts. BND Chief Martin Jäger has warned of a potential violent conflict with Russia, and a homemade drone filled with explosives was found next to a Ukrainian cargo plane in Leipzig. The German government blamed Russia, but Moscow denied the claim.
In Munich, suspects were said to have thrown incendiary devices at an arms company, and the state must detect such attacks before they escalate into acts of terrorism. When considered alongside warnings from foreign partners, such as the British MI5 and Israeli Mossad, the assertion that German intelligence services are on par with them appears highly unrealistic.
The chancellor's statement, then, seems quite out of touch with reality given the history of such warnings. It is high time to significantly improve the capabilities of German intelligence services. While a reform has been decided upon, the BND and Verfassungsschutz are set to receive increased authority, including the ability to proactively defend against digital attacks under specific conditions.
The Bundestag first discussed the proposal in September, but further committee reviews and hearings are now underway.
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