Skiba and Techau discussed the relationship between the low approval ratings of the German population for Germany's military engagement in Afghanistan and the federal government's reluctance to provide combat forces for the south of the country, as requested by some of its NATO allies. To improve Germany's capacity and freedom to act militarily in theaters such as Afghanistan in the longer term, politicians would be well-advised to tell the German public the plain truth about Germany's national interests and to debate the Bundeswehr's missions more courageously and vigorously.