[Goose]

These munitions work. Yes, some of them don't explode. The US worked long and hard to increase the number that did, but we never could get it below the arbitrarily imposed threshold, which is (as I remember) 1 or 2 %. IMO this problem is way over blown. War wrecks the land where it is fought. Fighting a war is a horrible, destructive thing. People freezing to death because the infrastructure is destroyed is deadly too. Yes, cleaning up the mess is more difficult when there is unexploded ordinance present, but most sites targeted by DPICM will usually have damaged vehicles containing it in any case. A few bomblets being present does not greatly change the problem. It sucks in any case. The simple fact is that sub-munitions are effective and don't come with inherent disadvantages that make them difficult do use (like poison gas does, for example). These types of weapons will therefore be used, no matter what the prior agreements say.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/1-ger...27650.html
I never in a million years would have expected this statement from an SPD minister, and probably not ANY German government minister. While not exactly an outright call to restore compulsory military service, it is close.

Germany's decision to suspend compulsory military service in 2011 was a mistake, he added, saying he was hesitant to place a burden upon young generations but was open to discussing a new model to strengthen the relationship between citizens and the state.

I suspect this won't go anywhere practical, at least for now, but who knows? We may see 5 Pz returned to active service.

[Goose]

These munitions work. Yes, some of them don't explode. The US worked long and hard to increase the number that did, but we never could get it below the arbitrarily imposed threshold, which is (as I remember) 1 or 2 %. IMO this problem is way over blown. War wrecks the land where it is fought. Fighting a war is a horrible, destructive thing. People freezing to death because the infrastructure is destroyed is deadly too. Yes, cleaning up the mess is more difficult when there is unexploded ordinance present, but most sites targeted by DPICM will usually have damaged vehicles containing it in any case. A few bomblets being present does not greatly change the problem. It sucks in any case. The simple fact is that sub-munitions are effective and don't come with inherent disadvantages that make them difficult do use (like poison gas does, for example). These types of weapons will therefore be used, no matter what the prior agreements say.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/1-ger...27650.html
I never in a million years would have expected this statement from an SPD minister, and probably not ANY German government minister. While not exactly an outright call to restore compulsory military service, it is close.

Germany's decision to suspend compulsory military service in 2011 was a mistake, he added, saying he was hesitant to place a burden upon young generations but was open to discussing a new model to strengthen the relationship between citizens and the state.

I suspect this won't go anywhere practical, at least for now, but who knows? We may see 5 Pz returned to active service.