Germany has instituted significant policy, legislative, and organizational reforms. Germany's Anti-Terrorism Policy after 9/11

		Key Elements of German Strategy

Germany's counterterrorism strategy shares a number of elements with that of the UnitedStates, although there are clear differences in emphasis: Key elements include: (2) 
Identifying terrorists and their supporters, bringing them to justice, andbreaking up their infrastructure at home and abroad. Significantly, Germany now sees radical Islamic terrorism as its primary security threat anditself as a potential target of attack. Although Germany supported the UN-sanctioned intervention in Afghanistan to root out theTaliban and al Qaeda, the German government strongly opposed the U.S. policy of broadening thewar against terrorism to a war against Iraq. (9) 
Despite differences over Iraq, Germany is viewed as a key partner in the global war onterrorism. (10) Today,Germany perceives threats to its domestic security that lie far beyond its own borders. Possible Issues and Problems. DespiteGermany's sweeping reforms, critics point to continuing problems hampering Germany's domesticefforts. As a result of the emphasis on guarding civil liberties, the German law enforcement andintelligence communities face more bureaucratic hurdles, stricter constraints, and closer oversightthan those in many other countries. Currently Germany has about 7,800troops based abroad. (41) Some forty percent of those troops are directly engaged in counterterror missions. (44) In Afghanistan, some 2,300 German soldiers participate in theInternational Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Provincial Reconstruction Team(PRT)missions in the region of Kunduz and Feizabad. However critics point out that German military efforts have been hampered by the fact that,among major U.S. allies, German forces are presently among the least quickly deployable due todelays in implementing military reforms and, specifically, addressing a lack of airlift capacity. Some question whether this is adequate. (69) Ultimately, understanding and accepting these differences (agreeing to disagree), in the minds ofsome observers, may be the best approach to enhancing future U.S.-German cooperation in theglobal war on terrorism. For the United States, as well, German cooperation againstterrorism is likely to remain significant in light of Germany's importance as a European and worldactor, as a key hub for the transnational flow of persons and goods especially to the United States,and as a country whose soil has been used by terrorist to target the United States.
This report examines Germany's response to global Islamic terrorism after the September 11,2001 attacks in the United States. It looks at current German strategy, domestic efforts, andinternational responses, including possible gaps and weaknesses. It examines the state ofU.S.-German cooperation, including problems and prospects for future cooperation. This report maybe updated as needed.
Although somewhat overshadowed in the public view by the strong and vocal disagreementsover Iraq policy, U.S.-German cooperation in the global fight against international terrorism hasbeen extensive. German support is particularly important because several Al Qaeda members and9/11 plotters lived there and the country is a key hub for the transnational flow of persons and goods.Domestically, Germany faces the challenge of having a sizable population of Muslims, some withextremist views, whom terrorists might seek to recruit.
German counterterrorism strategy shares a number of elements with that of the United States,although there are clear differences in emphasis. Like the United States, Germany now sees radicalIslamic terrorism as its primary national security threat and itself as a potential target of attack. Today, Germany also recognizes that threats to its domestic security lie far beyond its own borders,in places such as Afghanistan.
Germany has introduced a number of policy, legislative, and organizational reforms since9/11 to make the country less hospitable to potential terrorists. Despite these reforms, critics pointto continuing problems hampering Germany's domestic efforts. German law enforcement andintelligence communities face more bureaucratic hurdles, stricter constraints, and closer oversightthan those in many other countries.
The German government has sent troops into combat beyond Europe for the first time sinceWorld War II. Currently Germany has about 7,800 troops based abroad of which some forty percentare directly engaged in counterterror missions. In Afghanistan, some 2,300 German soldiersparticipate in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Germany's role in Afghanistan'sstabilization and reconstruction is substantial. German military efforts have been hampered to someextent by delays in implementing military reforms to make German forces more expeditionary.
A key question for U.S. German relations is whether differences on issues such as Iraq policy-- shaped by different national interests, practices, and historical experiences -- will harmU.S.-German cooperation against terrorism. Some believe that understanding and accepting thesedifferences (agreeing to disagree) may be the best approach to enhancing future U.S.-Germancooperation in the global war on terrorism. Both countries have strong incentives to make thecooperation work.