It is no wonder that after the Afghanistan debacle in Berlin, there is also increasing debate about the purpose of the Bundeswehr mission in Mali.

Because there, too, there are increasing signs that the missions of the United Nations and the European Union to stabilize the country are not fulfilling their purpose.

The democratization process can hardly be described as such, and the security situation does not deserve its name either.

This fits the message that the military regime is about to hire a Russian mercenary force for its own protection.

Even Rolf Mützenich, who is usually so friendly to Moscow, takes this as an opportunity to encourage people to think about the trigger.

Putin fills almost every vacant position

Indeed, military operations should not be held on simply because they started.

But it would be negligent, and that should also be a lesson from Afghanistan, to turn a blind eye to what threatens after the withdrawal.

Mali could become a base for Islamist terrorism and a migration accelerator towards the north. These were and are the dangers that Paris and Berlin wanted to prevent by sending their soldiers. In addition, it is also evident in Mali that Putin occupies almost every position that the West leaves. The Kremlin evidently moves in (with green men) even before Paris and Berlin have struck off the flags. Lo and behold, even the SPD is demanding: If the Russians come, we have to get out!