WHAT HATH MERKEL WROUGHT? Germany’s Air Force Is Dying a Slow Death.

The German magazine Spiegel recently revealed that most of the Luftwaffe’s—the modern German air force’s—128 Eurofighter Typhoons are not flightworthy.

In fact, only about ten of the aircraft are ready for operations, Spiegel said. This raises doubts about Germany’s ability to meet its NATO defense commitments.

“The problem is complicated,” according to Spiegel.

Germany, at least, has been playing games with the Typhoon’s operational readiness, according to Spiegel. “The Luftwaffe counts all Eurofighter jets that are allowed to fly as available. But this includes many who do not have a functioning self-protection system. These may be used with dummies on the wings for training flights or maneuvers. Real missions, such as airspace surveillance on the eastern edge of NATO, are excluded with these jets.”

The problem is not “complicated.” Berlin has decided not to devote the resources necessary to keep its air force flying, and so now it barely can fly. The sad fact is that the last time the Luftwaffe was in this sad a shape, it was due to American, British, and Soviet enemy action.