For the first time on German national television, a leading warmonger met his match and was soundly defeated before a major national TV audience. On the popular “Markus Lanz” talk show on ZDF, the second public television channel, Erich Vad, a retired brigadier general and former advisor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, confronted CDU security expert Roderich Kiesewetter. Due to Kiesewetter’s provocations, the discussion rapidly escalated in content and volume, with Vad accusing Kiesewetter of bringing the Ukraine war onto German territory.
“The Russians have determined that German companies are also involved in the drones (being used by Ukraine against Russia – ed.),” Vad explained. “They have already mentioned names. Munich, for example, is a hotspot of the arms industry, and the Russians have said that it is now part of their target planning.”
“The day will come when they carry out retaliatory strikes against Europe, against Germany. First conventionally, and if necessary, they’ll go one level higher. Russia is the world’s strongest nuclear power. If we bring Ukraine into Europe, we will bring the war with Russia into Europe!”
As Kiesewetter claimed that “Ukraine is protecting us right now,” Vad countered:
“Mr. Kiesewetter, you would make an excellent Ukrainian defense minister. I do not want a war here in Germany! We are NATO’s staging area, NATO’s logistical hub. If there is a European war, it will be fought in our country. That is the great danger!”
Vad reminded Kiesewetter about his past remarks that Germany should support Ukraine to achieve a military victory against Russia. “I am really curious to know how you intend to achieve that, can you explain it to me?” he asked ironically. To which Kiesewetter could only claim that he had never said that.
Next, Vad accused Kiesewetter of supporting “deep strikes” into Russian territory, in increasing numbers, but if you do that, “then you will have Russian missile strikes on our country!”