1ST LEAD German parliament debates Syria military mission By dpa correspondents

Berlin (dpa) - The German parliament was Wednesday debating the country‘s military mission in Syria after the cabinet approved the deployment of up to 1,200 troops to support the international campaign to defeat Islamic State.The year-long, 134-million-euro (142-million-dollar) mission will not involve conducting airstrikes in Syria. Tornado fighter jets, a warship and aircraft for refuelling combat jets will be deployed.The frigate is expected to provide backup to the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which has already been sent to the eastern Mediterranean as part of the anti-Islamic State coalition.Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier argued in favour of a German mission against the Islamic State extremist group in Syria. "We have to face this terror in the same comprehensive and united way in which it presents itself," he told the Bundestag. Nevertheless, Steinmeier promised that a political solution would take priority.Germany should not be afraid of a heightened terrorist threat as a consequence of military invention, Steinmeier said. "It can‘t be our logic to seal ourselves off, switch off the lights and close the shutters when terrorists roam the streets."The debate also focused on the state of German weapons systems. According to a report of the Defence Ministry made available to dpa, only 66 of a total 93 Tornado fighter jets owned by the air force were operational, while only 29 were actually ready to use.Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen had earlier told public broadcaster ARD she did not see this as a problem. "Thirty Tornados are ready to use, and we only need six of them. This means we have enough wiggle room."Opposition members in the Bundestag meanwhile criticized the Defence Ministry‘s arms management. The ministry had failed to recognize defects and economized on spare parts, Green Party MP Tobias Lindner said, while leftist Die Linke defence expert Alexander Neu complained that money was being invested in new projects like the acquisition of drones.Germany‘s Tornado fighter jets are between 23 and 24 years old and considered obsolete.However, the readiness of its successor, the Eurofighter, had not improved either. Only 55 per cent of Eurofighter jets and 57 per cent of Transall transport planes were ready to use.Von der Leyen declined to give an estimate of the possible duration of the operation."The duration of the mandate will strongly depend on the success of the decisive political process," she said. Much also depended on the other powers in the region, such as Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iran."It will be a long mission, and it will be a difficult and dangerous mission," she added.Tuesday‘s decision by Berlin, which has been reticent to engage in military operations since World War II, comes in the wake of the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, which killed 130 people and was claimed by Islamic State.Since then, Chancellor Angela Merkel has pledged to provide any assistance to France, which has spearheaded efforts to forge the new coalition.The mission is expected to be approved by parliament.