First off: Delivering arms to the Kurds is not a solution, it's only a decision. Decisions are the beginning of processes and - in the best case - lead to the desired outcome.

Risks

This decision comes with risks. Going by experience, weapons that are delivered to one party in a war tend to eventually end up in the wrong hands. Many deaths in Afghanistan tell the story of the arms originally delivered by Western powers to the Mujahedeen in their fight against the Soviet army.

The weapons used by the murderous "Islamic State" (IS) militants have partly been captured from the Iraqi army - Humvees and howitzers delivered to Baghdad by the US to keep Islamist extremists at bay. Could the scenario repeat itself with armor-piercing weaponry from the German Bundeswehr? Possibly.

Dagmar Engel heads up DW's Berlin bureau

The prospect of Kurdish peshmerga fighters using the weapons to fight for their own state can also not be ruled out. This is a goal the German government does not support.

Alternatives

The UK, France and Italy have already agreed to send weapons to northern Iraq. If Germany truly considers itself part of the European Union, does it really make a difference whether the captured anti-tank missile plus launcher comes from the Royal Army or the Bundeswehr? Can Germany just say: 'You take care of the dirty weapons business, we'll take care of the honorable humanitarian help'b#? No, it can't.

The EU is a real power player only if it stands together, if Europe won't be divided. And last Friday, the EU foreign ministers already agreed to send weapons.

Side effects

This general decision is valid for the German government. Parliament will be informed via the appropriate committees - but does not get a say in the matter. As long as no soldiers are sent, it probably isn't required, but it's still unusual in Germany's democratic tradition. If the government wants broad public support for the decision, they'd be well advised to encourage debate in the Bundestag.

Over the last few days, German government has emphasized time and again that this is not the time for a debate on principles, but for urgent and necessary action. The decision is valid for this specific conflict, a decision for an individual case - until the next brutal conflict comes along. Then, the individual case can turn into a precedent in the blink of an eye. Let's not forget: There have been calls for military support from Ukraine, too.

Impact

But the situation in northern Iraq is different. There is absolutely no possibility to negotiate with the "IS" butchers, no proof that anything resembling the idea of political debate even exists in the heads of these barbaric murderers. And this gang is now on its way to subjugate the rest of the Middle East - with unpredictable consequences that could reach far beyond the region.

As previously stated, arms deliveries are not a solution, but a decision. In this case, they're a decision not to stand back, but to get involved. To protect the civilized world.