Security is a major concern during the World Cup soccer tournament. But are the Germans going overboard? Thousands of police will be on duty, but now, soldiers have been added to the mix as well.
At what point does enough security become too much security? That is the question many in Germany are asking themselves as the World Cup -- to be held in stadiums throughout the country from June 8 to July 8 -- quickly approaches.
On Thursday, revelations that some 2,000 soldiers from Germany's Bund army will be assisting local authorities in providing medical care, transportation, logistical assistance and protection against biological and chemical weapons is likely to add fuel to the fire. Indeed, instead of preparing for a friendly soccer tournament, it looks more like the country is getting ready for a minor war. A central emergency medical facility in Kaiserslautern, helicopters designated to transport the injured, 150,000 ready-to-eat meals, quarters for some 5,900 troops are hardly the list of preparations one expects for a sporting event.
But the World Cup, of course, isn't just any sporting event and -- like the Olympics -- there are a number of opportunities for Germany to receive the public relations equivalent of a black eye. Government officials have nightmares about the possibility of a terrorist attack and, perhaps more realistically, police officials toss and turn at night because of the threat of hooligans. Indeed, tens of thousands of police across Germany have been told they may not go on vacation during the month-long tournament and training has begun in earnest. At the same time, the police are updating their lists of known hooligans and are coordinating with police from other countries doing the same.
...
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,399987,00.html:banghead: Armed amateur policemen - exactly what the world cup needs. Argh.
This was a major conservative position during the election last year. They demand to change the constitution in several places for a frigging sport event.
Of course they want to keep the changes for all future, despite them being "just for the world cup".