Starbucks, I like Steely Dan but I'm a fool to do your dirty work:Germany on Wednesday urged its
population to stockpile food and water in case of terrorist or cyber
attacks, as it adopted its first civil defence strategy since the end of
the Cold War.
Govt paper mulls bringing back army conscription (23 Aug 16)Govt advice to stockpile food criticized as 'scaremongering' (22 Aug 16)
The plan marks the first broad update since 1995, when a dismantling of
federal civil defence structures was advocated as security policies
were eased in the wake of German reunification.
But the 69-page document warned that "the security policy environment has changed again".
Critics however accused Chancellor Angela Merkel's "grand" right-left
coalition of scaremongering ahead of key state elections in September.
And the population took to social media to deride the strategy, with
the hashtag #hamsterkaeufe (squirrelling away) and photos of the furry
rodent widely circulating on Twitter.
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Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere rejected the criticism, saying
that "while we all hope that we will be spared from major crisis, we
must be prepared" should disaster strike.
"It's only responsible, sensible and appropriate to make cool-headed
preparations for a catastrophe scenario," he said, stressing that "every
country in the world does that".
He also challenged charges of electioneering, arguing that the strategy
is the result of a long reflection process that had been in 2012.
While acknowledging that "an attack on German territory requiring
conventional defence is unlikely," Europe's biggest economy should be
"sufficiently prepared in case of an existence-threatening development
in the future that cannot be ruled out," the strategy document said.
"The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery
systems, conflict driven by terrorist means and cyberspace attacks can
be a direct threat to Germany and its allies," it said.
The plan makes civilian backing of troops a priority while advocating
making buildings more resilient and increasing capacity in the
healthcare system.
It also encourages people to stockpile sufficient food for 10 days, and water to last five. 4951