The US Consulate in Munich recently (7/3/09) issued a WARNING to US citizens to beware of possible attacks in Gamisch over the July 4th weekend. The supposed attacks were to be in retaliation for a Turk/German who was injured in a club brawl involving American service members. This was a classic case of over-reaction on the part of the Consular Officials who issued the warning. Don%26#39;t get me wrong, there are real threats out there for Americans, even in bucolic Garmisch, but in this case it was based on bad information.
The result of the warning has been very damaging to economy of the town and all those military families trying to relax in between the service members repeat tours in combat zones.
The Police Investigation into this case discovered that after a night of drinking/celebrating an MP%26#39;s return to the US, he and a Turk/German buddy got into a fight outside the bar. It resulted in injuries all around, including a second Turk/German who got involved when his friend was loosing.
Rumors led to what appears to be a mountain being made out of a mole hill. Several days later, after the damage was done, it was apparently determined that the warning was not warranted and recinded.
I%26#39;ve been to Garmisch countless times and NEVER had any worries about the personal safety of my family members or friends. We don%26#39;t frequent late night clubs and thus avoid such alcohol fueled foolishness.
Considering the number of such clubs and the number of young people who frequent these establishments,
Garmisch has few such incidents, compared to say any American town/city.
The Local Touris Office is now being flooded with inquiries about the warning and as an American, I wish to apologize for the behavior of the American(s) involved in this mess and how our State Department blew it out of proportion.
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Interesting and sad that this was blown up so badly.
But I don%26#39;t think you need to apologize for the isolated misbehavior. I wouldn%26#39;t expect an apology from German citizens for the nutty German tourist in Poland who was arrested for trying to make off with a crematorium door at a concentration camp there a few years back, which to me is a whole lot more offensive than getting into a nightclub spat, an event that one should expect at such clubs now and then, no matter what nationalities are represented there.
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No need to apologize for anybody%26#39;s actions...boys will be boys, and believe me, there are incidents every weekend outside of all the posts/bases here - and everywhere we are stationed. I believe this incident was started by Turks, and from what I understand the US guys were merely defending themselves. Good commanders won%26#39;t punish their troops for doing the right thing. I agree that this incident was blown out of proportion. If the Munich (or any newspaper) reported on every drunken brawl, the papers would be hundreds of pages long. For those that heeded these warnings, go out and enjoy GAP!
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