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German minister accused of Afghan publicity stunt

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By The Drum Team, Editorial

December 15, 2010 | 2 min read

A morale boosting visit to troops by a German defence minister has ended up stoking discontent after critics in the Green Party labelled the trip “crude self promotion.”

Discontent stems from Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg’s decision to bring along his wife and a leading German talkshow host for the ride.

Rival politicians were quick to pounce on the perceived error of judgement with the shadow defence spokesperson Rainer Arnold saying: “He is too focussed on his media image.”

The left wing pacifist party, Die Linke, were even more vociferous, saying Guttenberg should have brought: “orders to come home, not his PR retinue.”

Guttenberg’s wife has become a celebrity lately after winning £425k in the German edition of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? A feat she celebrated by downing half a litre of beer.

Mrs Guttenberg stated that she went on the overseas foray as a “wife, mother and citizen.”

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