Koehler, a member of Merkel's Christian Democrats, cited a week of criticism over a radio interview he gave following a visit to German troops in Afghanistan.
In that broadcast, he said for a country with Germany's dependency on exports, military deployments could be "necessary ... in order to defend our interests, for example free trade routes."
That was taken by many as relating to Germany's unpopular mission in Afghanistan, although his office later said he was referring to anti-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia.
Germans are often uneasy about deployments abroad, given the country's militaristic past, and the mission in Afghanistan makes many particularly uncomfortable.
Opposition politicians had urged Koehler, 67, to take back the remarks and accused him of damaging public acceptance of German military missions abroad.
I'd say there is darned little public acceptance of military missions abroad if that statement harmed it.
Truly, the Germans have come a long way from the days they invaded France and Russia for fun.
UPDATE: Similar thoughts.
