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Pentagon Criticized for Overseas Base-Closing Plan
(CNSNews.com) - The Pentagon on Monday rejected calls by a congressionally appointed commission to slow down the withdrawal of 70,000 American troops from Europe and Asia. The proposals entail the U.S. Army withdrawing from about half of its European bases, the Pentagon confirmed. The Overseas Basing Commission said the moves were being planned without sufficient coordination with affected countries or synchronization with other security activities and needs, but the Pentagon disputed that view. In a report officially released Monday, the commission also queried the Pentagon estimate that repatriating the troops and their families would cost around $10 billion. The commission said it would cost about twice that amount. It called for more congressional oversight of the process.Among the commission's specific recommendations was one saying that a Germany-based heavy combat brigade due to return to the U.S. should remain where it is. This would provide a hedge against unexpected future security threats in the European region, demonstrate commitment to NATO, and show U.S. resolve in the Balkans. "We further decrease our presence in NATO only at risk of lessening our influence in Europe." It also said plans to withdraw U.S. Marines from Okinawa should be scaled down, calling the southern Japanese island a "strategic linchpin." The Pentagon's review of force posture abroad is aimed at making the U.S. military a leaner, more focused force capable of handling post-Cold War threats and contingencies. President Bush announced the initiative last August, citing the need for "a more agile and flexible force." According to the commission report, the plan envisages returning approximately 30 percent of al U.S. sites abroad to host nations, mostly in Germany and South Korea. The plan to bring tens of thousands of personnel home is meant to dovetail with plans to close, realign or expand military bases on U.S. soil -- a process known as Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). Posted by: Steve 2005-05-10 |
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