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| Europe |
| So, is this where the defense cuts are coming from? |
| 2004-02-04 |
| Via Drudge: US plans to cut troops in Europe by a third The US is preparing to cut the number of troops stationed in Europe by up to a third, diplomats said on Tuesday. This will be one of the biggest reductions since American soldiers were first based there after the second world war. Washington will not establish new permanent bases in eastern Europe - allaying fears that the Pentagon was preparing to punish some countries of "old Europe" for their opposition to the US-led war against Iraq. "If anything, the troops taken out of Europe will be sent home," said a Nato diplomat. "From there, they will be sent on exercises or training missions to small bases established on a temporary basis in Poland, Romania or Bulgaria. The old days of the giant US barracks .(In Europe) . . are over." Romania and Bulgaria will be disappointed by the news, although east European diplomats played down their concerns. "We will be delighted if we now get a little base," one said. The US has 119,000 troops in Europe, 80,000 of which are stationed in Germany. (Ouch, that’ll hurt.) At the height of the Cold War, Washington had more than 300,000 troops in western Europe. (Interesting they don’t put the family perspective into it, we’re talking a lot of people, here.) Russia has warned against moves by Nato or the US to shift forces eastwards once seven new countries, all former communist states, join the European Union in May. In Moscow last week Colin Powell, US secretary of state, told Vladimir Putin, Russian president, that Washington had no intention of encircling Russia. (We don’t need to, they’re putting bases near ours in certain parts of the ME and I don’t think they can afford to meet our spending.) "We are not looking to move bases, of the kind we used to have during the Cold War, closer to Russia just to put a base closer to Russia," said Mr Powell. Diplomats said the Pentagon was set on creating highly flexible, small units that could be moved quickly to temporary bases. General Jones, the US commander in Europe and Nato’s military chief, wants to create these structures for Nato as well. Mr Powell and Donald Rumsfeld, US defence secretary, are not preparing to cut the number of troops in one sweep. "The US is still consulting a great deal with all its allies. It has yet to make the final decision over what bases will be closed," said a German diplomat. "Much is at stake. Entire villages have built their future around the bases, particularly in Germany. You just can’t destroy those 60-year-old relationships." (Can’t live w/’em, can’t live w/o em. And unemployment’s been cut to a year, IIRC.) A Pentagon spokesman denied that any decision had been taken on troop reduction levels, saying discussions were still ongoing. Nato officials said the US would not close Ramstein, its biggest military base in southern Germany, as it is a key strategic asset for US operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
| Posted by:Anonymous2U |
| #16 My first name does begin w/an "S", That should qualify you as an auxilary,aka Roman Legions. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2004-2-5 8:08:13 AM |
| #15 No blunderbuss, no laser sights, but when I go to Vegas, I want to shoot the sub-machines. 8 hours is wayyy too long, but even 2 would be fun. Beats my late grandfather's air pistol. Does that count???? |
| Posted by: Anonymous2U 2004-2-4 11:33:17 PM |
| #14 TGA, In the places in America where base closings has been done right, an economic boom usually results. For example, in college I stayed overnight at some miltary hostel in Garmish. I would think that removing a cheapo place for Americans to stay and replacing it with a locally owned place for Americans or any others to stay would work out well. Most of the places that the US has left on friendly terms has been done slowly and in a way that doesn't hurt people we are friends with. We were booted out of Subic and pressured out of Puerto Rico. That is damaging bad. On the other hand, if the move is coordinated well, base housing can be transferred to local landlords. Most countries would be better served if they hosted American companies vice the American military. I am impressed with the thinking of the current DOD. They need the troops where the shooting is. I doubt that the move is intended to spank Shroeder by hurting the German people. He is an ass, but that's not how we play. Zero sum diplomacy is for nitwits. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-2-4 8:28:14 PM |
| #13 My first name does begin w/an "S", however. Not good enought, the AOS is very picky. But you are automatically a member of the Army of Luckies, would you rather be in a far flung cadre or a member of the elite Lucky Life Guards? To become a member of the LLG you must own (or have access to) a Blunderbuss with a laser sight. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-4 3:27:17 PM |
| #12 Unfortunately, I am not a member of the "Army of Steve." My first name does begin w/an "S", however. |
| Posted by: Anonymous2U 2004-2-4 2:30:30 PM |
| #11 I got my ten years plus in Germany, all in the beautiful spa city of Wiesbaden - three tours! Loved it, even though the last tour was not anywhere near as pleasant as the first. It's not just the United States or the World situation that's changed - so has Germany. It's felt thorughout the country, even in cities that have long been pro-US. Mostly the younger generation, IMHO. We'll need to keep a central operating location in Europe, preferably one where we can hold joint exercises with our local allies. I'd also expect us to have similar facilities in Iraq that we'll keep for a generation or so, and possibly develop new facilities in Southeast Asia (Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, or somewhere else not even in the picture yet). As the WoT heats up, more and more of the action will move into Africa, and the US will be forced to respond there, as well. I would envision more, not fewer US military personnel being stationed outside the CONUS, but where is going to be an interesting development over the next 20 years. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-2-4 12:52:06 PM |
| #10 Germany will be on the front lines in 8 years when France converts to Sharia law. Praise Allah, curse the imperialist pig dogs ! |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2004-2-4 12:15:51 PM |
| #9 There was a good relationship between Germany and the US but the world changed when no one was looking. There are too many things that can't be unsaid and I think we can both agree that central Europe is no longer the nexus of conflict like it was. I always wanted to be stationed in Germany if only to see where Great-Great-Great Grandpa Nocollar Peasant Redneck came from. But its too late for me now. |
| Posted by: whitecollar redneck 2004-2-4 11:54:04 AM |
| #8 Entire villages have built their future around the bases, particularly in Germany. Gate towns - boo hoo Major industries: lap dancing and booze. |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-2-4 10:48:31 AM |
| #7 We have always lived very well with U.S. troops. Many servicemen of all ranks (including blacks) are married to German women and have families here. Germany has always been the favorite place for U.S. troops to be stationed. It's hardly about Germany's defense any more. I guess stationing in Eatern Europe may be cheaper, but money is not all that counts here. Of course the economic impact will be felt although it's a very local thing. Germany's own defense cuts hurt much more. If U.S. troops leave it will hurt those communities which have been most U.S. friendly over decades. Well, times are a-changing... But if you have to leave... you will be remembered. And I hope that the friendship will continue to last. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-2-4 10:25:55 AM |
| #6 I've always felt that bases in Eastern Europe would be nice for our allies, but too far from where the action would be in the future. The US should lease out Gibralter as a base. That way both the Brits and the Spanish can claim the land without losing face, and the US would have a nice base close that didn't require overflight permission to go anywhere. |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2004-2-4 10:13:30 AM |
| #5 "By any chance, is your name Steve?" Foul!!! Recruiting for your private Army on RB is strictly forbidden! ;-) |
| Posted by: .com 2004-2-4 10:00:49 AM |
| #4 good to go. Bring the lads home. I care more about boosting economic development in CONUS before the Euro theater. 40,00 troops coming back to CONUS is a good start. Better yet, have some of them augment our own border patrol. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-2-4 8:53:48 AM |
| #3 You just can’t destroy those 60-year-old relationships. Schroeder and company should have thought about this before proceeding to destroy them. PS. Last time I looked, the gates of US Army bases didn't have a sign that said "German Welfare Bureau" |
| Posted by: ed 2004-2-4 8:32:38 AM |
| #2 I wonder if this will bump the German unemployment rate to 12%? |
| Posted by: Dan Canaveral 2004-2-4 5:17:29 AM |
| #1 Ack, beat by less than two minutes! By any chance, is your name Steve? |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-2-4 1:19:55 AM |