U.S. eyes cuts at Germany, S. Korea bases

[Terri]

U.S. eyes cuts at Germany, S. Korea bases

By Joseph Curl
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
February 12, 2003

The Bush administration yesterday held out the possibility that it would reduce U.S. military presence in South Korea and Germany, both of whom have expressed increasing displeasure over the basing and use of U.S. troops there.

"There is a school of thought to rethink the numbers and types of forces we have in different locations as events warrant," Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer said. "Our objectives would be to maintain our military presence, to assure our friends and allies, while deterring, if necessary, and defeating adversaries."

Although the administration said troop reductions have nothing to do with recent diplomatic rifts between the United States and the two nations, a senior official said the sudden action contains a not-so-subtle message.

Full Story (http://www.washingtontimes. com/national/20030212-89728.htm)

Sounds good to me!

[Der Alte]

During my 6 years in Germany, I found the Germans to be great people and that they welcomed the Americans. In retrospect, they were at that time threatened by the Russians. Now that the threat is gone (courtesy the US) and they no longer feel the need for protection they want to spread their wings without us. Works for me. I think we need to maintain a presence on the european continent and the suggestion to move the bases to one of the eastern european countries would work and would also save a great deal of money.

If we were to withdraw our troops from SK, it would be just like Vietnam - the north would come south. I guess the moral of the story is that if we pull out of SK, don't buy a Hundai or any product made in SK - it won't be long before you won't be able to get parts.

[nekela]

http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif Der Alte is exactly right on this.I think we should pull all our troops from Germany and South Korea. If there are any in other countries that do not go along with us they should pull them also. Going along with this we should stop aid to any country that is getting it
and do not support us. I am sick of seeing a bunch of crybabys spending our money. We need it here in this country , but not for support of the crybabys here. http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif

[USAFWO1_1975]

Hi Everybody!

It would be nice if we could cut-loose from Germany and South Korea. *They're both industrial nations, and they should spend their own money and manpower to protect themselves. We don't need to be their mercenary army, and get spat-upon by those very same people in the process. If they need foreign troops so bad,stationed on their soil, maybe Germany should send troops to South Korea, and South Korea should send troops to Germany! *A pox upon both their houses!!

[Floridaguy]

Hi USAFWO1! Thank you for joining, and for sharing your first post with us. I agree with your viewpoint above, and hope you will stay involved in the Forum, reading, and replying. http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Check out some of our other topics as well, if you haven't already.

http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag19.gif http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cowboy7.gif

[Granite River]

USAFWO1_1975, I agree that they no longer need us in SK or Germany. *

My cousin enjoyed his time in Korea and Germany was a good assignment for most people. *

And there is an advantage in having a relatively friendly place for our troops to be in Europe and in the Pacific. * I guess we can move from Germany to a country who will appreciate the billions we spend to support of troops.

Korea we don't need.

[navyblue]

Yep! *I agree. *Start withdrawing. It won't be long before you hear the Euros and the SK's crying when they see that they have to divert large resources from consumer goods to building a military. *They have had a free ride for a long time.

Why, they might even have to cut way back on some of their social programs. (Gasp&#33http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

I think we should tell those governments now that they should really need to start planning to build their own military. *Who knows? *It might even bring them back to reality.

[lpara]

<span style='font-family:comic sans ms'>Ditto TIMES 6 for all of the above posts!</span>

[m.s.u.matt]

Excellent, excellent posts. I can't fathom leaving our armed services in Germany. How could we possibly leave them in a country, that stands in the way of the U.S. and many other countries trying to effectively deal with Iraq.

I agree with USAFWO1, if they don't appreciate our INCREDIBLY brave men and women in the armed forces then lets pull them out!!

[Terri]

I think we will gradually begin pulling them out with George Bush as president. However, if we get another Democrat administration they will simply suck up to the Germans and French.

[Charie]

Maybe the threat to pull out will be enough. I'm sure that when it comes down to losing the money that the U.S. bases inject into the local economy, via jobs for locals and personnel spending, they may be talking out of the other side of their mouths.

However, I do think that we need to move our bases. Being in one place for too long makes the personnel complacent. These bases are infiltrated by enemies of ours, I'm sure.

Some of the other countries are champing at the bit to get a new influx of money, if that's what it takes. I also think we're kidding ourselves if we think that any of these countries are truly friends of ours. It's the old &quot;follow the money&quot; story.