| Submit your comments on this article |
| Europe |
| US Weighs Pulling Troops Out of Germany |
| 2004-06-04 |
| EFL The United States has yet to complete plans for any troop withdrawals from Germany and is still consulting with its allies over its intention to fundamentally rearrange American forces around the world, U.S. and German officials said Friday. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld suggested changes could begin soon, saying Washington is ready to move forces in Europe and Korea that have formed static defense lines rooted in the Cold War. âItâs time to adjust those locations from static defense to a more agile and a more capable and a more 21st-century posture,â Rumsfeld told reporters Thursday. He would not give specifics on any proposals. âIt was clear that there was not yet a final decision, and that this decision-making and discussion process in the United States is still going on,â German Foreign Ministry spokesman Walter Lindner told reporters Friday. It is too early to discuss timetables and numbers, Lindner said. On Friday, the New York Times reported that the troop reduction would mean that the Germany-based 1st Armored Division and 1st Infantry Division would return to the United States. |
| Posted by:Sludj |
| #11 One article I read around 1990 that has always stuck with me, stated that Germany would be a sometime ally, but most of the time a competitor of the US. We don't have cultural similarities like with the English or Aussies, and there has been a lot of blood shed between us the first half of the last century. But for 50 years our interests coincided in West Germany not wanting to be overrun by the Soviets and the US not wanting to see the Soviets on the English Channel. Now that the threat of Soviet invasion is past and Europe is now at peace, the convergence of interests is no longer there. Though personally, I am disappointed and angry at the speed which German political and media classes vilify the US. The US can now focus on the Muslim countries, the Caucasus, and East Asia. There should no US troops in Europe (including the Balkans), only Air Force and Navy facilities for transit and repair. Anything else keeps our forces from home or where they are needed. Also, it seems to me that classifying countries as New Europe or Old Europe is a losing proposition. At this time, Eastern Europe still feels insecure about a resurgent Russia. But in the end, due to economic, political, and media integration, they will align with the big boy next door: Germany. I think the best that the US can hope for is to leave a democratic and peaceful legacy, cooperate when there is common interest, and ignore them when they complain and have no viable alternative. But one area of Europe I think the US is neglecting is the former SSRs of Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. The US should be working to develop democratic, uncorrupt institutions and economic development in those countries. Not only because it is the right thing to do to integrate them with the democratic core, but also as a bulwark in case Russia goes the dictator route. In those countries the US should use the Asian development model of using trade to build up the economy and pushing to implement transparent laws and competitive elections. I think to US should redirect its foreign trade from parts of Western Europe to bolster our foreign policy initiatives elsewhere. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-06-05 1:04:16 AM |
| #10 I agree with BidEd #2, there's nothing to 'weigh', for every soldier on the ground in Iraq added as an additon to the current levels, will fortify and cement our position! |
| Posted by: smn 2004-06-04 10:59:37 PM |
| #9 There's good, there's not so good but now that the cold war is over, how does having bases in Germany help. Well some. But couldn't that be accomplished in other places? |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-06-04 10:59:33 PM |
| #8 Paul is correct. The troop draw down is inevitable, but keeping the Germans as allies is important. No matter what Kerry wants everyone to believe, Bush's Administration is sensitive to the needs of our allies. To give a corporate example, a large company, Babcock & Wilcox, is Canton, Ohio closed an incredibly large facility there but did it in such a way as to encourage several other smaller industrial companies to occupy different parts of the facility. This helped out the community and all were happy... for the most part. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-06-04 10:56:01 PM |
| #7 I know that it is easy to get all worked up about Schroeder and Co. but the main thing about bases in Germany is to evaluate them in a calm, rational manner. For instance, we may not need armored divisions hanging around there any more, but we may want to keep the hospital at Wiesbaden as that kind of infrastructure is centrally located and would serve many theaters. There is a lot of hysteria around and someone has to do the rational thinking. Looking around, at the present, it leaves us. Same goes for SKor. There is going to be a lot of painful education for locals. At least let us not contribute to the hysteria. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-06-04 8:12:54 PM |
| #6 US Weighs Pulling Troops Out of Germany There's no obvious downside to pulling ALL U.S. troops from Germany, so what's there to weigh? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-06-04 8:10:07 PM |
| #5 cultural war, maybe |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-06-04 8:02:40 PM |
| #4 Last I heard, there ain't no war in Germany... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-06-04 7:46:32 PM |
| #3 Like I've said before, go east to Poland, turn the tanks around to face west and dig in. |
| Posted by: Laurence of the Rats 2004-06-04 6:18:58 PM |
| #2 US Weighs Pulling Troops Out of Germany OK, so their time is past. Get the hell off the scale and let the ingrate krauts deal with their own problems. |
| Posted by: BigEd 2004-06-04 5:27:21 PM |
| #1 "We hate you! We hate you! We--where are you going?" |
| Posted by: BH 2004-06-04 5:26:25 PM |