Article

2003-04-30 Europe

U.S. Army Europe facilities to be returned to German control

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Posted by Domingo 2003-04-30 09:59 am|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 230 local jobs down the tubes. Can we expect more of these kinds of announcements ?

Posted by Domingo 2003-04-30 10:06:10|| 2003-04-30 10:06:10|| Front Page Top

#2 Hope so. As well as relocations to the New Europe countries which are cheaper and, sorry TGA, at least publicly, more eager for our operations

Posted by Frank G 2003-04-30 10:11:47|| 2003-04-30 10:11:47|| Front Page Top

#3 The "local jobs" are U.S.-paid jobs. That's a tiny part of the effect on the local economy compared to removing well over 8,000 consumers.

Posted by Tom 2003-04-30 10:23:45|| 2003-04-30 10:23:45|| Front Page Top

#4 We once had several 100000s of US troups on German soil. We had to cope with the loss a few years ago as well and it was much bigger. As I have pointed out before these are strategic decisions. Troops are not moved out because we happen to have a mediocre government for a while, they move out because they are not needed anymore in Germany.
As to 8000 consumers: This is true although the impact depends a lot on the current Euro-Dollar rate. GI's are not exactly overpaid so they spend most of their income in local army stores. The Euro trades at 1,11$ today, so Germany is expensive right now. When the dollar was stronger soldiers ventured out more into German restaurants, shops etc.

Posted by True German Ally 2003-04-30 10:57:15|| 2003-04-30 10:57:15|| Front Page Top

#5 I think this is a win/win situation for everyone. The local German economy will suffer, but just like bases that have been brac(k)ed here in the US, they will get over it. The current political climate just makes it easier for the US to rip the band aid off and pull out. The local's complaints will fall on deaf ears right now, which for the US, is actually a feature, not a bug.

Just because we had a base there in the past, doesn't mean it's the ideal location or that the cost/benefit of having it, is justified.

Good for the Pentagon planners for making changes that will be beneficial in the long term. Now....if we can just get our troops out of Korea where the cost/benefit/usefullness is clearly askew.

Posted by Becky 2003-04-30 11:23:38|| 2003-04-30 11:23:38|| Front Page Top

#6 What's the delay? Close 'em now. (I agree about Korea, too)

Posted by Jeremy 2003-04-30 15:36:36|| 2003-04-30 15:36:36|| Front Page Top

#7 A slow phaseout from Germany makes sense, and as TGA says, not because of the poor Schroeder government.

Korea is another matter. The SKors clearly don't like us being there, except when our guys are being used as tripwires. I also fail to see what our interest is in keeping ground forces there. The SKors have a strong economy and plenty of capability to defend themselves...and we can help from the air and sea if needed.

Strategically, I also fail to see the value of 37,000 troops tied down in Korea. The primary threats from North Korea to US are that they will ship missiles to terror states and/or build ICBMs capable of hitting us. We can take ICBMs out on their launchpads, if necessary, and we can blockade that country by sea, something we couldn't do with Iraq.

I think we bring our guys home, stop dealing with North Korea at all, let the SKors, Japanese and Chinese deal with the problem.

Explain to me why this is wrong?

Posted by R. McLeod 2003-05-01 01:40:22|| 2003-05-01 01:40:22|| Front Page Top

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