[ClearCase_guy]

I oppose ANY use of American troops in Europe. Get out of NATO. Bring those troops home for good.

[Wallace T.]

Perhaps Putin has no designs of Russian expansion but a successor may.
Stalin did and so did the Tsars who pushed eastward until stopped by Prussia and Austria. The Western European nations are decadent, as are we, and a present or future Russian strongman will see the opportunity to expand their country's influence. I agree that NATO is moribund but if the Europeans start taking their defense seriously, we should help them. The continent is our ancestral homeland.

[T-Bone Texan]

I oppose American troops anywhere too, except that it was pointed out to me that the value of our dollar is influenced greatly by the presence of our military around the world.

3rd worlders and even Europeans get a warm feeling of confidence knowing US troops are nearby. We are a force for stability across the globe, and lesser developed people know it.

Our dollar is no longer backed by anything of value. It is only the confidence of people that gives it value. Once that confidence erodes, the value of the dollar also erodes.

I am about to have a baby. In the interest of raw survival I desire to get her on solid food before America is thrust into extreme poverty, which I think is inevitable. So yeah, bring back our troops, but in 2 years!