Keep bases here, Germany implores U.S.

AP Wire | March 28 2004 | MELISSA EDDY/AP

[Turbo Pig]

Ah, there's the problem. You, like much of Europe and the anti-American crowd, are still thinking in pre 9/11 ways. Ways that came crashing down with the WTC and the deaths of 3000 innocents.

1) Iraq was a priciple in both regional and world wide terror.
2) Iraq had the intent of procuring MORE WMDs. Whether they had them at the time of liberation or not is inconsequntial.
3) No matter what Europe and th corrupt UN says, the US should not have waited until points 1 and 2 collided. At that point, we end up with even more dead US civilians.
4) Saddam Hussein lost all rights to the protection of sovereingty when he did the following:

• invaded the sovereign country of Kuwait (heck, as much as I dislike the mullahs, this statement could apply to Iran, as well)
• gave safe haven to an individual involved in the first WTC attack.
• plotted to kill a former president of the United States
• routinely shot at US warplanes patrolling the UN mandated No-Fly zone.
• supplied money to terrorist enablers that are attacking the US ally, Isreal

[madison10]

Sorry for overreacting. The protests from the German youngsters outside the bases I've heard & read about led me to believe it was a "we hate the war on terrorism" issue + they hate Americans.

Anyway, since the Cold war is over, I guess Germany doesn't need to our presence as much. ;)

[americanbychoice2]

As usual, thanks Knighthawk.
We have accomplished our mission. We can't afford to be there anymore.
While the German military continues to downsize their own protectio, they want America to take up the slack? No thanks, it is our money, our Taxdollars. I want them put to better use.
At least then the Germans have something real to complain about. Their Anti-Americanism will have a better cause...............

[mikenola]

In closing American industry and giving Germany the monopoly on sub building

Huh? Last time I looked Electric Boat in Groton, CT was cranking out subs at a pretty good clip.

See here .

[LadyDoc]

...entire regions depend heavily on the $1.4 billion and 27,000 local jobs the U.S. military generates.

Gee. Maybe they can move to Oklahoma. We need the jobs, and we won't ridicule them like the Germans do...

[YankeeReb]

Huh? Last time I looked Electric Boat in Groton, CT was cranking out subs at a pretty good clip.

I think he may have been referring to Diesel-electric boats. As far as I know we don't build those anymore, and thats what Tiawan wanted.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Perhaps you haven't seen this:

Report Details Saddam's Support for Terrorists Who Killed Americans

The above link is the FreeRepublic discussion thread.

The actual article is :

"Saddam Hussein’s Philanthropy of Terror"

It is a pdf document with substantial footnotes and put together by Dewey Murdock of the Hudson Institute.

[El Conservador]

I have yet to see a viable arguement against being an isolationist country. Don't join any more clubs or sign any more treaties, just like George Washington warned us not to.

Now be careful.

If you start defending George Washington's isolationism, most FReepers will jump to your jugular and call you "paleocon" and "Buchanan fan"

[paul51]

The germans and the french stiffed us re iraq. Screw them both

[TankerKC]

Anaconda

Is that a location?

[7.62 x 51mm]

Dear Mr. Schroeder:

Bite me, backstabber.

Regards,
President Bush

[americanbychoice2]

Are you in favor of Slavery?
The most often used phrase when I am in Germany is "They were his own people. You had no right to invade". Therefore, is it ok to watch that madman kill millions of his own people? The Europeans were sure anxious to bomb the hell out of Serbia with a lot less evidence of mass extinction while not bothering to get UN approval. I smell hypocracy.
Or, "It was all for oil" Why would we want to pay $ 1000 per barrell including the costs we incurred, if we can get it at about $35? Doesn't make sense.
Remember, sticking your head in the sand will make an inviting target of you ass while it is up in the air.

[longtermmemmory]

Does Germany fear an invasion from Poland?

[Richard Kimball]

Iraq was a primary supporter of terrorism. Check a middle east map. Look at the strategic importance of Iraq in the middle east. Your statement is like saying that there's no reason to take a knight located in the middle of a chess board because the object is to get the king.

Elected governments and the elimination of dictators who foster terrorism is a primary tactic in the war on terror.

[RichInOC]

RUMS: HOW ARE YOU GERHARD!!
RUMS: ALL OUR BASE ARE BELONG TO YOU.
KANZLER: WHAT YOU SAY!!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Right, see the Dewey Murdock pdf link at post #87!

[DB]

Germany's big mistake was threatening to restrict their air space preventing us from flying our war planes from bases there.

You can't spend billions on bases to have a foreign politician's whims make them useless. Basically giving locals veto power over what operations you can pursue with your own base and equipment.

That is simply unacceptable. For us, I hope it is a lesson learned.

[VOA]

'Dear soldiers, your presence in Bavaria . . . is indispensable to peace and
stability in Europe and is a key element in our trans-Atlantic relations.

The Germans are getting edgy about all the new mosques being built in their neighborhoods
(as documented in The Los Angeles Times).
They've looked at what fun Muslims are as close neighbors in the former Yugoslavia...
and are starting to realize they may need the USA to help them in some
house-to-house fighting in a few years or so.

[mewzilla]

Re: Iraq and AQ. Read Richard Miniter's book Losing Bin Laden, especially Appendix A, then get back to me.

[DB]

#97 is what I have a major issue with.