German Towns Fear U.S. Pullout: The withdrawal of troops may end friendships, healthy economy

The Houston Chronicle ^ | October 30, 2004 | Carl Honoré

[quidnunc]

Baumholder,Germany – Baumholder has been home to a U.S. military base for more than half a century, and, even today, Americans outnumber Germans by more than 2 to 1.

But now this town's 4,800 German inhabitants are bracing for the possible withdrawal of U.S. troops as part of Washington's plans to restructure its military.

Ulrike Norvell, 48, who works in the child-care department on the U.S. base, seems in shock. "Without the Americans, we simply cannot survive," she says, taking a long drag on her cigarette. "If they go, Baumholder will die."

A similar lament echoes through small towns across western Germany.

Forces needed elsewhere

Last August, the Bush administration announced plans for a global restructuring of U.S. armed forces to create a fighting force nimble enough to cope with the demands of 21st-century warfare. Details of the overhaul are to be hammered out in the coming months.

But the people of Baumholder fear that, no matter who wins Tuesday's U.S. presidential election, American troops will pull out of their town and many other places in Western Europe, returning home or moving to bases believed closer to the battlefields of the future.

Which units will leave Europe and when remains to be seen. But the withdrawal is expected to hit Germany — home to 80 percent of the continent's American troops — especially hard.

[truth_seeker]

"..the only things worth saving in Germany are Mercedes, BMW and Porsche."

VW/Audi for sure.

I'm not sure about Mercedes.

[DTogo]

Time to sleep in the bed they made for themselves.

Auf Wiedersehen!!

[Archangelsk]

Before all the xenophobes get ahold of this, let me remind them that this was a true GI town with a lot of great gasthauses where, on many occasions, soldiers were allowed to sit at a Stammtisch.

[mlocher]

pull out. the only things worth saving in Germany are Mercedes, BMW and Porsche.

well ok, but i was thinking more along the lines of chrysler.

[WideGlide]

Its Heineken. Great beer and the name only sounds German. Hey, while we're at it! Do the English make cheese?

[airborne]

Dear Germany,

Remember when we asked for your help, and you refused?

We do!

[Murp]

"Letum eat cake,"

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Putting aside everything else, there is no need for those bases to remain open. The troops are needed elsewhere.

So, sorry.

[GSlob]

Well, it is not like being given two weeks severance. I get it that with all the uncertainties about the precise timetables there is (or going to be) something like couple years for economic reorientation.

[albee]

BOO F'N HOO!

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

"Actually the sum total of our foreign aid and military expenditures overseas is some 300 billion dollars...why its a huge chunk of our year budget deficits...imagine that! I think it is time to stop putting our selves and our children into hock and tax slavery so the rest of the free world can refuse to work and defend itself!

NATO, the EUROTRASH, and the UN can each go to the blazes!"

---

Well said.

Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com

[mlocher]

the troops should have been pulled years ago, perhaps as early as 1992.

besides, what's a little germany unemployment among friends? their unemployment rate is so high i doubt a few more on the roles will make that much of a difference.

i think that the real reason that they are upset is that the germans are concerned about a french invasion!!!! (smile)

[reg45]

pull out. the only things worth saving in Germany are Mercedes, BMW and Porsche.

Also
• Audi - automobiles
• Volkswagen - automobiles
• Robert Bosch - electronics
• Grundig - electronics
• Siemens - electronics

[Nov3]

You reap what you sow.

[frannie]

This should have been done years ago. Think what it would do for one of our bases here in the U.S.A. instead of propping up the economy of Germany.

If we leave any in Europe they should be placed in the countries that have stood with us. Even if a small number of military men and women were sent to Iraq, it would have been a huge amount for these small countries.

Frannie

[spokeshave]

My choice: schardenfreude

"I own a timber company? That's news to me!!" ... Ya need some wood?

Testing..adjusting tag line .

steady.....steady.............

careful with those dilithum crystals.

engage.....

[BladeLWS]

Then the German's shouldn't have bitched about us being there.

[7.62 x 51mm]

Too bad, so sad, you're mad, and I'm glad.

[traumer]

".... many think the time has come to say goodbye. Some fear that hosting U.S. bases could make Germany a target for terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists "

I believe THIS IS THE KEY

[DaveMSmith]

Tough darts. To balance the federal budget, the backstabber subsidy has been canceled.