US Repositioning Military Out of Spain

SeaWaves ^ | 11/29/05

[pabianice]

Coming upon the recent news that the US Navy is pulling the plug on Naval Station Rota, the US Navy has just announced the withdrawal of forces from La Maddalena as Part of "Transformation."

In a move to adjust its forces to meet current and future readiness needs in the European theater, the United States and Italy have decided to remove U.S. Navy forces from La Maddalena, Sardinia.

In a carefully worded announcement, the US claims that "the capabilities provided by the installation are no longer required due to the realities of the new century’s security environment." A cynic might be excused from decoding this announcement to mean that the US is cutting military ties with a country it considers a coward in the fight against international terrorism. In Spain's most recent national elections, the country cut and run after a terror attack upon several of its railroad trains.

The departure of the Navy will affect approximately 1,800 people employed on the base. Approximately 1,100 are U.S. Navy personnel serving aboard USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) and the associated submarine support squadron. There are an additional 475 military members, 150 local nationals and 75 U.S. Navy civilians employed at the Naval Support Activity. Including family members, there are approximately 2,500 U.S. personnel stationed at La Maddalena.

No decision has been made on a prospective homeport for Emory S. Land, a maintenance and logistics support ship that provides support and repair services to U.S. Navy ships.

[pabianice]

Now's the time to invite the Emory S. Land to a base near you.

[Dog Gone]

A cynic might be excused from decoding this announcement to mean that the US is cutting military ties with a country it considers a coward in the fight against international terrorism.

No, cutting ties would be withdrawing from NATO.

[Williams]

Doesn't bother me either way.

[July 4th]

When I was looking at joining JAG, these were some of the best assignments. (Naturally, because who wanted to go to Pascagoula?) I think Naples and Sigonella are still available.

[bray]

End the Occupation Now! Next up the German Cowards!

Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters

[mmercier]

Why keep a base in what will soon be enemy occupied territory...?

In the age of the boomer and the carrier group we do not need to be wasting resources where we are not wanted.

[Frank_Discussion]

I wonder if Spain's arming Venezuela has anything to do with this?

[adamsjas]

United States and Italy have decided to remove U.S. Navy

When did Italy get a vote about the US navy in a Spanish prot?

[theDentist]

This is where the fun begins. 1) Withdraw from France (if we've any troops left), and tell them we'll never help them out again. Then 2) withdraw from Germany, tell them we'll never help France again, and that the French think Germany's beer and sauerbraten are for nancy-boys.

:)

[theDentist]

Then why stay in Cuba?

[FFIGHTER]

Sardinia is Italian.

[Cobra64]

"..this announcement to mean that the US is cutting military ties with a country it considers a coward in the fight against international terrorism..."

I sure as hell, hope so!

[FFIGHTER]

Because, We can!

[adamsjas]

Sardinia is Italian.

Then why is the story about Spain?

[hang 'em]

... the United States and Italy have decided to remove U.S. Navy forces from La Maddalena, Sardinia.

The sentence may be garbled. Apparently we're moving TO Sardinia, a large island in the Med that is part of Italy.

[Centurion2000]

A cynic might be excused from decoding this announcement to mean that the US is cutting military ties with a country it considers a coward in the fight against international terrorism.

That was pretty much my first guess as to why.

[Cobra64]

Maybe you are missing the point.

[ArrogantBustard]

Italy's voice in the matter may have something to do with offering USNavy an alternative to Rota.

[FFIGHTER]

Title is misleading, but second line of story deals with U.S. Navy facilities in Italy.

"In a move to adjust its forces to meet current and future readiness needs in the European theater, the United States and Italy have decided to remove U.S. Navy forces from La Maddalena, Sardinia."

Better title would have been U.S. repositioning military in Europe, or something to that effect.

[Prost1]

"Withdraw from France (if we've any troops left), "

We own what was once French real estate. Paid for by the blood of Americans on the fields of battle at Normandy, Brest and France proper.

That is American territory (if I am not mistaken) ceded to us by the grateful French as a lasting resting place for the fallen.