Army feels stung as Marine gets command post (SACEUR) in Europe

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 4-27-02 | Harry Levins

[FairWitness]

"Organizational issues tend not to have a great deal of interest broadly out in the public." Even so, Rumsfeld said, "They can make an enormous amount of difference internally."

Amen. One such "organizational issue" has sandbagged the Army.

The next SACEUR - the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe - will be Marine Gen. James Jones, a Kansas City native. He'll replace Air Force Gen. Joseph Ralston, who got the job in 1999.

[FairWitness]

Rumsfeld continues "shaping up" the military.

[rabidralph]

Long overdue!

[FairWitness]

I don't really know enough about the various Generals to say much, but I know there are a lot of current and former military Freepers so I post these columns on "military matters" by Levins, which quite often get some good discussion going. In general (no pun intended) competition is a good thing so I hope the Army Generals get the message.

[Willie Green]

WWII ended 55 years ago.
The Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War is over.
Why do we need to maintain expensive military bases in Europe?

[Teacup]

"It's a sign that the Marine Corps has succeeded in developing capable officers."

Oh yeah, like it's only taken them 227 years to do this. I don't think so. You go MARINES!

MARINES RULE!

[FairWitness]

Yes, but the Army has been outstanding in integrating females and conducting sensitivity courses.

You're right. Maybe the new commander should have been a female Army general! On the other hand, if there is such a thing as a female Army general, they should save her to put her in command of Middle East operations, based in Saudi Arabia.

[Valin]

The Army felt stung then and feels even more stung now.

Poor baby. Want mommie to kiss it and make all better? I had a flightchief in the Air Force who was fond of saying, "Life is full of disappointments...and this is one of them."

[Teacup]

Why do we need to maintain expensive military bases in Europe?

Where would you preferr to spend this money? Let me guess. On the poor? The dysenfrancized? Those who have not won in life's lottery?

But seriously, since we've had bases in Europe, we haven't had to go back and fight any more World Wars.

[joesnuffy]

I was Army and having seen what Clinton has done to it...
IMO A Marine General should be in charge of the Army.

[Alas Babylon!]

Willie, I spent 1991-1997 closing most of these bases in Europe. There are very few left actually. When I arrived in Italy in 1991, we had a standing presence of 350,000 troops in Europe, not counting Naval 6th Fleet forces hosted out of Naples (which is huge, but didn't count as this is considered a mobile force rather than permanent party forces). When I left in 1997, we were under 100,000. Clsoed completely was: Berlin, Bremenhaven, Frankfurt, Pirmasens, Hahn AB, Bitburg AB, Zweibrucken AB, Rhien Main AB cut to 10% of former size, and all US presence in Munich, Germany--all huge bases, San Vito, (where I was from 91-93), Coltano, and Cosimo, Italy, Hellenikon and Iraklion, Greece (just about ending our presence there), RAF Upper Heyford, Chicksands, Greenham Common, Woodbridge, Uxbridge, Alconbury, and a dozen smaller British bases, and several bases in Turkey (listen posts and the Ankara area mostly).

My job from 1993-1997 was reallocating electronic equipment to the remaining or stateside bases and turning off communications circuits--I was never busier in my life.

I was Air Force. Lots of Navy and Marines in the Medd. There's no reason not to have different services be in charge of any US command, actually. A marine in charge of EUCOM is no big deal for most GI's.

[Willie Green]

Where would you preferr to spend this money?

Defending our southern border from massive invasion.

But seriously, since we've had bases in Europe, we haven't had to go back and fight any more World Wars

"Free Trade" is supposed to remedy all that.
Not only has the Cold War ended, the Euroweenies have united and abolished francs, deutschmarks and lire. They even talk about imposing a TAX on the United States. Why should we continue pumping up their economies by maintaining plush resorts military bases in their communities?

[magellan]

As for Marines in high positions, the Chairmanship of the JCS is the perfect billet for a Marine Corps general.

The Marine Corps is like a tiny version of the Army, Navy, and Air Force put together. Anyone that makes it too four stars in the Marine Corps knows a hell of a lot about modern warfare.

Plus, the Air Force, Army, and Navy should outsource their basic training to the Marine Corps. They know how to do it best.

[Teacup]

Why should we continue pumping up their economies by maintaining plush resorts military bases in their communities?

Where are these plush military bases? I never saw one. I suppose with all your years of miltary service, you know where all these bases are, right?

[reg45]

The Pentagon must be planning for a major war in the european theatre - they put a real USMC General in charge - not just an Army placeholder.

[Alas Babylon!]

Still, most of the combat assets in Europe are Army and Air Force. So, if the balloon goes up in Europe, whoever SACEUR is, it will mostly be an Army/Air Force fight. I'm sure any Marine worth his salt will not mind, either. He'll be proud to lead any of our American troops.

[Euro-American Scum]

This is what happens when the Army gets feminized.

[Willie Green]

I suppose with all your years of miltary service, you know where all these bases are, right?

There are far too many to keep track of.
So whenever I'm interested in such info, I look it up on the Internet.
This site seems to be helpful.

[Cicero]

The real problem behind this may be General Wesley Clark, clinton's old pal, fondly known by people in the military as "the Ultimate Perfumed Prince," whom even clinton felt obliged to remove in disgrace after his disgraceful performance in the war against Yugoslavia. But Shelton, Shalikashvili, and the rest are a fair indication of how widespread the problem is. The Pentagon is stuffed full of time servers, toe lickers, and expense-account padders, and you can be sure that clinton spent eight years promoting the worst of them above their levels of incompetence.