Foreign Policy: Why Defend Those Who Don't Want Us?

[Bluegrass Federalist]

In reading an article posted today on Foxnews.com, I read more about the growing problems with North Korea. While the South Koreans quoted in the article stopped short of this, I have heard comments from their new leader in the past weeks that are highly critical of the U.S., our foreign policy, and most interestingly, our presence there.

This follows the German election in which the candidates raced to be the most critical of American foreign policy. You remember Germany, the nation we liberated from Hitler, rebuilt under the Marshall Plan, saved from starvation during the Berlin airlift, protected from the Soviet threat, tore down the Berlin Wall, and on and on.

I am sure if I had more time I could cite more examples. Please feel free to add your own.

My question is, in these cases, is it really in our strategic interest to continue to defend these places? Korea is irrelevant in every sense but the nuclear, and protecting the South is not necessdary in dealing with that threat. Whether we bomb theoir recators has no bearing on whether we lose American lives in protecting an ungrateful people who don't want us there. I say we call their bluff and let them deal with the consequences.

Same for Germany. While a bit more strategic, do we really need to be subsidizing them? Would Europe be competing with us economically if they had to have a defense budget? We protecxt them , they profit and then show off how anti-American they can be. We need Ranstein Air Base, but I am sure there are plenty of other countries in Europe who would beg to have a U.S. presence.

We have other friends who can help us with bases and strategic needs. Japan in the Asian theatre, others in the European. I think we need to send a message to our other allies. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

[cynicom]

Beer...

We have been in Japan and Germany for nearly 60 years, in that time the scum have not started any wars. Think about that.

The US tried isolationism and it did not work. Trouble always came knocking at our door. The first American President that acknowledged that the US would have to be the world policeman was Teddy Roosevelt, way back then, and it seems he was right.

[Cicero]

I'm sure most of us have the gut reaction, "If those ingrates don't want us, let's leave and let them stew in their own juices."

One possible reason for staying is, as you suggest, that it may be in our long-term national interest. As a general rule, global stability is in our national interest, and it's possible that the presence of our troops contributes to stability.

Another point to consider is that, once we leave, it might be hard to reverse the process if we need to in the future.

The troops in Germany are no longer needed to defend against a Soviet invasion, but they might be useful to remind Russia not to be tempted by a very vulnerable Europe. And to remind Europe that much as they hate to admit it, they still need NATO to defend them.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

The other side of the question is who is it that doesn't like us? Foreign elites are even more deviant from their populations then the leftist elitists in the US. Most of the people overseas like the US and want to live here. Their governments act like we're about to nuke them.

Freedom threatens the way of life that foreign elites have carved out for themselves in their penny-ante economies. While they're in control they make sure that it seems like their populations agree with them, but polling data shows otherwise. There's a reason that the US is now one-fourth of the world economy and still growing. Freedom.

[cynicom]

Cicero...

Have you ever contemplated the possibility that Russia not only welcomes NATO on its borders but might one day become a member for its own "self protection"???

[dfwgator]

The troops in Germany are no longer needed to defend against a Soviet invasion, but they might be useful to remind Russia not to be tempted by a very vulnerable Europe. And to remind Europe that much as they hate to admit it, they still need NATO to defend them.

I'd rather see the troops in Poland, it will keep both the Hun and the Bear from getting any funny ideas.

[Cicero]

I consider Putin to be our ally, against both Muslim terrorists and a potential threat from China, and I favor NATO expansion. But allies never have identical interests, and it's wise to follow Reagan's advice of "trust but verify." For instance, even though Russia is our ally against Muslim terrorists, they happen to support Iraq because of past historical policies. And it's not impossible that Russia at some future time may grow unfriendly--just as it's possible that at some future time we may get another clinton in the White House, or worse.

For all those reasons, an army in the middle of Europe may be a useful insurance policy against unforeseen developments.

[Michael81Dus]

You need Ramstein and you want Ramstein. Then you´ll get Ramstein. Germany does not need the presence of US forces, but they don´t disturb us. We welcome US servicemen here - although formerly occupation troops they behaved like protectors against the Reds.

For the history books: it were the weak eastern economy, Kohl & his diplomacy and the growing resistance in the East (demonstrations in Leipzig and Dresden) which lead to a change of mind in the heads of the Soviets.

The US were among the first to support this development, but they didn´t initiate it.

Because it seems, that here´s a lack of information:
the US troops in Japan and Germany were occupation forces, the costs for their stationing during the occupation time (1945-1994) were paid by the occupated states (Japan and Germany). Today the bases are financed by the US military, no money is transferred by the US to Japan/Germany nor by Germany/Japan to the US.

If you want to leave, feel free. If not, we still welcome your presence!

[Michael81Dus]

"I'd rather see the troops in Poland, it will keep both the Hun and the Bear from getting any funny ideas."

We´re a democracy since more than 50 years, generations grew up in the conscience that freedom is the best soil for wealth. Here´s no room for "funny ideas"! It would be kind of you to accept us as friends and not as the possible enemy. I strongly believe that we´ve proven our loyality for freedom and deomocracy.

[Uncle Miltie]

"Foreign Policy: Why Defend Those Who Don't Want Us?"

Because Mass Slavery is Evil, and G-d has commanded us to oppose it.

Keep the faith with those who sleep in the dust...

[Michael81Dus]

Ah, and if you want to see your troops in Poland, then tell them! They´d like to hear to live in a land which has problems with water supply and where the highways are in bad conditions. You´d have to pay much money to get your own bases acceptable.- And why? Because you´d like to see your forces some 300 miles more in the East? Your servicemen and -women will thank you.

I wish you a happy New Year!

[cynicom]

cicero...

There is a small town, called Khasan, in Russia on the border where Russia, North Korea and China all meet. There are guard towers and barbwire fences all around. No one trusts anyone there. Russia is well aware of the North Koreans sitting there with over a million troops and now getting into the nuclear business. Southeast Asia has about four billion people, small arable landmass, and the majority poverty stricken. Russia has a huge landmass with untold natural resources and less than 200 million people.

Russia must decide, be it a mutual wedding with the West, or a shotgun wedding with China....

[Forrestfire]

I don't know wehere you got your information, but the US Government footed the bill, and still does, for the stationing of troops in Germany and Japan. I was stationed in Germany for 14 years, I know of what I speak.

[Michael81Dus]

I got my informations from the German Defense Ministry, which said that the German Federal government does not receive money from the US bases. Maybe the local authorities get fees?

On the Airbase Holloman in TX, the Luftwaffe is stationed and they pay compensatory damages for the use of the base and airspace - maybe it´s the same here?

[cynicom]

After two horrible World Wars, no one in there right minds would trust Germany, no one.

[Michael81Dus]

And will you tell me what I have to do with Hitler and his followers? Why shouldn´t you trust me? Because of my heritage? Because my citizenship?

Come on, what you´re saying is nothing else than pure racism!

[cynicom]

Racism??? I am German too, how does that grab you?????

[Michael81Dus]

You didn´t answer my questions.

[cynicom]

My brother lies somewhere in the filthy racist soil of Germany. I will never trust any German. Never, ever.

[Michael81Dus]

I feel sorry for your brother, but you didn´t answered my question, you just repeated your hate against Germans.

WHAT HAVE I TO DO WITH HITLER? I´m born 36 years after WWII ended. Why shouldn´t you trust me? Why can´t you trust any German?

It is racism to blame a whole nation for faults of a few. Hitler did so with a religion, the Whites did so with the blacks. For what am I your scapegoat?